Localized management for reducing white-tailed deer populations

We tested the hypothesis that removal of a small, localized group of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) would create an area of persistent, low density in the population. We documented the summer home ranges of 8 social groups of females at Huntington Wildlife Forest, in Newcomb, New York. We removed 14 members of 1 social group (the target group) in 1994 and monitored movements of deer in adjacent social groups with radiotelemetry from 1994 to 1996 to determine the response to removal. Removal of the target-group deer created a low-density area of about 1.4 km(2). However, some deer continued to occur in the removal area. These were males or members of the target group that we were unable to remove. After removal, no deer in the adjacent area moved its home range significantly closer to the removal area, despite the reduction in population density. Our findings suggest that localized management is possible in parks and suburban areas where deer have undesired effects on vegetation and other components of the ecosystem.