Tom, we are allowed to shoot them at night, under permit, because that is the most efficient way to cull. I use a .300 Blackout on an AR platform with an ATN thermal scope. Head and neck shots only. Here is a short video filmed through one of our scopes showing the neck shot efficiency.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmuM5trgpL8&t=96s
Scott, the land is not posted, per se. In GA private land does not have to posted with "No Trespassing" or "No Hunting" signs to be considered posted. It is private land and it is understood that it is private unless one has written permission, on their person, to be there. I have hunters working at the problem. Problem is, very few will go to the effort to hunt if they can't have a chance at killing a big set of antlers. And, you don't kill old bucks by shooting the first doe that steps out.
It's a very big problem. The density per acre here is so high that I have actually let land go, and stopped leasing it to farm, because I'd lose $$$ on it every year due to deer predation. This may be hard to understand, but having a problem with feral hogs too, I'd take the hogs over the deer any day, if I could get rid of one or the other. I can put a pack of hog dogs on the sounder of hogs a couple times and those left will relocate themselves to another area. Deer won't leave until the last one is dead, and they often birth triplets here because the nutrition is so good.
SRH
Hybrid Mode