deer population by state 2021
Since 2015, the statewide deer harvest has increased sharply, to a record high of 14,757 last year, with more deer killed east of 495 than the central and western parts of the state combined. 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. Based on 2015 deer populations estimates from North American Whitetail Magazine, here are the worse deer states to live: 1) Georgia: Deer population around 1.2 million. However in many areas of eastern Massachusetts where hunting is restricted by town firearm laws or land closures, the deer population is not well controlled. White-tailed deer are not native to Alaska and do not have well-established populations there. . Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. Predation and Deer Population. These deer are ruminants, which means they have a four-chambered stomach. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Insurance provider State Farm estimated there were. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. Every three years, the DNR approves population objectives for each deer management unit based on population metrics and CDAC input. Kyle Sams, a deer program biologist, says the population models still show an upward trend and favorable growth rate that will allow the number of deer harvested to continue to increase. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. White-tailed deer and mule deer roam the grasslands and prairies of Wyoming. Pennsylvania Game Commission: hunting and trapping resource page. Three of those are abundant enough to hunt, the white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. With laws enacted and amount of farmed land decreasing, deer began to rebound. Florida Coastal White-tailed Deer (panhandle and northwestern portion of the state), Florida White-tailed Deer (northwestern, central and southern portion of the state). The white-tailed deer is the states only native deer and is Illinoiss state mammal. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. Today, the deer population is estimated to be at least 500,000. In some areas, state wildlife officials have increased the number of hunting permits to help bring down deer populations. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. Like most deer, black-tail browse on what vegetation is available in each season. Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. Why The Deer Population Is Declining In The United States Iowa has produced some of the largest bucks in the history of our country. Overall outlook: New York's 2021 deer hunting forecast said biologists expect 2021-'22 to be another productive season for hunters. The longest known mule deer migration occurs in Wyoming where deer travel 150 miles from the Red Desert to the mountain slopes around the Hoback Basin. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the deer and elk meat industry begun in Colorado as early as 1880. While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. How many deer live in the United States? Put up a fence but it has to be tall. 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 . 1756 Forever Wild. The rest are mule deer. 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.. Hunting female deer a better population management strategy Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. Besides hunting, deer watching is a popular activity among visitors to the states parks and wildlife management areas. Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. Producers working to lower deer populations in their fields have found that these early hunts are critical in reducing the total number of female deer over the course of the year. Deer Reports | Missouri Department of Conservation The state Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned that this population may not be sustainable. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. 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. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. 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. The mule deer working group estimates the 2021 mule deer population at 330,700. The Department notes that deer live in natural woodlands, shelterbelts, old homesteads, and grasslands in every part of Kansas. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife estimated a population of 1 million white-tailed deer at the start of the 2020-21 hunting season. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. Delaware hunters reported harvesting 15,383 deer during the 2021/22 hunting season, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? Deer are a favorite big game animal. Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. Maryland also has a population of sika deer. A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. Although it has some mule deer, most of the deer in this state are members of the white-tailed family. The harvest was 13% lower than the 2020-2021 total of 81,729 deer. North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. Their population is recovering due to prohibiting antlerless harvest for a few years and milder winters. Most of these are mule deer. There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. Deer are one of the most populous and hunted big game animals in North America. There are an estimated 36 million deer in the United States. 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. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. They may occasionally eat small animals like mice or birds, but it isnt very common. Each year CDFW biologists estimate the deer population in California using a computer model that uses harvest numbers along with survey data. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. They mostly live along the watersheds of the states major rivers. The emphasis is a science-based approach to managing of mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations. . It is easy to see deer in most U.S. state parks, reserves, and even suburban yards. 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. For our population numbers, we relied on official numbers from each states Fish and Wildlife Department, Department of Natural Resources, or another appropriate source. Mule deer are the most populous with a 2020 estimate of 85,000-100,000 mule deer in Arizona. