Promising research on the use of chemosterilants and immunocontraception to reduce or eliminate reproduction in white-tailed deer is underway. Specificity, efficacy, and delivery of contraceptive agents to deer, however, continue to be problems. The use of contraception for deer herd control will be best suited to urban parks, refuges, and other discrete areas. Keep in mind that deer repellents only treat the symptoms of the problem, but will not control the increase in population size.
It is unlikely that contraception can or will be applied in rural and agricultural areas because of the flow of animals in these large areas. However, these areas also received a high value of economic damage caused by deer depredation of crops and ornamental plants. In these areas, fencing and or deer control fencing will be necessary to keep deer numbers and crop damage depressed.
