White-Tailed Deer
The Problem
Localized Overpopulation of Deer Hurts Herds and Ecosystem
The white-tailed deer is one of North Carolina’s most popular, adaptable and recognizable wild animals. We’ve all admired the impressive antlers of a mature buck, observed a graceful doe grazing in fields, or watched with delight as a spotted fawn prances through the woods with its mother.
People hunt white-tailed deer more than any other game species in our state. Properly managed hunting is a helpful management tool to keep deer from becoming overpopulated. What can hurt them, however, is chronic wasting disease (CWD), an untreatable, fatal disease to cervids such as white-tailed deer and elk.
The Solution
Prohibit Deer from Disease/ Manage Healthy Populations to Help Feed the Needy
We support bans on prohibiting the use of cervid urine to attract wildlife to help the spread of CWD. We support additional CWD research, funding, and disease management efforts. We also firmly oppose the import and export of farmed raised deer and elk to fence hunting preserves.
This necessary precaution is an example of strong leadership appreciated by sportsmen, sportswomen, and conservationists. Adopting this ban will help prevent CWD from entering our state and infecting our wild deer and elk herds.
NCWF will continue supporting stricter regulations and best management practices to reduce the risk for transmission today and in the future. In our local communities, NCWF chapters and programs are taking steps to keep this devastating wildlife disease from spreading into North Carolina.
NCWF also partners with Hunters for the Hungry to help manage deer populations by working with private landowners, hunters, NC licensed meat processors, and food relief organizations in order to feed hungry people in North Carolina. More than 60,000 pounds of ground venison is donated every year through the NCWF deer program. NCWF Community Wildlife Chapters also play a key role in the program by assembling venison recipe kits.
What We're Doing
NCWF Outcomes & Impact
- South Wake Conservationists expanded its deer donation efforts by collecting biological samples for CWD testing and donating deer hides to make wheelchair gloves for veterans.
- CROWN assembled and donated recipe ingredient kits to SOCKS (Serving Our Community with Kindness in Springwood) crisis center to supplement the venison donated by Gaston PAWS .
- NCWF’s deer program encourages the harvest of deer to reduce crop damage on farms while donating hunter-harvested deer to feed the hungry.
To learn more about joining NCWF’s deer donation efforts, contact Director of Wildlife Resources Dr. Liz Rutledge at liz@ncwf.org or (919) 833-1923.
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