Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: White-tailed deer in Maine. Most other western states have between 100,000 to 540,000 deer per state. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. 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). Hunting for mule deer is more popular in Wyoming than hunting for white-tail deer. 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. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. 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. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. The top of their tail is brown, but the underside is very fluffy and white. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Deer Population Facts Population History In the early 1900's there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. There are only white-tail deer in North Carolina. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). They seem to be everywhere, but how populous are they? By the turn of the century people began to realize they needed conservation programs or the deer would go the way of the buffalo. At that time, many state wildlife agencies were formed with the goal of conserving the nation's depleted wildlife resources. A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. On Saturday, February 18, 2023, staff from CPW were able to recapture and refit the collar on male wolf 2101 near North Park. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. . The state is home to more than 400,000 white-tailed and mule deer. During this time anyone could hunt deer and they were often a life line, providing meat and skin to the early settlers. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Washington state is home four subspecies of deer. Washington: 305,000. 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. Some conservationists think the number of deer is too high. Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. 4382 WMAs. 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. Conservation efforts, game management programs, and habitat protection have all helped them survive. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. It is the only deer native to the state. Arkansas nearly lost its deer population. 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. Loss of habitat too many deer in a forested area can completely eat through the green understory. The state does not count its two species separately. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Besides hunting, deer watching is a popular activity among visitors to the states parks and wildlife management areas. 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. Ohio had lost most of its deer by 1900 due to habitat loss and hunting. White-tailed deer are found throughout the state even in some coastal locales. It is easy to see deer in most U.S. state parks, reserves, and even suburban yards. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. Engage with us in 2023. Although we think of deer as a forest animal, they also thrive in Floridas swampy coastal regions. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? Unlike the white-tailed deers antlers which branch out from a single main beam, the antlers of mule deer are bifurcated. 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. It may be that monitoring of this species separate from overall deer in the state has not yet been established. A 2018 estimate puts the white-tailed deer estimate around 18,000 for Rhode Island. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting resources. Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. The sika deer population is mainly found along coastal regions and is much lower than the white-tailed deer. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. South Dakota has more than 80,000 mule deer and 420,000 white-tail deer. Deer are a favorite big game animal. During the 2020 deer season it is estimated that a total of 107,212 bucks and 90,681 does were harvested for a statewide total of 197,893 deer ( Table 1 ). Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. Winds light and variable.. Tonight This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. 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. Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. New Mexicos game & fish page states that while poor conditions in the early 2000s suppressed deer numbers, things have since improved and today populations are stable with most experiencing growth. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. According to the Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, most of the state conservation efforts are funded through hunting and fishing license sales and firearms sales. The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. Hawaii does not have white-tailed deer or any native deer. . Some states also have small populations of endemic deer species found only in that state. For example, in 2016, Wisconsin had an estimated deer population of 1.3 million, while Texas had an estimated deer population of 4 million. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. That includes white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tail deer, and a handful of rare deer species. This coupled with careful management clearly has allowed deer in Mississippi to make an impressive comeback. 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. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned that this population may not be sustainable. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. 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. New Hampshire: 100,000. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. The deer mostly live in the northeastern part of the state. Late spring to fall, they consume grasses, blackberries, apples, fireweed, pearly everlasting, forbs, salmonberry, salal, and maple. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. Today, the population sits around 660,000. Icon. A 2021 estimate puts mule deer at a population of between 90,000 130,000. While overall the deer population is considered to be stable, the migratory populations in the Sierra Nevada and the black-tailed deer in the northwest are likely in decline, while suburban populations are increasing. Hunting seasons, bag limits, deer restocking and habitat restoration are just a few of the management practices that sprung up. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. 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. Deer overpopulation causes habitat destruction, crop damage, vehicle collisions and disease all of which threatens the long-term survival of white-tailed deer in Wisconsin. Biologists believe a new framework for deer management is in order, and one that takes into account the ecological capacity of the current ecosystem. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission starting putting limits on hunting in 1916 to try and turn the tide, with an estimated 2,000 deer remaining in the state. Washington has the most variety of deer. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. Colorado doesnt count deer species separately. The first game laws restricting hunting went into effect in 1853. They are mostly herbivores who eat browse, which is a collective term for all types of roots, twigs, bark, grass, leaves, and other vegetation. According to the same state estimates, White-tail populations have consistently increased since 1989 where they were estimated to number around 3.5 Million. New Hampshire Fish & Game: Deer Hunting in New Hampshire. Deer were in trouble in Florida with low populations between the 1700s and 1940s due to unregulated hide trading, hunting and a cattle-fever tick scare that caused mass deer removal. 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 Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. 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. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Nevada is the western state with the . There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. They are an attractive deer with a bright orange-brown coat covered in white spots, much like the fawn of white-tailed deer. All this brings us to today. Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. 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. Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. White-tailed deer are not native to Alaska and do not have well-established populations there. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. During this time, Maine's deer population grew to an estimated all time high of 331,000, however, much of the growth occurred within the southern tier of the state. 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 mule deer is a generalist and will forage on whatever is available. 48 State Parks. 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. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. Strict measure were taken to improve this, including closing all hunting for many years, restocking from other states, and cracking down on enforcing regulations. But things got worse. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. Emily is an editor and content marketing specialist of five years. 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. Thats an impressive comeback from the near extinction they faced in the state at the turn of the 20th century. 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. White-tail deer are the official animal of Arkansas, These numbers are for mule deer and white-tail deer. . About 206,00 hunters used a crossbow and harvested 93,000 deer. White-tailed deer are a popular game animal found in almost every part of the United States. The first recorded sightings of the white-tailed deer in Utah happened in the northern part of the state, Cache county, in the late 1990s. Like most deer, black-tail browse on what vegetation is available in each season. The state says its population is well-managed and sustainable. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. 2021 WAFWA Deer & Elk Business Meeting: Jim Heffelfinger: 1:00-2:40 PM: Deer Session 3: Disease: COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's 2021-22 deer hunting season concluded Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, with 196,988 deer checked, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. New for 2021, all eastern Oregon deer hunting is controlled. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. A spring 2020 estimate put their population at about 1,200. The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. A separate mule deer survey put the mule deer population in 2021 at 53,400, so it would appear the large majority of deer in Kansas are white-tailed. The overall size, length, and branches on antlers depends on how well-fed the deer is, how old it is, and some is just genetics. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . Insurance provider State Farm estimated there were. Read More After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. 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. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. 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.. 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. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. A small population has also been introduced on the island of Kaui, Hawaii. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. Today, they are an important game animal and a key part of the states ecosystems. However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. Estimates of deer density were: White = rare, absent, or urban area with unknown population, Green = less than 15 deer per square mile, Yellow = 15 to 30 deer per square mile, Orange = 30 to 40 deer per square mile, or Red = greater than 45 deer per square mile. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. Generally cloudy. The state reports that in areas where hunting is allowed and accessible, deer numbers are well balanced. When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. 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. Archery (including crossbows) accounted for 14% of the deer kill; muzzleloaders, 23%; and firearms, 63%. In Wisconsin, there have been 1,822 entries for the buck, which is . Arizona has a small population of whitetails, though they tend to prefer areas with more vegetation. 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. There is also a small population of black-tailed deer on the island of Kauai that were introduced from Oregon in 1961. They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. Hunters Enjoying More Older Bucks Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. In the early 1900s laws regulating deer hunting were passed but did little good as they went unenforced for the most part. This means they fork as they grow. There are an estimated 36 million deer in the United States. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. Deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing. Deer species in the U.S. are split into eastern and western groups, with some cross over in the middle. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. They will lose these spots after a few months. 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. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. To understand how each metric is calculated and how the data are used view the annual deer management reports. Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. There are nearly 2,000 different species! When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. . 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. Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. Patterns and Habitats, Deer in Texas: Types, Populations, and Where they Live. This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Wishau said the industry is seeing a real decline in new hunters. For our population numbers, we relied on official numbers from each states Fish and Wildlife Department, Department of Natural Resources, or another appropriate source. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. This time the population grew to 212 deer in only 6 years. 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. They are most populous in states like Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New York, but they are slowly infiltrating other areas like Alaska as well. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. Tag numbers are approximately 20% of the estimated mule deer population for the year (low . White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. The emphasis is a science-based approach to managing of mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations. For white-tailed deer, the last mention I could find was about 520,000 around 2015. 2021's deer season in Kentucky exceeded already high numbers coming out of the pandemic-affected 2020 . There are six subspecies of mule deer found across California. Thank you for reading! The reader should bear in mind that many . Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. South Dakota is home to both the white-tailed and mule deer. 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. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. The deer population in the United States varies by state. Deer Gestation Period: How Long Are Deer Pregnant? If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. Fortunately, the early to mid 1900s is when most management programs began to try and reverse this population loss. After many years of stability, the state reports deer population trended downwards between 2003 and 2015. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. 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. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. 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. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. 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. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. 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. They live in forests, prairies, coastal areas, and grasslands. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population.
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