deer population by state 2021

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. Like most deer, black-tail browse on what vegetation is available in each season. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Fortunately, the early to mid 1900s is when most management programs began to try and reverse this population loss. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Arizona is home to two main types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Loss of habitat too many deer in a forested area can completely eat through the green understory. Finally, Maine's deer population grew prolifically through the 1990's as a result of the regulatory system that limited doe harvest, plus a series of mild winters. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where you can regularly encounter anything from elk to black bears to river otters. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. The Illinois Division of Wildlife Resources says deer are an important part of the states economy. Deer are plentiful, and people who enjoy watching wildlife will find many opportunities to see them roaming free in forests and parks all over the country. 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 state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. 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. 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 state attracts more deer hunters than almost any other. 27. Harvest Summaries & Population Surveys | Department Of Natural Hunters Enjoying More Older Bucks White tailed deer are found throughout the state, with the highest numbers in eastern half. Icon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. 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. It also says hunters harvest a whopping 280,000 deer each year, on average. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting resources. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. . Deer management | | Wisconsin DNR Because of that, out-of-state hunters' dollars have been a huge boost to the Iowa economy. 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). Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. 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. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. 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. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. Every three years, the DNR approves population objectives for each deer management unit based on population metrics and CDAC input. Delaware Deer Harvest Announced for 2021/22 Hunting Season Most other western states have between 100,000 to 540,000 deer per state. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? Unfortunately, this is also where the majority of the states human population live, and too many deer can increase car crashes and crop loss. The total deer population in Kansas was listed in this article as being 700,000. 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 . It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. The top of their tail is brown, but the underside is very fluffy and white. SCDNR - 2021 Deer Harvest Report - South Carolina Department of Natural In 2017 the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division reported an estimated population of 1.27 million. Deer Reports | Missouri Department of Conservation Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. Each year, hunters take 40 to 70 percent of the antlered bucks and up to 25 percent of the does within many areas of Missouri. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . Regular hunting ensures that a state will only have the number of deer its ecosystems can support. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. The 2021 estimate for mule deer is 249,691. 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. 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 . On average in North America, males weigh 121 331 pounds and females weigh 95 198 pounds. Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: white-tailed deer overview. Washington: 305,000. Deer Management Survey: Deer Population - Fish & Wildlife Wishau said the industry is seeing a real decline in new hunters. 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 most recent number listed on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks site estimates 1.75 million white-tailed deer in the state. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . Factors causing deer populations to grow in recent years include expansion of homes into rural areas that are hospitable for deer but are not suitable for hunting. North Dakota is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. Today, it is thriving. Fall 2021-22 harvest: 191,731. White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters. Apparently people feeding deer, especially during the winter, has been an issue in the state. Have some feedback for us? 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. 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. West Virginia Department of Natural Resources: big game hunting information. They live in every state of the country, and their numbers are stable. White-tailed deer prefer the more agricultural and upland areas of the state, whereas the sika deer prefer marshes and forested wetlands. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. Population has been on a slow increase for many years. They are the most hunted big game in the state. State Farm says in any state, the risk of hitting a deer doubles in the fall, when the animals are mating. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. 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. The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. The peak population over the last 25 years was in 2015 with an estimated LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . By the turn of the century people began to realize they needed conservation programs or the deer would go the way of the buffalo. Deer - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Thank you for reading! Nebraska Game & Parks: deer hunting in Nebraska. They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. The data are then monitored over time to improve deer management and inform decisions about harvest goals. 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. Arizona Game & Fish: deer hunting rules and regulations. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Delaware hunters registered a record 17,265 harvested deer during the 2020/21 hunting season with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, surpassing the previous record harvest of 16,969 deer set last year during the 2019/20 hunting season. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. Idaho has about 520,000 white-tails, and the rest are mule deer. Hunting is the leading cause of deer mortality in most of the state (Figure 3). 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. 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. On Saturday, February 18, 2023, staff from CPW were able to recapture and refit the collar on male wolf 2101 near North Park. State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. I could not find a specific estimate for the smaller white-tailed deer population. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. 4) Iowa: Deer population around 400,000. White-tailed deer and mule deer roam the grasslands and prairies of Wyoming. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. Hawaii has about 1,000 black-tail deer and 110,000 Axis deer. State-by-State Hunting Data | Archery Trade Association They are mostly herbivores who eat browse, which is a collective term for all types of roots, twigs, bark, grass, leaves, and other vegetation. New Mexico has three native deer species. 