Deer Population Issues

Consider this post to be evidence of both a blessing and a curse.

If you are a deer hunter this might just be a blessing. 

click on images to enlarge

 

Yup, a doe with five fawns in tail.  For sure this deer did not give birth to quintuplets - and I figure the other moms are close.  We are witnessing an explosion of deer numbers - fawns in particular - as a consequence of excellent forage, good cover and moderate winters.  If you are a deer hunter and the goal is to see a lot of deer this is a blessing.

This trail camera photo was taken at the same location close to the same date - August 23rd.  

The curse is that this is one of the latest-bred fawns I've seen in awhile - clearly after the first of the year.  Mom may very likely be a member of the 2017 fawn cohort.  Like I said - excellent forage, good cover and moderate winters. 

My point is too many deer stress the carrying capacity of the local habitat and the survivability of that fawn has an exceedingly low probability of success.  All of this is a consequence of Governor Walker's One Size - Fits All deer management policy.  Namely manage the resource for high numbers.  It doesn't matter much at all the crop damage that farmers suffer, or lack of natural regeneration in the forest understory, or that early spring brings privation, hunger and death by starvation to yearling deer.  What takes priority is that every hunter should see a deer behind every tree.  Yeah, I know that is a snarky exaggeration but I think you get my drift. 

Perhaps someday the management of big game species like whitetail deer will be taken from the legislature and returned to scientists and biologists.

Not holding my breath....