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. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. The two species live in different parts of the state. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. According to one source, the introduction of the white-tailed deer did not negatively impact the mule deer, elk or moose in the state as they occupy different types of habitat. 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. The distribution of hunted deer is about 60% mule deer and 40% Coues deer. . Thank you for reading! 2021 WAFWA Deer & Elk Business Meeting: Jim Heffelfinger: 1:00-2:40 PM: Deer Session 3: Disease: Delaware hunters reported harvesting 15,383 deer during the 2021/22 hunting season, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where you can regularly encounter anything from elk to black bears to river otters. Harvest numbers come from harvest reports submitted by successful hunters and data collected from meat locker records. During this time anyone could hunt deer and they were often a life line, providing meat and skin to the early settlers. New Hampshires Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. Indiana Department of Natural Resources: White-tailed Deer History & Biology. 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. Deer in the suburbs are well-known for eating the nice flowers and shrubs youve spent time planting in your yard. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. A popular game animal, it is so iconic to American forests that it has been named the official mammal of several states. 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. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. . They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. If it is just a garden you are trying to protect, you can net off that specific area rather than your whole yard, Motion detecting sprinklers can work great to startle them away. In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. South Dakota has more than 80,000 mule deer and 420,000 white-tail deer. Hunting, Research, and Management. But the lawsuit forced its hand, and between February 22 and 24, hunters killed 218 wolves, according to the Wisconsin . The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. It also has a small but healthy population of sika deer (Cervus nippon yakushimae) They are not native to the state, but they were released into the wild from a private farm. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. The harvest was 10.9% lower than the 2020/21 record harvest of 17,265 deer, but marked the ninth consecutive year that the Delaware harvest exceeded 14,000 deer. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. Deer are thriving in all parts of the state. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. 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. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. Current Management. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. Hunters in Region B the remainder of the state harvested 62,916 deer, down 13% from 72,346 . Controlled hunting laws have kept the population stable. 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. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting resources. Be on the lookout. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. Hunters Enjoying More Older Bucks Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. 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. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge. On the other hand, hunting them provides food for many and their meat is very prized. This represents a 2.4 percent increase in harvest from 2019 (193,073) and is 38 percent below the record harvest established in 2002 (319,902). While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. The most credible white-tailed estimate I could find came from the 2017-2023 South Dakota white-tailed and mule deer management plan, which listed the 2016 preseason population estimate at 425,000. Strict measure were taken to improve this, including closing all hunting for many years, restocking from other states, and cracking down on enforcing regulations. A 2021 estimate puts mule deer at a population of between 90,000 130,000. This may seem small compared to the 10.1 million people living in Georgia, but it does not account for an accurate number of deer in urban areas. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac Deer Face Scent Glands, Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught In Maine. Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. 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. Most deer live in the western part of the state. Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. Ohio had lost most of its deer by 1900 due to habitat loss and hunting. 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. 42. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. A small population has also been introduced on the island of Kaui, Hawaii. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. Although they were once almost wiped out from many states, they have successfully repopulated most of their former territories. develop estimates of deer density across the state. 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 . This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. They seem to be everywhere, but how populous are they? The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. . February 07, 2022. Mule deer make up the largest portion of the population and 95% of the annual deer harvested. The Department notes that deer live in natural woodlands, shelterbelts, old homesteads, and grasslands in every part of Kansas. Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. This helps them avoid the harsher high elevation winter conditions such as deeper snow that covers up food. Washington has the most variety of deer. They will lose these spots after a few months. They live in forests, prairies, coastal areas, and grasslands. "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. There are nearly 2,000 different species! The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. White tailed deer are found throughout the state, with the highest numbers in eastern half. 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. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. Spring Spotlight Survey Results, 2022 Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. Archery (including crossbows) accounted for 14% of the deer kill; muzzleloaders, 23%; and firearms, 63%. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Kentuckys Deer Restoration. 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. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. States With Minimal Deer Populations. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . The state banned hunting in 1841, and the deer population increased. Nevada is one of the few states where deer populations have declined in recent decades. 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. Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. They now live on several Hawaiian islands, and their population is estimated at around 100,000. The antlers are used during the breeding season to compete for breeding females. The others are black-tail deer and mule deer. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Arkansas nearly lost its deer population. All of Alaskas deer are black-tail deer. Although we think of deer as a forest animal, they also thrive in Floridas swampy coastal regions. The states population declined when coyotes returned to South Carolina in large numbers, but it remains stable. The deer mostly live in the northeastern part of the state. The total deer estimate for the state in recent years is about 280,000 300,000. Today, the population sits around 660,000. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. Deer prefer forested areas where they can find vegetation to eat. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). Deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. In fact the 2020-21 hunting season is reported as one of Ohios most successful with 197,735 deer harvested. They may occasionally eat small animals like mice or birds, but it isnt very common. Download the report for the 2021 season. Deer live in every county of the state. Based on preliminary data provided by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) the number of reported deer-vehicle collisions for 2021 was 6,409 . 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. Icon. When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. Like many other states, deer and other large game in Iowa was hunted to near extinction by the early 1800s. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. . An article published in November of 2021 in the CT Insider quotes the CT DEEP stating that the three year average for total deer population in the state is 101,000. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. 27. 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.. Tag numbers are approximately 20% of the estimated mule deer population for the year (low . 10 Black Snakes in Georgia (With Pictures), 16 Species of Bats in Texas (With Pictures), Black Bear Population by State (Recent Reports), Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State), Moose Population by State (Estimates and Info), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Maryland white-tailed deer management plan, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks site, 2017-2023 South Dakota white-tailed and mule deer management plan, 2021 Range-Wide Status of Black-tailed and Mule Deer, 12 Types of Animals With a Long Tail (with Pictures), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures), 460,420 (black-tailed and mule deer combined), 427,500 (combined white-tail and mule deer), central to eastern Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New England and Nova Scotia, Key deer / Florida Keys white-tailed deer, Florida keys, mainly from Sugarloaf Key to Bahia Honda Key, Coues white-tailed deer / Arizona white-tailed deer / fantail deer, Arizona and parts of New Mexico into Mexico, Dakota white-tailed deer / northern plains white-tailed deer, western and central Canada, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, North & South Dakota and western Minnesota, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County South Carolina, south-central Oregon and southern Washington/northern Oregon border, U.S. central plains including Texas panhandle, parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh county Georgia, Rocky Mountains white-tailed deer / northwestern white-tailed deer, western Canada and northern Rocky Mountains, Gulf coast of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, Virginia white-tailed deer / southern white-tailed deer, Pacific Northwest and northern California, southeastern coastal Alaska, south central Alaska, coastal British Columbia, California mule deer (Westside of Sierra Nevada down to south coast), Desert/burro mule deer (southwest California, northwest Mexico and Arizona), Southern mule deer (Southernmost California and Baja California), Rocky Mountain mule deer (Northwest California, western and central North America), Inyo mule deer (Sierra Nevada, California). While overall population is down from the peak years of the mid to late 1990s, density of deer still remains a problem in many suburban parts of the state. 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). State wildlife biologists were concerned about damage from these non-native deer, but monitoring programs have found they coexist peacefully with the states native species. 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. They also state the greatest density of deer can be found in Rockingham, Hillsborough and Cheshire counties, as well as along the Connecticut River Valley in Grafton County. A spring 2020 estimate put their population at about 1,200. In 2017 the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division reported an estimated population of 1.27 million. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring. Because of this permits and licenses are becoming more flexible opening up new opportunities for the states hunters. File Layout [< 1.0 MB] Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (NST-EST2022-POPCHG2020-2022) [< 1.0 MB] With each new release of annual estimates, the entire time series of estimates is revised for all years back to the . Hunting for mule deer is more popular in Wyoming than hunting for white-tail deer. 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 Alabama has more than 1.5 million white-tailed deer. Tennessee hunters harvested 159,879 deer in the state this hunting season. Vermont has more deer hunters than any other New England state. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. This booming population now has deer in overabundance and the state DEC aims to control this with managed harvesting. They are the most hunted big game in the state. 2021-2023 Deer Population Objectives. On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. The mule deer population has been in decline since 1980, decreasing from 300,000 to todays estimate of 170,000 190,000 in 2020. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. About 74,000 hunters participated in the state's 2017 spring turkey season, and killed 33,000 birds. . While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. 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. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. However, in West Virginia, drivers had the highest likelihood of hitting an animal. Deer Gestation Period: How Long Are Deer Pregnant? I have seen some debate on this but at the time of writing this article the consensus is that black-tailed deer are a subspecies of the mule deer. 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. Nevada is the western state with the . The first game laws restricting hunting went into effect in 1853. This is the only deer species in the state, and it is a huge conservation success story. Take a look! But things got worse. They are adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions. Michigans many deer are all white-tails. White-tailed deer are one of three deer species native to North America. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Hunting controls, restocking and improved habitat brought the deer population up to about 17,000 by 1965. Idaho has about 520,000 white-tails, and the rest are mule deer. 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. Unlike the white-tailed deers antlers which branch out from a single main beam, the antlers of mule deer are bifurcated. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. Today, the state enjoys a healthy population of almost 1 million white-tailed deer who live in each of its 75 counties. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. Like many states, Ohio successfully reintroduced deer, and they are now thriving. Title. White-tailed deer have bounced back from near extinction in Rhode Island. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. Also the growth of suburbs that broke up large swaths of forested land into smaller chunks actually benefited the deer. The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. 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. Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. 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. Theres a lot more interesting history you can in Colorados Mule Deer Story. 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) . What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report . We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy . However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. but is also indicative that the deer population is trending toward a population level that reduces damage to agriculture and minimizes impacts on our natural communities. For both species females are smaller than the males. How many deer are in Wisconsin 2021? Body. I live in the Pacific Northwest and am surrounded by nature. The state is home to more than 400,000 white-tailed and mule deer. Deer are plentiful, and people who enjoy watching wildlife will find many opportunities to see them roaming free in forests and parks all over the country. Maryland Department of Natural Resources: hunting in Maryland. Title. Long story short, conservation and advances in wildlife management brought the deer back. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. After two days of flying, they counted 796 elk - 172 were bulls with 460 cows and 160 calves. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. They are an attractive deer with a bright orange-brown coat covered in white spots, much like the fawn of white-tailed deer. During the past deer season, 191,731 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife: White-tailed deer hunting and harvest. White-tailed deer are not native to Alaska and do not have well-established populations there. 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.. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. The 2021 mule deer survey put their population within the state at 227,392. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? This number can drift up and down depending on the severity of the winter and how many harsh or mild winters there may be in a row. However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions.