For deer control to be effective for significantly reducing tick diseases, the deer have to be even lower in density, maybe 12 /sq. mile or less. You probably won’t notice any difference in tick diseases at all at 18/sq. mile. And extreme deer control would have to continue indefinitely.
Extermination (often sharpshooters with baiting) have worked in very small areas like Monhegan Island, Me. If you combined extreme reduction in isolated areas perhaps the population would remain low enough to be manageable. This approach could be tested in smaller isolated areas of Martha’s Vineyard.
The Island is fortunate to have many peninsulas separated by water. Small areas such as Sepiessa Point could be fenced off with cattle guards at road entrances. Other areas might include Squibnocket Point and West Chop. If these were successful and the public approved, you could try larger areas such as Aquinnah (from Stonewall Beach, Chilmark) and Chappaquiddick Island.
Normal hunting, even with year round seasons, won’t work due to diminishing hunter effort and success, brush, posted lands and, of course, expenses with the ferry.
Mark D. Mattson
Aquinnah
This article appears in July 3, 2026.