Linking deer hunter perceptions of quality deer management (QDM) and chronic wasting disease (CWD)

Over the past three decades, white-tailed deer management in the eastern USA has largely shifted from maximum sustained yield to quality deer management (QDM), focusing on increasing the abundance of mature males. However, the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) introduces challenges to cervid management for wildlife agencies. The CWD management framework necessitates rapid shifts in harvest strategies, often targeting reduction of the demographic which spreads CWD in most – mature males. We investigated how hunter adherence to QDM related to perceptions of CWD and the CWD management framework. We surveyed 9,713 deer hunters in Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, and South Carolina and found that perceptions of QDM were related to perceptions of CWD; specifically, hunters who were experienced with and supportive of QDM showed more concerns of CWD impacts on human and deer health. Our findings aid wildlife agencies in balancing conservation decisions with public perceptions of wildlife diseases and management frameworks.