Deer Management
Hunting of Deer has long been a tradition all over New England for the management of deer, and while these programs have proven very successful, there are other sources of management that can be considered long before the Hunters show up. When installing a new landscape or renovating and old, planting the right tree in the right place is the most important step. Simply installing plants that the deer don't like to eat is the best way to keep you landscape from being damaged by deer. There are many products on the market, such as sprays, oils, and netting, and these can work with limited success.
Even in the best situations deer will still be present on your property and while they may not be eating your shrubs, they can still carry disease such as Lyme disease . Deer fencing has been a common tactic for keeping deer out of the property, however, if not installed correctly it may actually keep deer the in, if they happen to get past the fence and in the end, can be a very costly solution.
A much cheaper and has far less impact solution to totally keeping deer out is to get a dog, and install an invisible dog fence. Leave the dog outside as much as possible. Soon you will see that it's not really a dog fence but a deer fence. I have actually witness a barking dog that was within 10' of several deer that were just beyond the dog fence. The deer soon learn that the dog will go no further than the invisible fence.
During the summer months use a motion activated sprinkler in your garden. This bothers the deer just enough to look elsewhere for food. Think about it, would you like to try to eat with water being sprayed in your face?
Some people hang bars of soap from trees and shrubs, and while concept seems right, I have actually seen deer bite marks in the soap. Also the downside to scents, oils and sprays is that they need to be changed and reapplied, especially during the winter months, as deer learn very quickly that those smells will not harm them.
Deer are a valuable natural resource. Their reproductive rate and adaptability to residential areas point to the need for be active population management. The key to managing deer is controlling their populations at levels suitable for both the needs of deer and people. Increases in crop and landscape damage as well as deer-vehicle collisions are all indicators of high deer population densities. Deer can strip their habitat of its life-supporting qualities negatively impacting many other wildlife and plant communities. Without adequate food sources and cover, deer work harder for daily nourishment and often cannot build up the energy reserves they need to survive the winter. Undernourished deer are also more vulnerable to exposure and disease. In addition, they are typically smaller, with smaller antlers and a lower reproductive capacity.
Overview
Population: 85,000 to 95,000 statewide. Densities range from about 10 per square mile in northwestern Massachusetts to 45 to 55 per square mile on Nantucket Island.
Management Framework: Population is managed in 15 Wildlife Management Zones (WMZs) . Goal densities are set as policy by the Fisheries and Wildlife Board. Hunting seasons, bag limits, and antlerless deer permit numbers are set to achieve goal densities.
Hunting: Three major seasons; Archery, Shotgun, Muzzleloader. Deer hunting with rifles in Massachusetts is prohibited. There is no hunting on Sundays.
Management Strategy:
White-tailed deer are managed in Massachusetts as a valuable natural resource. As such, MassWildlife sets deer density goals below human tolerance limits. If deer densities exceed human tolerance, people tend to label deer as pests. This attitude is contrary to MassWildlife's mission of wildlife conservation. Our experience has demonstrated that it is possible to maintain a healthy deer population that can be enjoyed by all citizens of the Commonwealth. MassWildlife manages the population using regulated hunting during three distinct hunting seasons. Since deer population growth rates can exceed 30% annually, hunters provide a unique service in helping us achieve our population density goals. By proactively limiting deer densities, we avoid the consequences of over-population. While MassWildlife maintains deer densities between 10 and 30 per square mile, we know of cases where deer populations in other states exceed 100 per square mile. This causes excessive property damage, road collisions and Lyme disease. It is more effective to maintain optimal deer densities, than to reduce over-populated deer populations.
Deer management goals can be maintained statewide, even in high developed, suburban areas. Where firearms are prohibited by local ordinances, hunters can effectively manage deer with archery equipment. MassWildlife recently increased the archery season to 36 days for this reason. Additionally, hunters can continue to use archery equipment throughout the muzzleloader season.
It is important that landowners and hunters cooperate to safely and effectively manage the Commonwealth's deer resource within desired population density goals. If done correctly, we can all enjoy the benefits of a healthy statewide deer population.
Deer and Disease:
Fortunately no significant, widespread health issues currently exist in our deer population; however, white-tailed deer populations are susceptible to diseases. MassWildlife has an active, ongoing disease surveillance program for chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is one of our biggest deer health concerns. Check here for additional information on CWD, or visit the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance website.
Lyme disease, often associated with white-tailed deer, is a bacterial disease transmitted by the bite of infected lacklegged ticks. Although adult ticks often feed on deer, these deer do not become infected. Deer are nevertheless important in transporting ticks and maintaining tick populations. Check here for additional information on Lyme disease provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