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. 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. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. The white-tail deer is the most common type of deer hunted in the United States. In the issue: Big-game preference points and herd counts! According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. Hunting female deer a better population management strategy This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. Please note that tracking wildlife populations is not an exact science. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . White-tailed deer can be found throughout the state while mule deer are mainly found around and to the west of the Missouri River breaks. 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) . Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. 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. 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. All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. The Best Deer Hunting States in 2022 - Silencer Central Wayne and Hickman counties are the only two counties that meet both of these criteria. 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. Small herds also exist on prairies in Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. Overpopulation of deer can damage ecosystems by preventing forest regrowth and causing declines in plant diversity. Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. State/Province Updates: Moderator: Sara Holm: 1:00-1:10 PM: California Deer and Elk Status Update: . They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. Tennessee's Most Efficient Deer Hunting Counties - ArcGIS StoryMaps 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. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. Three of those are abundant enough to hunt, the white-tailed deer, mule deer and black-tailed deer. Deer Overabundance - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation The white-tailed deer is the states only native deer and is Illinoiss state mammal. However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. The state does not count its two species separately. But things got worse. While populations often have good and bad years, the state feels its time to step in and try to improve the situation. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Survey data is collected by field biologists using aerial and ground surveys in the . Nebraska. 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. Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. Spring Spotlight Survey Results, 2022 Deer hunting plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced. I have seen some debate on this but at the time of writing this article the consensus is that black-tailed deer are a subspecies of the mule deer. Ideally 8 feet and solid (not opaque). 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). The others are black-tail deer and mule deer. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? This flash can alert other deer that danger has been spotted, and is known as flagging. 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. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the deer and elk meat industry begun in Colorado as early as 1880. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. The Vermont fish & wildlife page reports that the pre-hunt estimate for white-tailed deer population in the state was approximately 133,000. Deer Overabundance. 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. Combined with habitat protection measures, this ban allowed deer to thrive. New Hampshire: 100,000. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. This may seem small compared to the 10.1 million people living in Georgia, but it does not account for an accurate number of deer in urban areas. Winds light and variable.. Tonight The white-tailed deer gets its name from its white patches, which are behind the nose, around the eyes, inside the ears, over the chin and throat, and beneath the tail. How many deer live in the United States? They live in forests, prairies, coastal areas, and grasslands. Washington has the most variety of deer. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: White-tailed deer in Maine. Which states have the most white-tail deer? Deer hunting has become a major industry in Alabama, the state has 33 wildlife management areas totaling over 700,000 acres where white-tailed deer can be hunted with a permit. Emily is an editor and content marketing specialist of five years. 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. Lets find out. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. High 62F. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. Population & Harvest Trends - Iowa Department of Natural Resources Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. That is a quick comeback from the estimated 662 that were left in 1941. Ohio's Final 2021-22 Deer Harvest Report - Ohio Department of Natural It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. In fact the 2020-21 hunting season is reported as one of Ohios most successful with 197,735 deer harvested. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught In Maine. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. Most states have yearly hunting seasons that help keep deer populations in check. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Deer are thriving in all parts of the state. Thank you for reading! White-tailed deer are one of three deer species native to North America. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. They consider the population stable. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. 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. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. This coupled with careful management clearly has allowed deer in Mississippi to make an impressive comeback. Deer Friendly - Utah Whereas the size of white-tailed deer can vary greatly, mule deer dont show as much of a difference across their range. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. The distribution of hunted deer is about 60% mule deer and 40% Coues deer. Some states also have small populations of endemic deer species found only in that state. Oregon has two species of 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. They are the mule deer, Coues deer, and Texas white-tail. A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. In Wisconsin, there have been 1,822 entries for the buck, which is . DNR: Fish & Wildlife: Indiana County Deer Statistics Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report . There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. . In the 1800s, however, several Axis deer from India were sent to Hawaii. 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. Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. 2021 White-Tailed Deer Forecast | Virginia DWR Deer Population by State 2023 Like many other states with healthy deer populations, Delaware uses managed hunting to control population levels. Vermont is near the northernmost part of white-tailed deers range, and the deer must look for areas of shelter with mature evergreen trees to withstand the low temperatures and deep snow of winter. The first game laws restricting hunting went into effect in 1853. California Department Fish and Wildlife: Deer Harvest Requirements. Deer Hunting Season 2022 Forecast: A State-by-State Guide In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. On the other hand, hunting them provides food for many and their meat is very prized.