The Deer Management Program employs a hybrid approach to deer population management centered around professional sharpshooting on publicly owned natural land parks, alongside small-scale fencing and repellents used to protect critical plant communities and individual plants.
Professional sharpshooting is a lethal technique employing professional sharpshooters using firearms to reduce deer populations. It has been shown in peer reviewed literature, as well as operations regionally, such as those on National Park Service Properties, to reduce deer populations sufficiently to support forest regeneration. It was also the primary recommendation of our 2024 Deer Management Project consultant, White Buffalo Inc.
While the exact approach to sharpshooting operations may vary by contractor, some aspects will remain consistent across operations to ensure public safety.
Sharpshooters will only operate in winter when leaves are off trees to maximize visibility. Parks will be closed during operations and secured by Police and Parks and Recreation staff. The contractors will shoot downward from tree stands using sound suppressors and frangible, non-lead-based ammunition. Professional sharpshooting for deer population management has been carried out nationally for decades with no documented injury to bystanders.