Can controlled bow hunts reduce overabundant white-tailed deer populations in suburban ecosystems?

► We model the impact of bow hunting on suburban populations of white-tailed deer. ► We examine changes to deer harvest rates as a function of deer density. ► Rifle hunting is approximately 3.3 times more efficient than bow hunting. ► Bow hunting produced only moderate deer reductions under most scenarios. ► At high deer densities, even low immigration rates will impede localized herd reductions.