…although it may seem counterintuitive, hunting seasons are one of the best ways to determine the size and health of wild animal populations. A popular hunting season can send thousands – tens of thousands in the case of deer season – into the woods looking for specific species.
Because hunters must register their kills for major game animals such as deer, bear, turkey and moose at stations, their season provides data about age, weight and general health of individuals and sex ratios of populations. For example, samples taken at deer check-stations let biologists know that chronic wasting disease, often called the deer version of mad cow disease, has not shown up in New Hampshire.
