Question

• Based on these lessons, suggest what You would have done in the following years to manage deer herds 1. 1915 – 2. 1935 –  

Answer 1

Before 1905 the estimated number of deer was about 4000. Average carrying capacity of deer was estimated to about 30,000 deer. Steps were taken to preserve the deer population as this area was overgrazed by sheep, cows, goats and horses. The first step was to ban hunting. This increased the deer population tremendously. By 1923 their population exploded and the deer were reported to be on the verge of starvation hunting was reopened and during the fall of 1924, 675 deer were killed by the hunters. Over the next two winters, it is estimated that 60,000 deer starved to death. Thus in short following steps had been taken.

1. Reduce the number of grazing animals in that particular area.

2. Allow hunting to reduce populations and slow population growth of the deer herds.