10 VIRGINIA FORESTS pressure on the future forest. As deer pass through the forest, they browse selectively on whatever new regeneration manages to emerge within their reach. Because of that selectivity, they preferentially remove the most palatable foods first (e.g., oaks), leaving behind plants they find less palatable. Often, this means species deemed of less commercial worth (e.g., red maple), those viewed as non-native or invasive (e.g., privet [Ligustrum sp.]), or those that provide less habitat value for wildlife eventually begin to assume dominance in the sparse understory. So what does this all mean for deer and the traditions of hunting? Virginia’s deer herd overall is healthy, with a current population estimated at just under 1 million animals statewide. However, deer are not dispersed evenly across the state, due in part to habitat factors touched on earlier, but also on aspects related to land ownership and the effects of population management. In general, deer are less numerous on public lands, especially in the western mountains, where habitat quality is lower and exploitation of the herd tends to be more intense. Deer numbers on private lands are noticeably higher, particularly so near suburbanizing environments, where numerous sanctuary-like conditions exist for deer (i.e., abundant food, few predators, often restricted or no hunting allowed). In its statewide 10-year Deer Management Plan, the Department of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) population management goals seek to balance deer numbers with regional (i.e., county) societal desires, doing so by adjusting regulatory policies to reduce, stabilize, or increase deer population size in accordance with the established goals for an area (Fig.3). The intent is to achieve a state where deer are plentiful enough to assure longterm sustainability of the species and meet demands from hunters, wildlife watchers, and others who appreciate deer, while minimizing the negative effects of too many deer, such as deervehicle collisions, damage to agriculture and home landscaping, and threats of disease. In addition to the array of habitatrelated issues complicating deer management, the DWR also faces some serious demographic challenges. For decades, the agency has relied upon licensed hunters to accomplish what is needed to meet established deer population goals, and, overall, they largely have been successful. On average, hunters successfully crop about 25 to 35 percent of the deer population annually. However, ongoing changes in societal interests and perspectives now are changing that outlook. The number of hunters in Virginia continues a long-running decline and participants also are aging; today, less than three percent of the human population participates in big game hunting in Virginia (Table 1). Although recruitment among youth and especially among women has increased, it is not sufficient to counter the larger attrition occurring in the hunting population. Fortunately, the remaining hunters continue to take a sufficient number of deer to approach meeting most population objectives set by DWR, as hunters harvested nearly 185,000 deer during 2022–2023 season. However, concern is rising over whether enough hunters will be available in coming years to harvest enough deer to meet desired population goals statewide. Addressing Issues for Health, Safety, and Management Other demographic changes further complicate the management picture for DWR. As confirmed presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has spread into new reaches of the state, some hunters have given up or questioned whether to continue hunting deer due to personal health/safety concerns. Despite encouragement to keep hunting and assurances that consumption of deer that test negative and are properly prepared are safe, there is hesitancy in the hunting community where CWD now has been confirmed, which may lead to fewer deer being harvested. Still, it is important to recognize that, in theoretic terms, the deer population has the capacity to double every year, given that most female deer produce two to three offspring each year. This reality carries consequences. With a large percentage of Virginia’s land area currently in private ownership and owned by those who either do not hunt or do not allow hunting, the ability of hunters to access a considerable proportion of the deer population is a growing concern. Also, a substantial acreage of non-hunted habitat exists today in the ever-growing suburbanizing landscape, which acts as safe “refugia” for deer where traditional hunting methods cannot occur due to regulatory constraints or safety Figure 3. Stated population management objectives for deer on private lands. (FROM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES 2015–2024 DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN) Increase Stabilize Reduce
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