Wild ungulate populations (especially deer and wild boar) have in recent decades increased exponentially in numerous regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including France. They have become locally overabundant, with increasing number of studies reporting severe impacts on forest dynamics and biodiversity. High browsing pressures have led to biotic impoverishment and homogenization of forest understory plant communities, and forest managers face increasing difficulties in regenerating the forest. Consequently, local conflicts are common among foresters, farmers, hunters and nature conservationists that prioritize different management objectives. Adaptive wildlife management is seen as a way of improving the management of wild ungulate populations and their impact on socio-ecosystems. First, we present some French case studies of adaptive management, and discuss their successes and failures in trying to reconcile forest production and hunting. Next, we present some preliminary results from a new research project on adaptive management of forest production and hunting, where environmental risk assessment and management are tested as a tool for managing the impacts of wild ungulates on forest regeneration. Finally, we conclude by giving some perspectives related to the implementation of the new legislative framework on forest management in France.