Effectiveness of Special Deer Management Hunts on Deer-Vehicle Crash Reduction
Researcher(s)
Principal investigator: Konstantina Gkritza, 515-294-2343, nadia@iastate.edu (project list)
Co-principal investigators:
- Zachary Hans, 515-294-2329, zhans@iastate.edu (project list)
Project status
In progress
Start date: 07/01/08
End date: 06/30/09
Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s):Iowa Department of Transportation
About the research
Research objective: In Iowa, one measure to control the deer population is annual deer hunts. In addition to the regular deer seasons with gun, muzzleloader, and bow, the state holds many special hunts for various groups such as youth, disabled, residents, and nonresidents. These hunts are held in certain target areas to reduce the deer population to a sustainable and socially acceptable level. In addition, many municipalities in Iowa have deer management plans in a bid to reduce the deer population within their limits. These areas are generally bow-only hunts that are restricted in the areas where deer may be hunted. While these plans may in effect reduce the deer population in an area, it has not been studied whether they are effective in reducing the deer-vehicle crash rates in the areas where they are implemented. Thus, there is a need for a focused study on the causal connections between hunting and their potential impact on deer-vehicle crashes. The ability to understand and address the effectiveness of special deer hunts is critical for maintaining a sustainable deer population in the state while maximinzing public safety.
The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the localized deer herd management plans in reducing the frequency of deer-vehicle crashes over the period 2002-2007.