Deer will eat almost anything they can reach--berries, leaves, acorns wildflowers and grass. With the number of deer rising rapidly across the country, their image is taking a beating these days; They're not just Bambi anymore. Suburban homeowners complain about shrubbery being devoured, farmers are angry about crops being consumed, and drivers are in an increasing number of collisions with the animals.

Early in the century, deer were barely hanging on in the United States. Over the years,though, hunting seasons were limited and traditional predators such as wolves were all but eliminated. Later, the development of suburbia provided ideal living conditions by furnishing the combination of forest and field in which the deer thrive. In Virginia, the estimated deer population of 1 million is probably five times as large as it was when European settlers arrived.

There are more Deer now, than there were 50 years ago, thanks to Game Management! 50 years ago...It was rare to see a deer. Deer sightings sometimes made the front page of local newspapers.