IntroductionThe economy of the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, management includes multiple facets. Deer herd health and population regulation are central to the economics of most deer management plans. Local white-tailed deer populations have a direct impact on the human welfare economy. Managing deer populations strongly affects agriculture, forestry, landscaping and natural vegetation. Recreational services are another economic source derived from white-tailed deer management. Many of the economics of white-tailed deer management can also be applied to other game species. Herd Health and Regulations The size of the white-tailed deer population will impact the health of the herd. Disease in a herd spreads easily when the population size is large; this is called density-dependent spread of infection (Habib, Merrill, Pybus, & Coltman, 2011). Frequency dependence is the spread of infection controlled by the number of infected individuals. FMD spreads throughout a large population of white-tailed deer and can be transmitted from white-tailed deer to other hosts that come into contact with the infected population (Highfield, Ward, Laffan, Norby, & Wagner, 2010). A deer population of more than thirty individuals per square kilometer is considered to have a 100% FMD transmission rate. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal infectious prion disease that affects deer, hoofed, and antlered mammal populations in North America (Habib, Merrill, Pybus, & Coltman, 2011). Chronic wasting disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals; however, it is believed that the carcasses of infected individuals, along with saliva, blood, feces, and urine left in the environment,...... middle of paper ...... agricultural production and forest can be protected from destruction by excessive browsing by white-tailed deer. Landowners can also benefit from leasing land to hunters, thereby receiving funds for their use and protection from overexploitation. Areas where populations are under control, collisions between deer and vehicles would be less likely than in areas of overpopulation. Population control costs include sports license fees, population monitoring and other studies. With hunters' willingness to pay, license fees are expected to cover a significant portion of the monetary budget needed to support wildlife management. Finally, the willingness of visitors to state and national parks to pay admission to view natural beauty and wildlife should help fund management of white-tailed deer herds where hunting for population control purposes is not not authorized by law..