The Southeast Deer Study Group meets once a year to present and discuss the latest deer research. Though the group's name implies a regional meeting, for the past 32 years it has been far more than that. This year the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Conservation Management Institute at Virginia Tech hosted this professional conference in Roanoke, Virginia, and 133 deer scientists from all over the country presented 37 papers on whitetail deer.

As always, Bowhunter Magazine was there, and our purpose in attending is to bring you the latest deer research that impacts you and your hunting. We can't report on all the papers (it would take too much space), but here is our annual summary of the "good stuff."

Responsive Management is a wildlife survey company in Virginia, and their president, Mark Duda, presented some interesting data on public attitudes about hunting (spanning 26 years). For example, our motivation to hunt has changed. In 1980, 43 percent of hunters listed "meat" as a primary reason to hunt, but in 2006 that had dropped to only 16 percent. Duda noted that hunting participation is decreasing because of an aging society, less access (and less land to hunt on), and less free time (our lives are more structured than they once were). In addition, urbanization is diluting the hunting culture. Note that 92 percent of all youths who hunted in the past year came from a hunting family. Since hunting families are decreasing, the future does not look good. To continue the urbanization problem a bit further, Clayton Nielsen from Southern Illinois University talked about the expansion of human development and the related impacts on deer management. Consider the fact that anything within 300 yards of a human structure is a hunter-restriction zone in Illinois. That may not sound too bad, but in fact, this restriction eliminates 31 percent of Illinois from hunting. This is a sign of the times, and this phenomenon is only going to get worse in most states.

We are also seeing a huge change in harvest trends. Kip Adams, with the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA), presented data showing that from 1999 to 2005 the nationwide percentage of yearling bucks in the harvest declined from 51 percent to 45 percent. Doe harvests increased by 10 percent, and buck fawn harvests declined. Twenty-two states now have some form of antler-restriction program. Indeed, times are changing.

And, relative to urban deer hunts, look at what is happening in Howard County, Maryland (between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.), where there are over 1,000 people per square mile. There, Phil Norman has been running various hunts on county parks since 1998. While animal-rights protestors oppose the hunts and claim to represent all citizens, a 2008 phone survey showed that 83 percent felt that management hunts were the only viable option to curtail deer numbers. Considering the location, this represents huge support for hunting and for the safety of such hunts.

A company called Eccologix presented data showing why the urban public likes these bowhunts. They work! The next time an animal-rights group tries to prevent an urban hunt in your town, show them some data. In 2007, Eccologix-certified bowhunters in a suburb of Philadelphia took 568 deer, of which 551 were does. Since harvesting does lowers deer numbers, and that is the objective in these urban hunts, it is obvious that bowhunters can get it done.

One final bit of information on the human dimensions side -- Susan Guynn talked about a course she now teaches at Clemson University designed to introduce women to hunting. Consider that since 1991 hunting license sales in the United States have decreased by 11 percent but women participation in hunting is up nine percent. Sounds like it's the right time for that college course!