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. 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 state banned hunting in 1841, and the deer population increased. Deer populations are actually higher than they were historically in many areas, or they are at the point of exceeding the carrying capacity of their local environment. Deer play vital roles in the natural and cultural environment of New York and are highly valued for their beauty and grace as well as the utilitarian benefits they provide. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. 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. Deer Hunting Forecast 2021: A State-by-State Guide - Outdoor Life Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. Bobcats and coyotes also prey on deer, but human hunting is the main way to control their populations. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. After two days of flying, they counted 796 elk - 172 were bulls with 460 cows and 160 calves. 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. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. Estimated at 314,850 in 2020, down from 372,500 in 2018. Marylands deer population includes 207,000 white-tail deer and about 10,000 Sika deer. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. Icon. Vehicle collisions as population density increases, so does the likelihood of deer-vehicle collisions. States With the Most Registered Hunters | Stacker Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. They are adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions. The 2020-2021 deer season showed hunters how . Delaware Sets Deer Harvest Record - State of Delaware News Unlike the white-tailed deers antlers which branch out from a single main beam, the antlers of mule deer are bifurcated. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. Williamson, WV (25661) Today. Population has been on a slow increase for many years. The estimated all-time low whitetail deer population numbers in Louisiana was about 20,000 in 1925. There are nearly 2,000 different species! This time the population grew to 212 deer in only 6 years. Michigan State University Extension . The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. If this growth rate remained constant until year 10, the population would number about 900, or 1 deer per 1.3 acres. The states population declined when coyotes returned to South Carolina in large numbers, but it remains stable. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. It also has about 320,000 black-tail deer, and the rest are mule deer. The mule deer working group states it is difficult to estimate black-tailed deer numbers, however the 2004 estimate of 320,000 is likely close as the population has been stable since then. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. White-tailed Deer: Mammals: Species Information: Wildlife: Fish - Maine On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. In the issue: Big-game preference points and herd counts! The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. The sika deer population is mainly found along coastal regions and is much lower than the white-tailed deer. 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. Like other deer species they grow new antlers each spring and shed them during the winter. Thats an impressive comeback from the near extinction they faced in the state at the turn of the 20th century. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). The state reports that in areas where hunting is allowed and accessible, deer numbers are well balanced. Ideally 8 feet and solid (not opaque). Whereas the size of white-tailed deer can vary greatly, mule deer dont show as much of a difference across their range. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. Delawares White-Tailed Deer: Hunting and Management. 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. We will be looking at the population of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed deer. These experiments demonstrate the tremendous capacity for deer population growth when occupying good habitat. U.S. Deer Populations - DeerBusters.com Deer friendly reports a white-tailed deer population of 72,900 in 2019 based on hunting data. Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. On average in North America, males weigh 121 331 pounds and females weigh 95 198 pounds. Deer - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. They are mostly herbivores who eat browse, which is a collective term for all types of roots, twigs, bark, grass, leaves, and other vegetation. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. 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. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. There are no western states with over a million deer. For these numbers, we have included all deer species. After many years of stability, the state reports deer population trended downwards between 2003 and 2015. However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. 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. Using Remote Sensed Data to Monitor Mule Deer Population Performance: Mark Hurley: 10:25-10:55 AM: . Which states have the most white-tail deer? By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. East Tennessee Outdoors 2020 Deer Harvest Results - Elizabethton The state says its population is well-managed and sustainable. The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. The Best Deer Hunting States in 2022 - Silencer Central This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. White-tailed deer density estimates across the eastern United States There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. Although Fayette County had the highest harvest rate at 2.6%. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. 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. Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. Thank you for reading! There is also a population of white-tailed deer in Utah, however I could not find any credible estimates other than 1,000 back in 2008. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. Damage to crops deer can cause huge amounts of crop damage, eating not only parts of mature plants but also destroying plants at the seedling and budding stages. