ABSTRACT
Managers of individual forestlands need and benefit from the flexibility and specificity to control site-specific deer density and impact afforded by deer density reduction programs designed for these lands. State natural resource agencies attempt to affect deer density and impact on large deer administrative units (DAUs) that enclose individual forestlands (deer/forest management areas or DFMAs) by issuing permits to harvest antlerless deer on these large administrative units. Some recognized the need to provide permits to reduce deer density on DFMAs and provided programs entitled deer management assistance programs (DMAPs). Managers in states that offer such programs should use them as an effective tool to reduce deer density and impacts at effective and appropriate landscape levels. Managers in states that do not offer the programs way wish to lobby their respective state agencies/legislatures to enact and make available DMAP programs.
