Exotic Species

Exotic species are species that are not native to an area, but are brought in to an area either intentionally, such as for hunting, or accidentally, such as an unsuspected "hitchhiker" species.

Huntable exotics are often found in game preserves and are stocked much like agricultural crops. Most exotics have restricted movement because of game-proof fencing and are owned by landowners. Some "free-roaming" exotics have expanded their ranges into neighboring counties. Exotic species are somewhat controversial because they can out-compete many of the native species. It is important that landowners use hunters to control exotic numbers just as hunters are used in wildlife management by states and provinces.

Some exotic species that are hunted in North America include the fallow deer, red deer, European wild boar and nilgai antelope.