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. As any gardener knows, deer also eat fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Outdoors: Deer population in New York wasn't always so high 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. 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 estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. States With Minimal Deer Populations. The state is home to more than 400,000 white-tailed and mule deer. 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. Today, it is thriving. Washington has the most variety of deer. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . There are only white-tail deer in North Carolina. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. This total included 95,665 antlered bucks, 12,219 button bucks, and 83,847 does (44% females). About 74,000 hunters participated in the state's 2017 spring turkey season, and killed 33,000 birds. With no natural predators the population boomed. State Farm says in any state, the risk of hitting a deer doubles in the fall, when the animals are mating. South Dakota is home to both the white-tailed and mule 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. Late spring to fall, they consume grasses, blackberries, apples, fireweed, pearly everlasting, forbs, salmonberry, salal, and maple. The white-tailed deer found in Arizona belongs to the subspecies called Coues. When resources are scarce, they will eat insects and small animals. 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. They consider the population stable. SCDNR - 2021 Deer Harvest Report - South Carolina Department of Natural The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. The total deer estimate for the state in recent years is about 280,000 300,000. White-tail deer are the official animal of Arkansas, These numbers are for mule deer and white-tail deer. There were fewer than 500 deer left at the time. 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. This graph published by the NJDEP Division of Science and Research shows the 2018 population estimate at just over 125,000 white-tailed deer. Although they were once almost wiped out from many states, they have successfully repopulated most of their former territories. Washingtons deer thrive in the mountain regions. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Oklahoma has about 2,00 to 3,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tail deer. The deer mostly live in the northeastern part of the state. It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. Deer adapt to changing environments, and that adaptability has helped them make a strong comeback. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. File Layout [< 1.0 MB] Annual State Resident Population Estimates for 5 Race Groups (5 Race Alone or in Combination Groups) by Age, Sex, and Hispanic Origin: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 (SC-EST2021-ALLDATA5) [< 1.0 MB] With each new release of annual estimates, the entire time series of estimates is revised for all years back to the last . 4382 WMAs. Deer Friendly - Utah The state almost destroyed its deer population. 27. 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. Statewide, deer populations benefited from a relatively mild winter and favorable weather during fawning season and early summer. This coupled with careful management clearly has allowed deer in Mississippi to make an impressive comeback. Their tail is thinner than the white-tailed deer, with a distinctive black tip at the bottom. 2021 Colorado Herd Counts (Online Edition) 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 Hunting Season 2022 Forecast: A State-by-State Guide If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. Mule deer are classified as the species Odocoileus hemionus, the Rocky-Mountain mule deer. The Vermont fish & wildlife page reports that the pre-hunt estimate for white-tailed deer population in the state was approximately 133,000. 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. Indiana had almost deer left in 1900. White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. Predators kill white-tailed deer. develop estimates of deer density across the state. Deer | Montana FWP 15 SOAs. The state is home to 20,000 mule deer and 130,000 white-tail deer. 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 ). A 2020 study by the Mule Deer Working Group put total deer population (including black-tailed and mule deer) in California at 460,420. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. By the turn of the century people began to realize they needed conservation programs or the deer would go the way of the buffalo. However, they have adapted well to many environments. Mule deer are found in the central mountains and southern deserts of the state, while white-tailed deer are most populous in the northern forested areas. This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. State Population Totals: 2020-2022 - Census.gov (Texas is big in everything, it seems even deer!) As conservation efforts increased, deer restocking programs helped bring in just over 4,000 deer from other states between 1928 and 1992. The reader should bear in mind that many . Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. They are classic forest creatures who feature in wilderness stories and artwork. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. Arizona is home to two main types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. They are most populous in states like Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New York, but they are slowly infiltrating other areas like Alaska as well. Based on hunting data the white-tailed deer population in 2017 was about 135,000. Have some feedback for us? While their historic range expanded further east, today you can find them in western Oregon, northern California, Washington, the Alaskan panhandle and areas of British Columbia. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. State Population by Characteristics: 2020-2022 - Census.gov When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. 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.
