Game management refers to the practice of maintaining and regulating wildlife populations and their habitats to ensure sustainability, health, and balance within ecosystems. It involves the careful monitoring and management of both game species (such as deer, elk, and waterfowl) and the environments they inhabit, with the goal of supporting healthy, thriving populations while also balancing human interests, such as hunting and conservation.

Game management can include a variety of strategies and activities, such as:

1. Population Control: This involves managing the number of animals in a given area to prevent overpopulation or underpopulation. Techniques include regulated hunting seasons, bag limits, and habitat restoration efforts to maintain a sustainable balance between game species and their environments.

2. Habitat Conservation: Ensuring that animals have access to sufficient food, water, shelter, and breeding sites is a core element of game management. Habitat improvements may involve planting food plots, conserving wetlands, thinning forests, or restoring native vegetation to improve the living conditions for game species.

3. Species Monitoring: Regular surveys and studies are conducted to track the health and numbers of game species, identifying trends in population growth, migration patterns, disease outbreaks, and other factors that might affect the stability of species in the wild.

4. Predator Control: In some cases, game management may involve controlling predators to reduce their impact on game species, ensuring that prey populations remain stable. This is especially relevant when non-native predator species threaten the balance of local ecosystems.

5. Education and Regulation: Educating hunters, landowners, and the public about sustainable hunting practices, wildlife conservation, and ethical standards is a crucial aspect of game management. Laws and regulations, including hunting licenses, tag systems, and protected species, play an essential role in ensuring that game management objectives are met.

Overall, game management seeks to strike a balance between conserving wildlife and habitats, providing opportunities for recreational hunting, and ensuring that ecosystems function in a healthy and sustainable manner for future generations.