Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. North Carolina's major efforts to restore our state's deer resource took place in the 1940s through the 1970s. Utah Deer Population: The state estimates 305,700 mule deer for 2021, above the recent low of 268,180 in 2003, but about the same as the 1998 population of 307,500. That number sure has come a long way from 1900 when they were thought to have been completely wiped out with no wild populations left. . However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. Deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing. As recently as 1968 the in-state population estimate was only 25,000, but through conservation and management by 1990 that number skyrocketed to 100,000. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. Thank you for reading! Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. This means you would have had to put in an application for the 2021 controlled hunt draw and have been successful in order to hunt any eastern Oregon units for deer this year. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. Regular hunting ensures that a state will only have the number of deer its ecosystems can support. Hunting seasons, bag limits, deer restocking and habitat restoration are just a few of the management practices that sprung up. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. After two days of flying, they counted 796 elk - 172 were bulls with 460 cows and 160 calves. 27. Unlike the white-tailed deers antlers which branch out from a single main beam, the antlers of mule deer are bifurcated. New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. Predation and Deer Population. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Opportunities to help us shape deer population goals for 23 of Minnesota's 130 deer permit areas continue through Monday, Feb. 13, when the goal-setting questionnaire for this year will be closed. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, Fallow Deer vs. White-Tailed Deer: Key Differences. Kansas has about 50,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tails. The total number of deer hunters in the state is obtained from the hunting license database. This includes during the winter and early spring, they feed on Douglas fir, western red cedar, red huckleberry, salal, deer fern, and lichens growing on trees. . Arkansas nearly lost its deer population. 42. Today, the population sits around 660,000. There is also a population of white-tailed deer in Utah, however I could not find any credible estimates other than 1,000 back in 2008. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. Mule deer are the most populous with a 2020 estimate of 85,000-100,000 mule deer in Arizona. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. Since then, the introduction of white-tailed deer, habitat protection, and controlled hunting have allowed the deer to thrive again. If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. Deer are an important game animal in Georgia, and the state is among many that used conservation efforts to increase its population of these deer. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Wyoming is home to 70,000 white-tail deer and about 330,000 mule deer. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. During the past deer season, 191,731 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia. A 2019 study by the South Carolina department of natural resources estimated the white-tailed deer population in the state to be about 730,000. The 2020-2021 deer season showed hunters how . Williamson, WV (25661) Today. They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. When too many deer are in one environment, they can be a detriment by not allowing plants to grow to maturity or even completely wiping out a species of plant from an ecosystem. Spotlight surveys have been used by biologists nationwide since the mid-1900s and are effective for monitoring population trends, determining the distribution of species, identifying habitat use, and predicting disease outbreaks. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . It has around 100,000 white-tail deer, 100,000 mule deer, 100,000 black-tail deer, and more than 5,000 Columbian white-tail deer. Historically mountain lions and wolves helped to control the deer population, but with the absence of those predators today hunters are the only real population control. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. Learn more. But by that time, damage to deer herds had already been happening for almost 30 years. Three of those are abundant enough to hunt, the white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer. This 2015 article states the Arizona Big Game Management estimated Coues population at about 50,000-60,000 deer. The deer population in the United States varies by state. Georgia Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Current Deer Management Plan, 2015-2024; Deer Management Plan 2005-2014; Urban Deer Management Plan 2005-2014; Controlling Deer Damage; DNR Deer Restocking 1928-1974 Lets find out. Hunting, Research, and Management. While statewide estimates are gained mainly through harvest data, in 2021 a thermal imaging drone was flown over Arlington in efforts to gain more accurate data. California Department Fish and Wildlife: Deer Harvest Requirements. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. The process is outlined in detail in Appendix 2 of our Management Plan for White-tailed deer in New York State: 2021-2030 (PDF). For example, in 2016, Wisconsin had an estimated deer population of 1.3 million, while Texas had an estimated deer population of 4 million. Overpopulation of deer can damage ecosystems by preventing forest regrowth and causing declines in plant diversity. That brings us to the topic of this article, where we will dive into what the deer population is in each U.S. state, and which types of deer you can find there. White-tailed deer were plentiful in Illinois during the early 1800s, but supply began to dwindle by 1850 with the development of the railroads, cutting of timber and conversion of prairie land to farm land. This is quite a noticeable decline from the population high of 250,000 seen in 1988. Body. Title. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. Pennsylvania had the highest estimated number of auto claims (156,176). Arizona has a small population of whitetails, though they tend to prefer areas with more vegetation. The North Carolina Wildlife Commission estimated the white-tailed deer population in the state to be around 1 million. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. In some areas, state wildlife officials have increased the number of hunting permits to help bring down deer populations. Besides hunting, deer watching is a popular activity among visitors to the states parks and wildlife management areas. Recently the state has been increasing their any-deer (does or bucks) permits in an effort to bring down the population due to complains about too many deer and high levels of Lyme disease in certain areas. In the issue: Big-game preference points and herd counts! The antlers are used during the breeding season to compete for breeding females. Controlled hunting laws have kept the population stable. Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. Once the objectives are set, wildlife biologists and the CDACs work together to set hunting quotas and seasons to move the local deer population in the direction of that objective. Vermont has more deer hunters than any other New England state. We will be looking at the population of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed deer. Thank you for reading! Vermont is near the northernmost part of white-tailed deers range, and the deer must look for areas of shelter with mature evergreen trees to withstand the low temperatures and deep snow of winter. Black-tailed deer in their native Pacific northwest range live in dense coastal rainforest and semi-open habitats including riparian forest (along river banks) and areas of tangled shrubs and thicket. Oregon has two species of white-tail deer. Wayne county had a harvest percentage rate of 2.4% and Hickman county had a harvest rate percentage of 2.1%. There are no western states with over a million deer. Preliminary figures show that hunters registered 175,667 deer during the What Is The Deer Population In Wisconsin? Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of deer populations in each deer management unit (DMU). The state is home to 20,000 mule deer and 130,000 white-tail deer. However the accompanying article states estimates are likely conservative. For both species females are smaller than the males. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. When resources are scarce, they will eat insects and small animals. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. Try these articles next! Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. Read more about New Yorks deer abundance on the DEC site here. It is the only deer native to the state. Iowa has produced some of the largest bucks in the history of our country. Deer harvests began to increase again in 2016, possibly due to coyote densities declining. They have adapted well and currently coexist peacefully with the states native ecosystems. White-tailed deer are found throughout the state even in some coastal locales. develop estimates of deer density across the state. Overall outlook: New York's 2021 deer hunting forecast said biologists expect 2021-'22 to be another productive season for hunters. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. Over time this heavy hunting and habitat loss took a real toll. Cattle and sheep began competing with deer for space and grazing by the 1860s, combined with the 1859 Gold Rush that brought 100,000 people into the state soon to be followed by a railroad bringing even more settlers. Icon. 3) Colorado: Deer population around 25,000. This is according to the most recent (2019) population estimates conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TP&W).. Tennessee hunters harvested 159,879 deer in the state this hunting season. In the late 1800s, India gifted eight Axis deer to King Kamehameha V. These eight ended up on Molokai and have since been introduced to most of the other Hawaiian islands. See the 2021 report. The program aims to address many factors impacting mule deer such as post-fire rehabilitation, pinyon-juniper removal, invasive weed abatement, re-establishing beneficial shrub/grass/forbs to compromised habitats, water development, spring protection, highway crossings, migration corridor protection, disease surveillance, assessing and trying to mitigate impacts from mining/energy development, predator management, and collaring and monitoring mule deer to identity limiting factors/mortality/habitat selection, etc.. Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. The state does not count its two species separately. Predation is a natural form of mortality for white-tailed deer. We couldnt find any hard numbers and its likely an estimate has not yet been made. Read more about white-tailed deer in Michigan at Michigan.gov. Factors causing deer populations to grow in recent years include expansion of homes into rural areas that are hospitable for deer but are not suitable for hunting. In 1927 a huge flood in the eastern part of the state forced deer into small areas of high ground where they were unfortunately picked off by opportunistic hunters. Apparently people feeding deer, especially during the winter, has been an issue in the state. They seem to be everywhere, but how populous are they? The white-tailed deer found in Arizona belongs to the subspecies called Coues. Like other deer species they grow new antlers each spring and shed them during the winter. February 07, 2022. Oregon Department of Fish & Game: how to hunt deer and elk in Oregon. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring. Deer live in every county of the state. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Slow down. Clearly restocking, management efforts, and the shift away from clearing land for agriculture have worked, to the point where many counties are now trying to lower the number of deer to a more sustainable number. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught In Maine. Over the years, she raised livestock animals, small animals, dogs, cats, and birds, which is where she learned most of what she knows about various animals and what allowed her to work as a dog groomer and manager of a specialty pet store. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. Download the report for the 2021 season. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. White-tailed deer have bounced back from near extinction in Rhode Island. Which states have the most white-tail deer? This helps them avoid the harsher high elevation winter conditions such as deeper snow that covers up food. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says they are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters.. LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . The only Southern state in the top 10, Mississippi has an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer. Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. In 2021, the state launched a new initiative to enhance populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer. Deer enjoy eating mushrooms, nuts, berries, pumpkins, spinach, and apples. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. They are mostly herbivores who eat browse, which is a collective term for all types of roots, twigs, bark, grass, leaves, and other vegetation. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. State Farm says in any state, the risk of hitting a deer doubles in the fall, when the animals are mating. When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. As the largest of the lower 48 states, Texas has lots of room for deer. Deer hunting plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced. The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. White-tailed deer are an important game animal in Michigan. Take a look! The state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. The Illinois Division of Wildlife Resources says deer are an important part of the states economy. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. However they are not out of the woods with continued habitat loss and disease (such as the 2017 screwworm epidemic that killed a large portion of male Key deer) threatening their numbers. On average in North America, males weigh 121 331 pounds and females weigh 95 198 pounds. Importing of white-tailed deer from Michigan began in 1930 to strategic habitats. Post hunt population estimates are the starting point for setting antlerless quotas and harvest of antlerless deer is the primary way to manage deer herd abundance. Like many other states with healthy deer populations, Delaware uses managed hunting to control population levels. Wolves and mountain lions, their natural predators, no longer live in the state. Nebraska. They will lose these spots after a few months. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. The rest are mule deer. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. In 2021 the Nevada Department of Wildlife started the Mule Deer Enhancement Program to bring together people from all areas of the state to look at and address causes. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. . Florida Coastal White-tailed Deer (panhandle and northwestern portion of the state), Florida White-tailed Deer (northwestern, central and southern portion of the state). Once present in only a few counties, they are now abundant in each of the states 95 counties. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. The white-tailed deer has a reddish-brown coat in the spring which fades to a grayish-brown coat during the fall and winter. Their population is recovering due to prohibiting antlerless harvest for a few years and milder winters. They theorize habitat change, two decades of aggressive antlerless deer harvest, and the complete colonization of the state by coyotes and their impact on fawn survival as possible causes. DEC determines desired deer population changes using data on public preferences and deer impacts to forests. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? The state is home to more than 400,000 white-tailed and mule deer. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Survey data is collected by field biologists using aerial and ground surveys in the . Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. The Vermont fish & wildlife page reports that the pre-hunt estimate for white-tailed deer population in the state was approximately 133,000. The states only deer species is thriving in every region. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Deer are thriving in all parts of the state. But things got worse. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. How many deer live in the United States? They consider the population stable. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. There is a really nice timeline of events affecting the deer on the states history of deer management page. Deer play vital roles in the natural and cultural environment of New York and are highly valued for their beauty and grace as well as the utilitarian benefits they provide. The white-tail deer is the most common type of deer hunted in the United States. Wildlife biologists suggest developing softwood, nut-bearing habitats as a better alternative to human feeding. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. "With the information we gathered from the aerial counts and the harvest reports we can then adjust the hunting permit levels for that area," Palmer said. Hunting controls, restocking and improved habitat brought the deer population up to about 17,000 by 1965. White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. Browse, which is a collective term for shoots, twigs, leaves, and buds. There are six subspecies of mule deer found across California. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. The mule deer is a generalist and will forage on whatever is available. Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. They mostly live along the watersheds of the states major rivers. The mule deer working group lists the 2021 population in the badlands at 21,000. Thats an impressive comeback from the near extinction they faced in the state at the turn of the 20th century. Thank you for visiting! The over-arching goals of this mule deer plan are: 1) Preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage deer and their habitat to ensure healthy, productive populations; 2) Manage deer for a variety of recreational, educational, and . Deer Overabundance. Mule deer make up the largest portion of the population and 95% of the annual deer harvested. The FWC is working to reduce the risk of CWD spreading into this state with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, hunters, captive cervid owners, landowners, and the public. Ohio's average harvest compiled from the past three seasons is 184,746 deer. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. This 2021 article in the Observer-Dispatch reports a white-tailed deer population of approximately 1.2 million. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. 2021 seemed to show a higher-than-usual occurrence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), but at the time of writing this article is is unclear if it will significantly impact the states overall deer population. The longest known mule deer migration occurs in Wyoming where deer travel 150 miles from the Red Desert to the mountain slopes around the Hoback Basin. Their tail is thinner than the white-tailed deer, with a distinctive black tip at the bottom. Iowa's most recent . The white-tailed deer is the most common game species in the state today, however hunting was banned between 1841 and 1954 to allow the population to rebound after a huge decline in the early to mid 1800s. Like many other states, deer and other large game in Iowa was hunted to near extinction by the early 1800s. It was hard to find a species break-down, but in general it appears each of the three main species make up a fairly equal portion of that total, about 100,000 each. A 2018 estimate puts the white-tailed deer estimate around 18,000 for Rhode Island. We researched to find out. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. Those areas where populations are rapidly increasing are typically urban/suburban areas where the utilization of hunting as a management tool has been greatly hindered. It is easy to see deer in most U.S. state parks, reserves, and even suburban yards. 1756 Forever Wild. Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. According to this article current estimates are about 40,000 60,000 on Molokai, 20,000 on Lanai and 30,000 50,000 on Maui. Mule deer are found in the western third of the state, mainly in the High Plains, Smoky Hills and Red Hills regions. Deer hunting is a huge sport in the state, and the 2020-21 season saw a whopping 435,180 deer harvested, one of the largest in the country. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. The Department notes that deer live in natural woodlands, shelterbelts, old homesteads, and grasslands in every part of Kansas. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where you can regularly encounter anything from elk to black bears to river otters. Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Kentuckys Deer Restoration. "With roughly 35 calves per hundred cows, we know the herds are increasing. Each year, hunters take 40 to 70 percent of the antlered bucks and up to 25 percent of the does within many areas of Missouri. Bobcats and coyotes also prey on deer, but human hunting is the main way to control their populations. Native plant suppression when there are more deer than the ecosystem can sustain, native plants may be grazed to the point where they are never allowed to grow, reducing food for other animals and allowing invasive species to thrive. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. White-tailed deer can be found throughout the state while mule deer are mainly found around and to the west of the Missouri River breaks. Found in forests as well as the suburbs, deer are often thought to have spiritual meaning and can bring nature close to home since they are often seen in backyards and neighborhoods. Nevada is the western state with the . Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. . 15 SOAs. With no natural predators the population boomed. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Which came first, the black-tailed deer or the mule deer? According to data from State Farm, U.S. drivers had 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 2021 and June 2022, down 5.5 percent from the same period a year ago. This can have a Catch-22 effect on the wildlife population in the state. Based on 2015 deer populations estimates from North American Whitetail Magazine, here are the worse deer states to live: 1) Georgia: Deer population around 1.2 million. Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. Unlike white-tailed deer, some mule deer are migratory. (Texas is big in everything, it seems even deer!) Hunters Enjoying More Older Bucks White-tail deer are the official animal of Arkansas, These numbers are for mule deer and white-tail deer. By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. It was sometimes an up and down battle for the deer, but things really began to improve in the early 1970s when management of deer was turned over from the state legislature to the department of natural resources. State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. Although we think of deer as a forest animal, they also thrive in Floridas swampy coastal regions. Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . However they are a popular game species for the state, perhaps because they inhabit less hospitable terrain and are better at staying hidden than the mule deer, offering hunters more of a challenge. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest).