The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Most deer live in the western part of the state. Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. 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. 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. Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. Deer species in the U.S. are split into eastern and western groups, with some cross over in the middle. They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. 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. Deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing. 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. The sika deer population is mainly found along coastal regions and is much lower than the white-tailed deer. 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. Take a look! Deer are thriving in all parts of the state. During the past deer season, 191,731 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia. Regular hunting ensures that a state will only have the number of deer its ecosystems can support. Historically mountain lions and wolves helped to control the deer population, but with the absence of those predators today hunters are the only real population control. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. The reader should bear in mind that many . Animal husbandry and agriculture also grew, removing forested land in favor of farming. Besides hunting, deer watching is a popular activity among visitors to the states parks and wildlife management areas. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . The following section is not related to the 2021 Deer Hunter Survey but is offered as information relevant to the state's deer population. However the accompanying article states estimates are likely conservative. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. According to this article in the Washington Times Herald, as of 2020 the white-tailed deer population in Indiana was estimated at 680,000. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. 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. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. Oregon Department of Fish & Game: how to hunt deer and elk in Oregon. 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. White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. Unfortunately, this is also where the majority of the states human population live, and too many deer can increase car crashes and crop loss. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. Thank you for reading! Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. 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) . The North Carolina Wildlife Commission estimated the white-tailed deer population in the state to be around 1 million. They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. To understand how each metric is calculated and how the data are used view the annual deer management reports. Wolves and mountain lions, their natural predators, no longer live in the state. White-tail deer are the official animal of Arkansas, These numbers are for mule deer and white-tail deer. Statewide, deer populations benefited from a relatively mild winter and favorable weather during fawning season and early summer. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. White-tailed deer are mainly found in the Black Hills, Bighorn Basin and Riverton regions. They remain an important part of the states economy, generating an estimated 1.2 billion dollars through hunting. Nebraska. Three of those are abundant enough to hunt, the white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . 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. The majority of the North American population lives east of the Rocky Mountains. Small herds also exist on prairies in Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. Hunting controls, restocking and improved habitat brought the deer population up to about 17,000 by 1965. Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. Ohio's average harvest compiled from the past three seasons is 184,746 deer. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. 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. 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. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. Hawaii does not have white-tailed deer or any native deer. Sitka overall have a darker coat than the Columbian. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. Deer are a favorite big game animal. Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. The white-tailed deer is native to North America, Central America and parts of South America. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. The process is outlined in detail in Appendix 2 of our Management Plan for White-tailed deer in New York State: 2021-2030 (PDF). 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. Thats an impressive comeback from the near extinction they faced in the state at the turn of the 20th century. In 2017 the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division reported an estimated population of 1.27 million. Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. The state's 630,000 deer hunters generate $2.2 billion annually, but according to a report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, hunting license sales dropped by 5.8 percent from 1999 to 2017. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. I am owned by two dogs who take me on hikes in the mountains where we see coyotes, black bears, and wild turkeys. Washington has the most variety of deer. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: white-tailed deer hunting information. Sitka are the smaller subspecies weighing between 80 120 pounds. Growth has boomed since with an estimated population today of 700,000 750,000 white-tailed deer. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Deer are one of the most populous and hunted big game animals in North America. White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. Restrictive game laws also helped allow the population to grow. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. February 07, 2022. Nevada is the western state with the . The rest are mule deer. Field studies from across the United States, including Pennsylvania, show that predators - notably coyotes, bears, and bobcats - prey on white-tailed deer. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. Deer harvests began to increase again in 2016, possibly due to coyote densities declining. Population has been on a slow increase for many years. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? 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). The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. As conservation efforts increased, deer restocking programs helped bring in just over 4,000 deer from other states between 1928 and 1992. There are as many as 70,000 deer-motor vehicle collisions a year in New York state, and about 200 people across the country are killed in such accidents each year. Although they were once almost wiped out from many states, they have successfully repopulated most of their former territories. 1756 Forever Wild. Wisconsin: 33 deer per square mile. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. Kansas has about 50,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tails. 