Estimating willingness to pay for protection of eastern black walnut from deer damage

For many landowners willing to plant trees, one of the biggest establishment and maintenance costs is protecting those young trees from deer browse damage. In some cases, the method of protection used can cost two to three times as much as the cost of planting. Deer damage such as nipping off terminal buds and buck rub penetrating the bark and cambial tissue can kill young trees or cause substantial degradation in future log quality and value. An estimate of landowners' willingness to pay for damage abatement, or willingness to accept deer damage can indicate the economic impact that deer populations have on timber investment. Returns to investment are dramatically reduced when excessive costs for deer abatement are compounded to a future harvest. Three black walnut plantations are analyzed to determine the amount of deer damage present, and the costs of deer protection methods.