Summary: Kaylyn McBrearty talkes about her PhD on white-tailed deer in Paradise, Queenstown, New Zealand. The purpose of this research is to endow the Game Animal Council (GAC) with knowledge on the Whakatipu white-tailed deer so that the herd may be designated as ‘of special interest’ and sustainably managed to improve herd health and performance for the continuation and improvement of New Zealand hunting resources. Information on herd dynamics will give the GAC a basic foundation to understanding the herd. However, in order for a management strategy to be designed which improves the herd, the GAC must know factors which currently or historically have limited it. As such, the proposed research aims to determine if the following factors are limiting on the health, performance or habitat range of the Whakatipu white-tailed deer herd and attempt to quantify the impact each has on herd success. This research is to be conducted for the fulfilment of a PhD by Kaylyn McBrearty at Lincoln University, Department of Ecology and Life sciences, advised by Landcare Research Ecologists. Research is currently conducted in collaboration with the Game Animal Council, the New Zealand Deer Stalkers Association, the Department of Conservation, Safari Club International and Wakatipu locals. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/protectwhitetaildeernz https://www.facebook.com/wakatipuwhitetail/info?tab=page_info
