I never thought of that angle, noreaster.
In PA the deer belong to the State. Technically it states that they belong to the citizens, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are the citizens collective representatives in charge of them. But the PGC is standalone, or so it's touted. Technically they are not funded by the State government and rely on license sales, though the 8 commissioners (who have total veto power to biologists, though no wildlife education is required) are politically appointed by the governor.
Sorry for the insider rant.