The factors which have contributed most to the apparent decline of deer numbers in California which started about 1960 are thought to be primarily a diminishing food supply and loss of habitat. The influences of fire, logging, and livestock grazing starting in the late 1800's altered pristine vegetation on forests and rangelands which originally supported relatively few deer, triggering growth of successional food plants which deer could use. Changes in the patterns of burning, logging and grazing plus a shift from sheep to cattle on rangelands have all contributed to lowering the production of deer food plants. These changes have been accompanied by unfavorable weather patterns which have apparently augmented the decline. Continued lack of an adequate hunting program to utilize deer effectively has led to overstocked ranges where severe intraspecific competition for existing forage supplies has existed for many years. Deer have contributed importantly to the decline of their own range condition. Changes in land ownership and use objectives, sylvicultural practices, and construction of highways and water projects have all played a part in the loss of deer habitat.
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