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. Have some feedback for us? Pennsylvania Game Commission: hunting and trapping resource page. Overall outlook: New York's 2021 deer hunting forecast said biologists expect 2021-'22 to be another productive season for hunters. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. Their size can vary greatly dependent on their location. Rhode Island only has 18,000 deer and Delaware comes in at 45,000. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. 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. Deer live in almost every country of the world. There are no western states with over a million deer. (Texas is big in everything, it seems even 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. RALEIGH, N.C. (May 10, 2022) Results from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's annual deer harvest summary indicate hunters across the state reported harvesting 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 hunting season a 6.3% increase . Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. The supply of deer food throughout the state was in generally good condition. Emily is an editor and content marketing specialist of five years. They now live on several Hawaiian islands, and their population is estimated at around 100,000. Deer live in every county of the state. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is concerned that this population may not be sustainable. However, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently added white-tailed deer to the states hunting regulations since the species is slowly migrating into the state. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. 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. 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. Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. A spring 2020 estimate put their population at about 1,200. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). Florida has a healthy deer population that includes a large number of white-tails and fewer than 1,000 rare Key deer. Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. 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. . Colorado doesnt count deer species separately. 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. Vermont has more deer hunters than any other New England state. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. At that time, many state wildlife agencies were formed with the goal of conserving the nation's depleted wildlife resources. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. Which states have the most white-tail deer? All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. The white-tailed deer found in Arizona belongs to the subspecies called Coues. They are allowed to be hunted and in the 2017-2018 season just over 3,000 were harvested. Slow down. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. However, they have adapted well to many environments. Iowa's most recent . State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. 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. This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. Every three years, the DNR approves population objectives for each deer management unit based on population metrics and CDAC input. The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. If you do plant deer favorites (fruit trees, sunflowers, peas, lettuce, tulips, hosta, berry bushes), do so strategically. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. Unlike the white-tailed deers antlers which branch out from a single main beam, the antlers of mule deer are bifurcated. Ready for more deer facts? Maryland Department of Natural Resources: hunting in Maryland. Be on the lookout. 84 . Deer Overabundance. 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. Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. Try these articles next! Like many other states, deer and other large game in Iowa was hunted to near extinction by the early 1800s. 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 . After two days of flying, they counted 796 elk - 172 were bulls with 460 cows and 160 calves. While the white-tailed deer more or less stop east of the Rocky Mountains, the mule deer take over west of the Rockies. That is a quick comeback from the estimated 662 that were left in 1941. Wisconsin is having a deer boom, with this 2021 article reporting the states population of 1.6 million is the highest its been in decades. The state is home to more than 400,000 white-tailed and mule deer. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. In some areas, state wildlife officials have increased the number of hunting permits to help bring down deer populations. Because of that, out-of-state hunters' dollars have been a huge boost to the Iowa economy. 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. Ohio had lost most of its deer by 1900 due to habitat loss and hunting. New Hampshire: 100,000. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. develop estimates of deer density across the state. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. Some conservationists think the number of deer is too high. New Hampshires Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. With no natural predators the population boomed. Fortunately, the early to mid 1900s is when most management programs began to try and reverse this population loss. This 2021 article in the Observer-Dispatch reports a white-tailed deer population of approximately 1.2 million. . That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. . Fallow Deer vs. White-Tailed Deer: Key Differences Discover the different traits between the white-tailed and fallow deer species. This total included 101,509 antlered bucks, 13,637 button bucks, and 93,005 does (44% females). 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. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. 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. While populations still continue to fluctuate due to habitat loss, weather, disease and other factors, it remains in the hundreds of thousands. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. 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). Maines many wild, pristine forests are a healthy habitat for deer. Nevada is one of the few states where deer populations have declined in recent decades. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. Today, the population sits around 660,000. The most recent number listed on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks site estimates 1.75 million white-tailed deer in the state. Wildlife managers are tasked with the difficult mission of maintaining or recovering deer populations, dampening the magnitude of potential future declines, and stabilizing hunter . The Illinois Division of Wildlife Resources says deer are an important part of the states economy. . Wildlife biologists suggest developing softwood, nut-bearing habitats as a better alternative to human feeding. 2021 seemed to show a higher-than-usual occurrence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), but at the time of writing this article is is unclear if it will significantly impact the states overall deer population. Read more about white-tailed deer in Michigan at Michigan.gov. The estimated all-time low whitetail deer population numbers in Louisiana was about 20,000 in 1925. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife estimated a population of 1 million white-tailed deer at the start of the 2020-21 hunting season.
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