deer population by state 2021 deer population by state 2021

However in parts of their range, populations have adapted to prairie and savanna land (such as Texas, Arizona and Mexico), tropical or subtropical forests in Central America, and mountain grassland in the Andes of South America. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. But what is their population by state? The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of deer populations in each deer management unit (DMU). All of these states are located east of Texas. 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). A popular game animal, it is so iconic to American forests that it has been named the official mammal of several states. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. 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. That is up from an estimated 1.7 million ten years ago. Each year CDFW biologists estimate the deer population in California using a computer model that uses harvest numbers along with survey data. A small population has also been introduced on the island of Kaui, Hawaii. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA . Connecticut DEEP: hunting and trapping information. Deer are one of the most populous and hunted big game animals in North America. These experiments demonstrate the tremendous capacity for deer population growth when occupying good habitat. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. The top of their tail is brown, but the underside is very fluffy and white. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Body. The states only deer species is thriving in every region. 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.. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. Most states have yearly hunting seasons that help keep deer populations in check. Today, they are an important game animal and a key part of the states ecosystems. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. 2021 WAFWA Deer & Elk Business Meeting: Jim Heffelfinger: 1:00-2:40 PM: Deer Session 3: Disease: This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. There are three main types of deer in New Mexico, the mule deer, the Coues deer and the Texas white-tailed deer. Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. Recent field studies from southeastern United States have . Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. 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. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. High 62F. 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. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule deer. This can have a Catch-22 effect on the wildlife population in the state. Most of these are mule deer. However the accompanying article states estimates are likely conservative. 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. Iowas first conservation law came around in 1856, restricting what time of year deer could be hunted. The population is mostly in the southern part of the 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 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. Controlled hunting laws have kept the population stable. 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. Virginia has a healthy population of white-tail deer. . Like most deer, black-tail browse on what vegetation is available in each season. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. White-tailed deer are a popular game animal found in almost every part of the United States. 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. Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. North Carolina's major efforts to restore our state's deer resource took place in the 1940s through the 1970s. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. The TWRA page states that the deer population has expanded from just a few counties in eastern Tennessee during the 1940s to being present in all 95 counties state-wide today. They are mostly herbivores who eat browse, which is a collective term for all types of roots, twigs, bark, grass, leaves, and other vegetation. They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. While caribou, elk and moose are all Cervids, that is members of the deer family, we are not discussing them in this article. They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. February 07, 2022. To try and combat this, the state has a community deer management assistance program, that includes additional licenses hunters can obtain to harvest deer on private properties, with landowner permission. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. This 2021 article in the Observer-Dispatch reports a white-tailed deer population of approximately 1.2 million. Maryland Department of Natural Resources: hunting in Maryland. For our population numbers, we relied on official numbers from each states Fish and Wildlife Department, Department of Natural Resources, or another appropriate source. 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. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. Potential Deer Population Growth in 10 Years. Since at least 1962, WRD has used scientifically valid, survey methodology to get estimates of not only deer harvest, but also harvest estimates of other game species. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. Although it has some mule deer, most of the deer in this state are members of the white-tailed family. DEC determines desired deer population changes using data on public preferences and deer impacts to forests. The state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. In the 1800s, however, several Axis deer from India were sent to Hawaii. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. The Sitka blacktail deer is native to the coastal rainforests of southeastern Alaska, and has been introduced to areas of South Central Alaska. 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. 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. 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. Hunters in Region B the remainder of the state harvested 62,916 deer, down 13% from 72,346 . Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. As any gardener knows, deer also eat fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. Nebraska. I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. Sitka are the smaller subspecies weighing between 80 120 pounds. Today, it is thriving. 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. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. Like many other states with healthy deer populations, Delaware uses managed hunting to control population levels. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. Deer hunting plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced. Hunting is the leading cause of deer mortality in most of the state (Figure 3). With larger deer populations there is also an increased risk of elevated deer tick populations. State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. 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. The deer population in the United States varies by state. Most deer live in the western part of the state. Read more about white-tailed deer in Michigan at Michigan.gov. