White-tailed deer populations continue to increase. The lack of land is causing an unhealthy living environment for white-tailed deer. Deer overpopulation must be controlled. The three main types of deer control are hunting, predator control, and non-aggressive control methods. The most popular form of deer control is hunting. Hunting is a useful management tool to prevent deer from becoming overpopulated. When European settlers arrived, deer were hunted for meat and hide with no thought given to management. After 100 years, deer were threatened with extinction in North Carolina. Today, deer populations number 1.25 million in North Carolina. Hunting can help regulate this population if done correctly. (Hartigan and Osbourne). Hunting helps the deer population by decreasing the likelihood of overpopulation. Without hunting, deer would overpopulate an area and be forced to go elsewhere for food. This could lead to them wandering around cities and highways causing car accidents. Without some kind of control, deer multiply. As deer have lost some land areas due to the growth of cities, they do not have enough food and slowly begin to starve. So hunting is a good choice for deer management. Coyotes and bears are a common sight in the woods. These animals, along with others, are predators that help control the deer population but also reduce the amount of land given to deer. In western North Carolina, deer rates have declined and bag limits have been reduced. In Pennsylvania, biologists conducted a lengthy study to determine fawn mortality and predation. Predators killed 46% of fawns, (Hart). A study of coyotes in Ohio found that even though they kill numerous fawns, the deer population continues to grow, (Hart). It would be essential to maintain... half the paper... to aid deer control. Non-aggressive methods are the newest forms of deer control, including electronic fencing, scare tactics and birth control. Ultimately, deer control is a growing problem that must be addressed to ensure a healthy livelihood of deer and their environment. These methods would lead to more land for deer while decreasing the population. Works Cited Brown, Ben. “New: Bald Head Allowed for Deer Birth Control.” www.portcitydaily.com.Brunswickcounty.LatestNews.LocalNews.Southport.May21,2013.9-26-2013.Gegner, Lance. “Deer Control Options.” www.attra.ncat.org.June2003.9-30-13.Hart, David. “Does Predator Control Help Deer Populations?” www.grandview.com.GramdViewMediaGroup.5-5-2010.9-26-2013.Hartigan, Chrisand Osbourne, Scott. “White-tailed deer.” www.ncwildlife.org.DivisionofConservatinEducation.June,2009.9-25-2013.