HEAVY DOE HARVESTS & GENETIC CONSEQUENCES.

This article discusses the potential genetic consequences of hunting on wild deer herds, specifically focusing on white-tailed deer. The genetic diversity of deer is crucial for their overall health and fitness, as it contributes to traits such as aggression, body weight, reproductive success, and antler size. Hunting mortality can disrupt this genetic diversity by selectively removing certain individuals from the population. The article explores different hunting practices and their potential impacts on genetic variability, gene flow, genetic drift, and deliberate or unintentional selection. The authors suggest that managing hunting to emulate natural mortality patterns can help maintain natural deer populations while still allowing for hunting opportunities. [Extracted from the article]