What are the characteristics of the local deer population?
Growers should investigate deer hunting and population-density data for their region, as well as travel routes and high-use areas, such as stream corridors, woodlots or areas with low hunting pressure. Much of this information is available from your agent with the Missouri Department of Conservation. What about the site? The size and characteristics of the area to be protected, as well as the overall farm management plan, are critical to selecting appropriate deer control measures. If planting sites are to be replaced or expanded, control measures should take this into account. Controlling damage on a short-term site-by-site basis can be costly and inefficient. The size of the site is important. Large areas usually have lower per-acre, per-year control costs but higher deer pressure because alternative food sources are far away. If fencing is used, it is important to provide travel corridors for deer. Interspersed areas of forest, fields and brush around the site will give deer better
