IntroductionThe economics of the white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, management includes multiple facets. Deer herd health and population regulation are critical to the economics of most deer management plans. Local white-tailed deer populations have a direct impact on the human welfare economy. Management of deer populations heavily impacts agriculture, forestry, landscaping and natural vegetation. Recreational services are another economic source realized by white-tailed deer management. Much of the economics of white-tailed deer management can be applied to other game species as well. Herd Health and Regulation The size of the white-tailed deer population will affect the health of the herd. Disease in a herd spreads easily when the population size is large; this is known as 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 through 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 believed to have a 100% foot-and-mouth disease transmission rate. Chronic wasting disease is a deadly infectious prion disease that affects populations of cervids, hoofed and horned mammals, in North America (Habib, Merrill, Pybus, & Coltman, 2011). Chronic wasting disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals; however, it is believed that carcasses of infected individuals, along with saliva, blood, feces and urine left in the environment, ... middle of paper ... agricultural and forestry production can be protected from destruction by overbrowsing by white-tailed deer. Landowners can also benefit from leasing land to hunters, thus receiving funds for use and protection from overbrowsing. In areas where populations are under control, collisions between deer and vehicles would be less likely than in areas of overpopulation. Costs for population control include sports license fees, population monitoring, and other studies. With hunters' willingness to pay, license fees should cover a significant portion of the monetary budget needed to support wildlife management. Finally, the willingness to pay by visitors to state and national parks for admission and observation of natural beauty and wildlife should help fund the management of white-tailed deer herds where hunting for control of population is not permitted by law..