Deer Relocation Stress from Deer Management Programs: Various methods of capturing and transporting of deer when they are being relocated as part of a deer management program are routinely used for deer research. Transport by helicopter is common. Wildlife officials often oppose relocation as a population control method because of stress on the deer although these approaches are commonly used in conducting deer research.


Wildlife Researcher Commonly Capture Deer for Research


Deer tracking goes high tech March 10, 2015 Oregon, My Eagle News

... The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to place GPS radio collars on 500 female mule deer, mostly in the Southern Blue Mountains ... A helicopter crew from Leading Edge Aviation, based in Clarkston, Wash., is handling the mule deer captures using a specially designed net gun... “Captures up to the third trimester should be OK for the doe and unborn fawn,” said wildlife veterinarian Dr. Colin Gillin...


On location with researchers; 4-year fawn survival study begins final year March 8, 2015 Utah, St George News

... the helicopter swooped in with a blast of dry snowy ice, dangling three pregnant does from from its base. With surprising delicacy the pilot slowly lowered each sling-wrapped doe one at a time until they were all safely on the ground. Hastily transferring the blindfolded deer to gurneys, researchers carried them to a weigh station before placing the does on the exam tables in the triage tent...


Tracking Mule Deer During Migration March 7, 2015 Montana, GPS tracking

... wildlife biologists at the University of Wyoming are affixing GPS tracking devices to deer captured by helicopter... scientists shoot at the deer with nets while the pilot flies low to the ground. Once the deer is trapped in the net, a team member jumps out of the helicopter to wrestle the deer to the ground. The deer are blindfolded and placed in slings which are then suspended on the helicopter, and eventually placed on canvas stretchers on the ground in a different location away from the rest of the herd ...


Whitetail deer study taking place in Brown County February 27, 2015 South Dakota, AberdeenNews.com

... A helicopter crew specializing in animal retrieval was contracted by the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks to assist local wildlife management staff ... “After deer are captured, they’re transported through the air to a processing station no more than 2 or 3 miles away where eight of our staff are ready to monitor vitals, draw blood and perform an ultrasound,” Ermer said. “It’s worked for us to watch the does ...


Relocation Stress is Often Empathized for Suburban Management Programs


How to control those deer overrunning Detroit suburbs? March 7, 2015 Michigan, Detroit Free Press

... Trapping and relocating the deer cause problems ... "It causes a lot of stress for the deer," ... said Tim Payne, who supervises wildlife for southeast Michigan with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR)....