Oh, Deer!

Oh, Deer! is an educational simulation game where the player has to control the population of a deer herd around a suburban community. The aim is to reduce the size of the herd to a level that can be supported both by the land and the people. The game deals with wildlife population dynamics and management issues as well as how human-defined values are applied to animals in the environment.

The game is played over five years. At the start of each year, the player chooses one of seven actions from a menu. The actions that can be taken include removing deer by trapping or shooting, planting food in areas away from homes, spraying repellents on shrubs, scaring the deer away or to do some research. After choosing an action, statistics show the development of the herd during the year and how much it costs. A public approval rating is then given.