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Achieving state wildlife agency biological goals for deer (Odocoileus spp.) and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) rely on high quality data collection via hunter harvest surveys. Concomitantly, better information is needed to optimize harvest survey methods. From 2017 to 2019, we surveyed North Dakota, USA, deer and fall turkey hunters using a self‐administered mail survey as a control and 3 mixed‐mode, internet/mail surveys to evaluate the efficacy of alternative survey designs for estimating harvest of game populations and informing future management. We measured response rates across segments of North Dakota deer and fall turkey hunters, and across mixed‐mode treatments that could easily be implemented with existing wildlife agency resources. We also determined whether early survey respondents were more likely to harvest deer or turkey. Finally, we estimated the effects of demographic factors that may be associated with hunters returning survey treatment modes to further North Dakota Game and Fish Department's ability to tailor surveys to certain hunter groups. We found that internet‐mail and mail‐internet treatments resulted in significantly higher response rates than a traditional mail‐only survey mode. We also found that hunters who successfully harvested an animal were more likely to return questionnaires shortly after the initial wave of surveying. Finally, we found that older, nonresident, and urban hunters were more likely to return questionnaires. Our research demonstrates potential use of tailored mixed‐mode surveys to increase response rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Based on decades of increasing deer effects on local biodiversity, agricultural damage, and deer-vehicle collisions, we implemented a suburban white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) research and management program in 2007 on Cornell University lands in Tompkins County, New York, USA. We attempted to reduce deer numbers by surgically sterilizing female deer in the 445-ha suburban core campus via tubal ligation and ovariectomy. From 2007 to 2013, we sterilized 93 deer and radiocollared 67 adult females to monitor fawning. Tubal ligation and ovariectomy surgeries appeared to prevent birth in 96% and 100% of treated female deer, respectively. We implemented a camera survey, used a mark-resight model in Program NOREMARK to estimate annual deer abundance, and observed no reduction in female abundance by winter 2013. Conversely, we noted a 38% and 79% decrease of total adult females and fawns visible in sampled photographs, respectively, and an 873% increase in adult male visitation to camera traps on core campus. Surgical sterilization appeared to be ineffective for reducing the abundance of a geographically open population of white-tailed deer in the absence of lethal management. We do not recommend surgical sterilization as a stand-alone method for communities wishing to pursue mitigation of deer impacts with nonlethal approaches. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]