Description
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most popular big game species hunted in the U.S., and thousands of hunters pursue deer annually in Oklahoma alone. Many hunters are aware that deer hunting generates millions of dollars each year through license sales and excise tax dollars on hunting equipment to directly support wildlife conservation. However, many deer hunters do not recognize they directly play an important role in deer herd management every time they harvest (or choose not to harvest) a deer.
At a broad scale, deer populations are managed by state agencies, such as the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). State agencies allocate permits and tags and can also shorten or lengthen hunting seasons to increase or decrease harvest. However, harvest ultimately comes down to the individual hunter. For landowners and lessees, pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow is one of the most important management decisions they can make to shape deer numbers and age structure.
