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Counting Ghosts: How wildlife biologists estimate deer density

Counting deer – even just estimating numbers – is no easy task for wildlife agencies. The author explains common methods that resource departments employ. (Photos provided)

Ask a room full of deer hunters how many deer live in their county and you’ll likely get a dozen different answers. Some will insist the woods are overrun with deer. Others will argue the herd has collapsed. Both groups may have hunted the same property.
The truth is that estimating white-tailed deer density is one of the most difficult tasks in wildlife management.

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