ALBANY¬ Georgia’s deer hunters are not generally bashful when expressing opinions on the status or management of the state’s whitetail deer population. Sit around any deer club campfire, or log onto the countless online groups devoted to the pursuit of the state’s No. 1 game animal, and a multitude of opinions and theories abound.
These debates focus on everything from the hunting season’s opening and closing dates, harvest numbers, buck-to-doe ratios, and, inevitably, trophy management. These often-heated debates frequently overlook the fact that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division must focus on aspects of the deer population other than hunting. Although regulated hunting is a primary focus of the management plan, as well as a critical tool in achieving the final goal, it is not the only focus for DNR. Other issues and opportunities are taken into consideration, including non-hunting wildlife observation opportunities, overall ecological impact from the herd, agricultural damage, and vehicle-deer collisions.
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