[Illustration: _Figure 4.--As many wolf-killed deer as possible were examined from the ground. (Photo courtesy of L. D. Mech.)_]
In November 1967 and 1968 hunter-check stations were operated on the study area (fig. 5), and deer bagged by hunters were field-checked for age (Severinghaus 1949) and hoof abnormalities. As many lower jaws as possible were collected from field-checked deer and other deer killed in the area for age determination and examination for abnormal dentition.
[Illustration: _Figure 5.--Information about hunter-killed deer in the study area was obtained through hunter-check stations. (Photo courtesy of L. D. Frenzel.)_]
An assumption was made that the age structure and incidence of abnormalities in the sample of hunter-killed deer would be _reasonably representative_ of those in the population at large, an assumption also implicit in a similar comparison made by Pimlott _et al._ (1969). In this respect, the following statements by Maguire and Severinghaus (1954, p. 109) about deer in New York State are pertinent: "It may be concluded that, considering the open season as a whole, wariness does not significantly distort the age composition of the [deer] kill in relation to that of the corresponding wild population, except possibly for buck seasons of only 1 or 2 days duration.... A reliable appraisal of the age composition of the kill by hunting may be obtained through the operation of roadside checking stations." However, in critically reviewing the present paper Severinghaus stated that in States such as Minnesota, with fewer hunters and higher hunter success rates, age compositions of deer from checking stations may not be the same as those of wild populations. Reviewers Peek and Downing also made similar comments.
Nevertheless, for our comparison with wolf-killed deer it is not necessary that the hunter-kill age structure be exactly representative of the age structure of the actual deer population. All that is required is that there be reasonable agreement between the two. The hunting regulations in our study area allow a 9-day period of taking deer of any age or sex, and a single hunter may legally shoot as many deer as he and his party or associates have permits for. Thus there is no reason for selective hunting, and we feel confident that the age structure of the hunter-kill in our study area does basically represent that of the deer herd at large.