Wild ungulates such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are highly valued wildlife assets that provide subsistence, economic and cultural benefits to hunters and rural communities. Yet, high density populations of these herbivores can contribute significantly to regeneration failures in a wide range of forest types. Pre-European settlement white-tailed deer densities were estimated to have been approximately 2-4 deer km⁻², and similar densities have been recommended to balance contemporary forest regeneration and wildlife objectives. We studied northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) regeneration on neighboring tribal and state forests where socio-cultural differences have led to distinct hunting management practices and subsequent differences in wildlife-plant interactions. Tribes such as the Lac du Flambeau Chippewa have kept deer populations relatively low on reservation lands through active hunting practices. We used an observational study approach to compare in situ ungulate herbivory under low (2-3 deer km⁻²) and high (>10 deer km⁻²) population densities. We measured northern red oak regeneration on tribal and state forests in two management unit types: contiguous stands of oak >15ha in area and small residual “pockets” of oak