Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. Deer Gestation Period: How Long Are Deer Pregnant? This graph published by the NJDEP Division of Science and Research shows the 2018 population estimate at just over 125,000 white-tailed deer. Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. Once present in only a few counties, they are now abundant in each of the states 95 counties. There were fewer than 500 deer left at the time. Ohio's average harvest compiled from the past three seasons is 184,746 deer. Oklahoma has about 2,00 to 3,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tail deer. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. Ready for more deer facts? The state is also home to the rare, endemic Key deer, which is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. 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. All of these states are located east of Texas. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. They are adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Wayne county had a harvest percentage rate of 2.4% and Hickman county had a harvest rate percentage of 2.1%. Managers have been able to relax hunting regulations over the years in response to increasing deer herds. 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. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? 2021-2023 Deer Population Objectives. They remain an important part of the states economy, generating an estimated 1.2 billion dollars through hunting. Today, the state enjoys a healthy population of almost 1 million white-tailed deer who live in each of its 75 counties. A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. Mule deer make up the largest portion of the population and 95% of the annual deer harvested. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? 84 . 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. In Wisconsin, there have been 1,822 entries for the buck, which is . White tailed deer are found throughout the state, with the highest numbers in eastern half. It was sometimes an up and down battle for the deer, but things really began to improve in the early 1970s when management of deer was turned over from the state legislature to the department of natural resources. Wyoming is home to 70,000 white-tail deer and about 330,000 mule deer. . Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. Iowa's most recent . 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. The state attracts more deer hunters than almost any other. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. White-tailed deer are found throughout the state even in some coastal locales. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. Patterns and Habitats, Deer in Texas: Types, Populations, and Where they Live. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. The reader should bear in mind that many . It is the only deer native to the state. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . Controlled hunting laws have kept the population stable. Williamson, WV (25661) Today. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. Deer in the suburbs are well-known for eating the nice flowers and shrubs youve spent time planting in your yard. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. Most other western states have between 100,000 to 540,000 deer per state. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. However, in West Virginia, drivers had the highest likelihood of hitting an animal. White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters. White-tailed deer were plentiful in Illinois during the early 1800s, but supply began to dwindle by 1850 with the development of the railroads, cutting of timber and conversion of prairie land to farm land. Fortunately, the early to mid 1900s is when most management programs began to try and reverse this population loss. The state is home to 20,000 mule deer and 130,000 white-tail deer. State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. Montana has about 300,000 mule deer and about 213,000 white-tail deer. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. 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. Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. But the lawsuit forced its hand, and between February 22 and 24, hunters killed 218 wolves, according to the Wisconsin . Today, they are an important game animal and a key part of the states ecosystems. With larger deer populations there is also an increased risk of elevated deer tick populations. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. Generally cloudy. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. As part of the states deer management plan, the state is divided up into numbered permit areas, each with their own deer population goal. However, they have adapted well to many environments. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. Although it has some mule deer, most of the deer in this state are members of the white-tailed family. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. During this time, Maine's deer population grew to an estimated all time high of 331,000, however, much of the growth occurred within the southern tier of the state. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. Icon. New Hampshires Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. The two species live in different parts of the state. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. They are the mule deer, Coues deer, and Texas white-tail. The distribution of hunted deer is about 60% mule deer and 40% Coues deer. Connecticut DEEP: hunting and trapping information. All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. Animal husbandry and agriculture also grew, removing forested land in favor of farming. 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. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. A popular game animal, it is so iconic to American forests that it has been named the official mammal of several states. 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. There is a great timeline of deer management through the years on the wildlife departments website. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. 27. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. By 1990 the population had grown to 250,000. For both species females are smaller than the males. The state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. 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. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. Tag numbers are approximately 20% of the estimated mule deer population for the year (low . State Farm says in any state, the risk of hitting a deer doubles in the fall, when the animals are mating. The state does not count its two species separately. Mule deer make up the majority, with white-tailed deer mainly found in eastern parts of the state and a few pockets in central and mountain areas. Each year CDFW biologists estimate the deer population in California using a computer model that uses harvest numbers along with survey data. 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. Thank you for reading! Most of these are mule deer. In public hunting areas the population is estimated at 950-1050 deer. 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. Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. A 2021 article in the Press Herald quoted a state biologist as saying the 2019 whitetail deer population estimate was 230,000 250,000 and that today the numbers are likely closer to 280,000 300,000. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. Deer Population Facts Population History In the early 1900's there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. North Carolina's major efforts to restore our state's deer resource took place in the 1940s through the 1970s. 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. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. This coupled with careful management clearly has allowed deer in Mississippi to make an impressive comeback. Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. 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. Idaho is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Try these articles next! Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. Nevada is one of the few states where deer populations have declined in recent decades. High 62F. The state says its population is well-managed and sustainable. Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. 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. White-tailed deer and mule deer roam the grasslands and prairies of Wyoming. Slow down. If you do plant deer favorites (fruit trees, sunflowers, peas, lettuce, tulips, hosta, berry bushes), do so strategically. 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. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. Indiana had almost deer left in 1900. Delaware hunters reported harvesting 15,383 deer during the 2021/22 hunting season, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. 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. I could not find a specific estimate for the smaller white-tailed deer population. Tennessee hunters harvested 159,879 deer in the state this hunting season.