ATTITUDES OF PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSMEN TOWARDS MANAGING WHITE-TAILED DEER TO PROTECT THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF FORESTS

We analyzed 13 years of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) pop ulation data for Pennsylvania and conducted a mail survey of Pennsylva nia hunters to compare trends in deer populations to the opinions of h unters on deer management. We used deer harvests, estimates of deer po pulation parameters, and forest inventories, for 1982-1994, to monitor deer densities relative to overwinter carrying capacities (deer-densi ty goals). The overwinter deer density that Pennsylvania forests could support without adversely affecting tree regeneration declined, state wide, from 23 to 21 deer/259 ha (1 mi.(2)) of forest between 1978 and 1989. In contrast, deer densities statewide peaked at 34 deer/259 ha o f forest in 1987 and declined to 29 deer/259 ha of forest by 1994 (41% above goal). The decline in deer densities was the result of harvest regulation changes designed to increase the antlerless harvest. Howeve r, a 1995 hunter survey revealed 66% of hunters believed deer populati ons were too low in the area where they did most of their hunting. The majority (44%) of hunters agreed that antlerless permits should be re duced, and 19% believed they should be eliminated. The majority of hun ters agreed that controlling deer populations was necessary (87%), tha t deer populations should be kept in balance with natural food supplie s (89%), and that deer affected plant and animal communities (56%). Th e majority disagreed that damage to Pennsylvania forests by deer was a problem (57%) or that deer caused serious conflicts with other land u ses (44%). Support from sportsmen for programs to reduce deer populati ons and protect forest ecosystems will require that hunters understand the adverse ecological effects of too many deer on forest communities . In the meantime, support for Pennsylvania Game Commission management recommendations will be needed from other special-interest groups, in cluding farmers, foresters, conservationists, the timber industry, and the scientific and conservation communities.