Abstract Intensive deer management characterized by high fences and supplemental feeding and, in some instances, selective breeding programs, has increased dramatically across North America (NA) over the past several decades. This new management philosophy is not, however, without controversy. At several levels intensive deer management is incompatible with the NA Model of Wildlife Conservation including the fact that it promotes the privatization of wildlife and creates markets that sell public wildlife resources. Lastly, deer “hunting” under the intensive deer‐management model violates the fundamental concept of fair chase, which is a cornerstone principle of hunting in NA. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.