ABSTRACT
There are characteristics of local deer herds and forest resources impacted by deer that are of interest to stakeholders and of critical knowledge for landowners and managers of forestlands. Measuring these characteristics and components is essential for determining whether proactive management steps are required to rectify undesirable deer impacts, whether designed management actions for resolving identified problems are effective, and for keeping stakeholder groups properly informed. Prior to enacting management steps, baseline conditions of forest resources, including deer density and condition, and status of other forest resources of management interest must be assessed and described to guide deer management.
