Williamson, WV (25661) Today. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. Deer in the suburbs are well-known for eating the nice flowers and shrubs youve spent time planting in your yard. Overpopulation of deer can damage ecosystems by preventing forest regrowth and causing declines in plant diversity. See the 2021 report. The states population declined when coyotes returned to South Carolina in large numbers, but it remains stable. Mule deer are classified as the species Odocoileus hemionus, the Rocky-Mountain mule deer. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. How many deer are in Texas? White-tailed deer populations listed by The antlers grow in late spring, and are covered with tissue called velvet during this growth period. It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. According to a quote in the Michigan Bridge made by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, there may be as many as 2 million deer in the state today. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. DEC determines desired deer population changes using data on public preferences and deer impacts to forests. In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. I could not find an exact count that was more recent, however based on estimated deer harvest numbers the total population in Florida as of 2019 may be closer to 550,000. The only Southern state in the top 10, Mississippi has an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer. 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. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. 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. Population expansion is expected at about 1-2% each year in the near future, how some areas of middle and west Tennessee may be trying to lower the deer numbers to a more manageable level. 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. The 2021 mule deer survey put their population within the state at 227,392. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. 42. One of the things that makes white-tailed deer so widespread is their ability to adapt to many environments. . What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. Hunting, Research, and Management. While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. Deer living in suburbs and areas not zoned for hunting are hard to monitor due to the fact that most of the data about the deer . Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. Based on hunting data the white-tailed deer population in 2017 was about 135,000. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. U.S. Deer Populations - DeerBusters.com In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. 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. 2021 Oregon Deer And Elk Hunting Prospects By Region When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. . The Best Deer Hunting States in 2022 - Silencer Central Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. Recently, the number of hunters applying for a deer tag (residents and out-of-state applicants combined) is in the range of 60,000 to 80,000. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. The lowest estimate in the state came around 1931, when Virginia was down to just 25,000 deer after over 100 years of hunting and habitat loss. LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. By 1930 less than 500 deer remained. At that time, many state wildlife agencies were formed with the goal of conserving the nation's depleted wildlife resources. On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. 2021 data shows an estimated mule deer population of about 84,000 90,000 in Nevada. Mule deer are native to the state, and the white-tailed deer were introduced by Idaho Fish & Game in the 1950s to present more hunting opportunities. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. Have some feedback for us? This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. She now has three rescue cats and two high-needs Pomeranian mixes to take up her love and attention. Small herds also exist on prairies in Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. If you see a sick or abnormally thin deer or deer dead of unknown causes, please report its location to the CWD hotline: (866) CWD-WATCH (293-9282) . 27. That includes white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tail deer, and a handful of rare deer species. Deer Population Facts Population History In the early 1900's there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. The Sitka blacktail deer is native to the coastal rainforests of southeastern Alaska, and has been introduced to areas of South Central Alaska. These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA . The mule deer working group estimates the 2021 mule deer population at 330,700. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In Vermont they also prefer the valley areas that have a mix of forest and fields. 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. Illinois Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting information. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. 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. White-tailed deer are an important game animal in the state. In 2021, the state launched a new initiative to enhance populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer. The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. The states fish and game page describes mule deer as boom and bust, meaning their populations can vary quite a bit year to year based on environmental conditions such as drought. Deer - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Deer Population by State (Estimates and Info) - Wildlife Informer The Vermont fish & wildlife page reports that the pre-hunt estimate for white-tailed deer population in the state was approximately 133,000. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. 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. Idaho is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Body. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. Hunting female deer a better population management strategy Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . With laws enacted and amount of farmed land decreasing, deer began to rebound. However, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently added white-tailed deer to the states hunting regulations since the species is slowly migrating into the state. 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. Outdoors: Deer population in New York wasn't always so high In the early 1900s laws regulating deer hunting were passed but did little good as they went unenforced for the most part. Harvest numbers come from harvest reports submitted by successful hunters and data collected from meat locker records. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. However the accompanying article states estimates are likely conservative. In the April 2020 state wildlife report, estimates put the elk population in the Black Hills at approximately 6,000 - 8,000, and the population in Custer State Park at approximately 460. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. 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. White-tail deer are the official animal of Arkansas, These numbers are for mule deer and white-tail deer. Washingtons deer thrive in the mountain regions. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. For both species females are smaller than the males. Hunting is the leading cause of deer mortality in most of the state (Figure 3). The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. Marylands deer population includes 207,000 white-tail deer and about 10,000 Sika deer. 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. On Saturday, February 18, 2023, staff from CPW were able to recapture and refit the collar on male wolf 2101 near North Park. White-tailed deer are statewide but more populous in the east, while mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state. White-tailed deer are an important game animal in Michigan. There is also a small population of black-tailed deer on the island of Kauai that were introduced from Oregon in 1961. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Delaware hunters reported harvesting 15,383 deer during the 2021/22 hunting season, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. 3) Colorado: Deer population around 25,000. Mule deer are the most populous with a 2020 estimate of 85,000-100,000 mule deer in Arizona. Apparently people feeding deer, especially during the winter, has been an issue in the state. Hawaii does not have white-tailed deer or any native deer. Delaware Deer Harvest Announced for 2021/22 Hunting Season Wolves and mountain lions, their natural predators, no longer live in the state. The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. Today, the deer population is estimated to be at least 500,000. All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. The supply of deer food throughout the state was in generally good condition. Fall 2021-22 harvest: 191,731. In the issue: Big-game preference points and herd counts! Sitka are the smaller subspecies weighing between 80 120 pounds. Estimating Deer Populations on Your Property: Population Dynamics West Virginia Department of Natural Resources: big game hunting information. They mostly live in the states coastal regions. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? According to the state of Massachusetts deer management page, there are an estimated 95,000 white-tailed deer in the state. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. . Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. It is important they have access to both the cover provided by the forest and the grazing in open areas and along the forest edge. 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. 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. 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. Deer Overabundance - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Damage to landscape overpopulation of deer in the suburbs makes them more and more apt to use your flower beds and gardens as a snack station. We couldnt find any hard numbers and its likely an estimate has not yet been made. But what is their population by state? East Tennessee Outdoors 2020 Deer Harvest Results - Elizabethton Most deer live in the western part of the state. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. Their tail is thinner than the white-tailed deer, with a distinctive black tip at the bottom. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the return of this deer is a tribute to good landowner attitude and progressive management, research, and enforcement programs.. The emphasis is a science-based approach to managing of mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations. Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. They live in every state of the country, and their numbers are stable. The good news seems to be that the white-tailed deer numbers have recovered from the hit they took in 2012-2013 from a bad outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. When alarmed, white-tailed deer will raise their tail straight up, flashing the white. Oregon has two species of white-tail deer. In Mississippi, the deer herd is estimated at 1.75 million animals, which is higher on a deer-per-unit-area basis (density) than any other state, and only Texas has a greater number of deer. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. . State Population Totals: 2020-2022 - Census.gov A spring 2020 estimate put their population at about 1,200. 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. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Indiana County Deer Statistics Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. Even though black-tailed deer are considered subspecies of mule deer, there is still some debate on their origins and they are often counted separately. State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned that this population may not be sustainable. This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. A 2021 article in the Press Herald quoted a state biologist as saying the 2019 whitetail deer population estimate was 230,000 250,000 and that today the numbers are likely closer to 280,000 300,000. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. 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. Hunting of black-tailed deer is allowed, and at the time of writing this article so is hunting of mule and white-tailed deer, in order to help get more information on these new populations entering the state. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is one of the most populous animals in the United States, and it is found in almost every state. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. Deer Population - Georgia Wildlife Blog State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. Once present in only a few counties, they are now abundant in each of the states 95 counties. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. 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. The largest deer are often found along the northern portions of their range, while the tiny Key Deer of Florida barely make it to 100 pounds. White-tailed deer are a popular game animal found in almost every part of the United States. The DNR estimated 574,000 hunters spent 8.7 million days afield during the 2017 deer season, and harvested 376,000 deer for a nearly 50% success rate. 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.