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Current Management. 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. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. Iowa's most recent . So what are the problems that come with too many deer? The 2021 estimate for mule deer is 249,691. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. This flash can alert other deer that danger has been spotted, and is known as flagging. . Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy . . Unlike white-tailed deer, some mule deer are migratory. 15 SOAs. Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. 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. Animal husbandry and agriculture also grew, removing forested land in favor of farming. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. The states Department of Natural Resources and other groups want to attract more hunters to reduce deer populations. Because of that, out-of-state hunters' dollars have been a huge boost to the Iowa economy. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. 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. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. New Mexico is home to mule deer, Coue deer, and Texas white-tails. Overall outlook: "Unless there is a significant EHD event, deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing," Matt Knox, deer project coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, wrote in his 2022 forecast. For many years deer hunting wasnt allowed in the state in efforts to allow the population to recover from the overhunting of the 1700s and early 180os. They are classic forest creatures who feature in wilderness stories and artwork. Visit our site to view our resource on Estimating Deer Populations on Your Property: Population Dynamics. 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. In public hunting areas the population is estimated at 950-1050 deer. Deer harvests began to increase again in 2016, possibly due to coyote densities declining. Considering our current coyote population, these numbers go a long way in explaining why the deer harvests have decreased over the last few years. They may occasionally eat small animals like mice or birds, but it isnt very common. New Hampshire Fish & Game: Deer Hunting in New Hampshire. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. Deer Management Units divide the state into 10 geographical areas and were developed to group counties similar in land cover, hunter density, and development (read more in the 2018 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report). 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). See the 2021 report. Deer species in the U.S. are split into eastern and western groups, with some cross over in the middle. 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. Besides hunting, deer watching is a popular activity among visitors to the states parks and wildlife management areas. Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They have made most of this information available online at Minnesota DNR Deer Populations & Goals. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. . Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Fall 2021-22 harvest: 191,731. Arizona has a small population of whitetails, though they tend to prefer areas with more vegetation. That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. While populations still continue to fluctuate due to habitat loss, weather, disease and other factors, it remains in the hundreds of thousands. In Vermont they also prefer the valley areas that have a mix of forest and fields. On average in North America, males weigh 121 331 pounds and females weigh 95 198 pounds. If you do plant deer favorites (fruit trees, sunflowers, peas, lettuce, tulips, hosta, berry bushes), do so strategically. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. Statewide, deer populations benefited from a relatively mild winter and favorable weather during fawning season and early summer. There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. 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. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. 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. 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 . Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. For example, in 2016, Wisconsin had an estimated deer population of 1.3 million, while Texas had an estimated deer population of 4 million. Conservation efforts, game management programs, and habitat protection have all helped them survive. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. The mule deer working group estimates the 2021 mule deer population at 330,700. Fallow Deer vs. White-Tailed Deer: Key Differences Discover the different traits between the white-tailed and fallow deer species. White-tailed deer have bounced back from near extinction in Rhode Island. 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. Texas has the highest deer population, 5.5 million! Icon. However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. Michigans many deer are all white-tails. . The following section is not related to the 2021 Deer Hunter Survey but is offered as information relevant to the state's deer population. By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. The Alabama Department of Conservation and other groups began restocking white-tailed deer as early as the 1930s, with most of the restocking efforts happening during the 50s and 60s. 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. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. Mule deer are found in the western third of the state, mainly in the High Plains, Smoky Hills and Red Hills regions. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. 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. Thus far they report that the harvest has not met the numbers they want, and the state is continuing to work on management strategies. The white-tailed deer is the states only native deer and is Illinoiss state mammal. These sika deer were originally from Japan and were released from private property in Maryland during the early 1900s. Deer live in every county of the state. 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. 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. This time the population grew to 212 deer in only 6 years. Deer Harvest Map. 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. Sampling of ticks in the ESA, conducted in May 2021 by the MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife found a high number of black-legged ticks (42 juveniles and 1 adult), which are known vectors for a number of diseases, including Lyme disease . Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. Browse, which is a collective term for shoots, twigs, leaves, and buds. Florida has a healthy deer population that includes a large number of white-tails and fewer than 1,000 rare Key deer. Mule deer make up the largest portion of the population and 95% of the annual deer harvested. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned that this population may not be sustainable. The state is also home to the rare, endemic Key deer, which is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer.