Species Recovery, Whitetail Deer

By the end of the 19th century hunting had decimated the whitetail deer population throughout the eastern and midwestern US. In response, the US Supreme Court declared in 1896 wild animals property of the state. Regulations required hunters to obtain licenses and abide by restrictions to help deer populations recover. The Lacey Act in 1900 enhanced existing laws by prohibiting interstate commerce in wild deer and other species. “Successful wildlife management through the regulation of hunting was a key factor in the rebound of deer herds....Today, the problem of too few deer has in numerous cases become one of too many, posing new challenges for natural resource managers.”