I'll use state forest lands because this is where the flirs and studies occured.In most areas of the NC deer hunter numbers are dropping each year.I think most are now staying south because there's deer down yonder too.Not bear though in alot of cases {doug}
As a sign of the times I do not see the hunter numbers increasing in the NC so the question comes up how will they control the deer populations?I honestly don't think there's enough hunters in some areas to do that.Maybe predators will keep those numbers down?Some disagree with that.Possibly the habitat or both?If the lack of food keeps the deer populations down that would mean the habitat wasn't improving and little or no regen of the forest was taking place.
With all the state forest land sharp shooters would be a very expensive method.Personally I see birth control as an option to control deer populations in urban and state forest land situations.I hope I'm wrong.