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Bhutan

Questions

There are a few common questions we hear when talking about deer management. If you have a question, please let us know.

Why does a community call White Buffalo Inc.?

  • The abundance of vehicle collisions, Lyme disease, landscape or garden damage, and ecological impacts (i.e., severe browse line, no regeneration) are the four most common conflicts that motivate a community to inquire about our services.

 

How does White Buffalo Inc. maintain objectivity when communities are in the decision-making phase?

  • We simply review all available deer management options and then determine what is involved logistically, legally, socially, the costs, time frame and compatibility with human activity within the area. This information is provided to the community to help them make a more informed decision.

 

Can White Buffalo Inc. just help us with consulting and advice?

  • We frequently help communities when they are in the information gathering phase, or even during decision making.  We charge consulting fees at a time and materials rate but are happy to attend deer planning meetings, develop proposals and consult on the best path forward.

 

How long does a typical project last?

  • We work communities to find a time that works best.  Our typical field season runs from November - March.  The first few years our site work typically lasts longer than in subsequent years.  Usually, deer management work is an ongoing process, and either WBI will need to return each year, or we will need to train and transition to local staff/hunters.

Why do deer management activities need to continue in subsequent years? 

  • If the overall objective is population reduction, management activities will need to continue each year, or the population will return to pre-management levels as the remaining deer give birth.

 

How does White Buffalo Inc. operate in areas of high human activity?

  • It is first necessary to have a public meeting so private landowners can understand what is involved in the field program. Once deer distribution is assessed, access to private properties is obtained and then working areas are selected. A baiting program is established to pattern the deer and bring them to these areas. If the program is a sharpshooting program, shooting lanes are then cleared to ensure that there are no obstructions in the trajectory of the bullet. Patterns of human activity (i.e. dog walking, school bus routes, joggers) are recorded to determine the timing of removal at set locations which results in maximal safety and discretion. For each site, we select one of eleven specialized weapon systems each designed for select site characteristics. This decision is dependent on the maximal shooting range, acceptable noise, proximity to homes and deer abundance. Deer are euthanized with a single shot to the head to ensure a humane kill and that deer do not exit the authorized property. For more detail see WBI's Sharpshooting Protocol.

 

Can White Buffalo Inc. implement a control program after an area has been hunted?

  • It is difficult to professionally manage a deer population after they have been pursued by recreational hunters. Prior to any management action, suburban deer are typically very approachable. Deer that do not readily exhibit alarmed behavior can be effectively and efficiently manipulated for the purposes of either capture, fertility control programs, or remote euthanasia. When deer are hunted, they become wary of the threat that humans can pose, and any subsequent efforts to manage deer using similar techniques (e.g., use of a tree stand at a baited location) are often compromised. The only way deer can be managed cost effectively following recreational hunting is through the use of methods that differ substantially from that of hunting. For example, approaching deer with a vehicle usually remains a viable option.

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