Deer Management for Forest Landowners and Managers is the first and only book written for those who manage deer and deer impact on private forestlands such as small woodlots and on public forestlands such as state and/or national forests. It covers the what, the why, the how, the where, the when, the by whom, and the how much and for how long details of deer management on forestlands affected by overabundant deer herds. The book integrates the science of deer biology with human dimension factors of values and culture.
The book describes deer management at the actual level of management – the individual forested property, whether a small woodlot of perhaps 20 acres or a larger commercial forest operation, state park or national forest encompassing hundreds to thousands of acres. These forestlands are where negative deer impact affects goals for natural resources and are where managers integrate all aspects of deer management: hunting, management to counter deer impact, habitat manipulation, maintenance of access roads used by hunters, and human dimension factors such as culture and values of hunters and other stakeholders.
A key component of managing deer impacts on forest resources—adaptive management—is described and illustrated by nine case histories spanning a wide range of size, ownership, and natural resource goals.
Excerpted comments from a few reviewers/endorser of the book (for more click on Endorsers/Reviewers):
Deer Management for Forest Landowners and Managers provides an overview of the complexities of managing overabundant white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations in forested landscapes… It provides readers with the basics of managing deer in a complex environment…and highlights the topics of deer biology and ecology, human dimensions, planning and assessment, communicating with stakeholders, and specific case examples to illustrate the authors' points of addressing these complex management challenges. This book would be beneficial to students, land managers, and biologists with an interest in understanding the complexities of deer management.
Book review for The Wildlife Society
By Andrew R. Little
Deer Management for Forest Landowners and Managers “…does a nice job in presenting … the need to combine scientific understanding with political/social demands (the human dimension) when finding and working toward solutions to address natural resources challenges”. ..and it “… does a good job illustrating the complexity of devising and implementing a program to reduce and control deer density. The book provides …extensive reference to published sources to lay out a scientific basis for different recommendations and hypothesis ...explained in ways that folks lacking a wildlife science background can understand and appreciate. The argument for a holistic and integrative approach to bring the deer herd and habitat into a sustainable balance makes sense as a long-term approach for forest landowners and their managers.“
Ralph D. Nyland
Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus - Silviculture
State University of New York
If you’re a forest landowner serious about managing your deer and woods then this book is for you.
Kip Adams QDMA Conservation Director
This book is an extensive resource for deer and timber management as well as all aspects of human dimensions…and will hold an important place in the library of a diverse readership.
Dr. David Samuel Conservation
EditorBowhunter Magazine
There is perhaps no one better qualified to speak to the issue of integrating deer and forest management than the authors in this book. It belongs on the reading list of every forest landowner.
Dr.William F. Porter,
Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife
To view book details, organization and content of chapters, click on Book Details & Chapters.
To learn how to purchase this book, click on How to Buy the Book
If you are an instructor click on instructor copy to obtain a review copy
Companion Book on Wildlife Habitat Management! Forestland owners and managers often are interested in more than managing deer: to wit, their interests may include managing other wildlife species such as upland gamebirds and mammals, and non-game wildlife such as woodland songbirds, small mammals, and reptiles and amphibians. And just as for deer, managing these species is primarily a function of managing their habitats. An outstanding book on this subject, Wildlife Habitat Management, was written by Dr. Brenda McComb. To learn about this book, and how to purhcase it, click on Wildlife Habitat Management.