What exactly did TWRA do to bring back deer and turkey populations? Reintroduction and regulations?
Their own website touts the deer restoration. By their estimates there were 2000 deer in the entire state of TN in the 1940's and close to a million by the year 2000. That's a 50,000% increase in roughly 40 years. Hard to believe there aren't more factors. They introduced 9000 deer into the state from 1940-1985. An average of 200 deer per year.
From 1940 to 1985 over 9,000 deer were released into various counties and wildlife management areas of Tennessee. Coverage of the state was relatively complete during this effort, and deer populations were successfully established statewide (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 1991).
Because of restoration initiatives, effective game laws, and wise management, the deer herd in Tennessee has increased dramatically from approximately 2,000 deer in the 1940's to an estimated 900,000 animals in 2005. To date, the majority of the herd exists in middle and western Tennessee, while densities in the Mississippi River counties, the Cumberland Plateau, and far eastern portions of the state remain below desired levels.