Influence of Deer Damage on Farmers\u27 Perceptions of Deer Population Trends: Important Implications for Managers

Farmers\u27 attitudes toward deer, their perceptions of deer depredations and their preferences for future deer population levels have been extensively studied in New York (Brown and Decker 1979; Brown et al. 1977a,1977b, 1978a,1978b, 1979,1980; Decker and Brown 1982; Decker et al. 1981a, 1981b). These studies have contributed to deer-population-management decisions that give consideration to farming interests. Nevertheless, farmers cannot be expected to support deer management efforts on their behalf if they do not understand the population changes such management is designed to achieve. Consequently, wildlife managers need to know whether or not the effects of such efforts are recognized. A direct indication of this, which had not been examined previously, is how well the farming community perceives changes in deer abundance over a reasonable period of time, say 5 years. Using data from the previous studies cited and a deer-population index, the authors sought an answer to the following question: Do farmers recognize managed increases or decreases in deer populations, or do they simply react to experience with deer damage