Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. The majority of the North American population lives east of the Rocky Mountains. 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. View the latest Missouri deer harvest numbers by county. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. 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. The process is outlined in detail in Appendix 2 of our Management Plan for White-tailed deer in New York State: 2021-2030 (PDF). Ohio's average harvest compiled from the past three seasons is 184,746 deer. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. . To understand how each metric is calculated and how the data are used view the annual deer management reports. Mule deer are the most populous with a 2020 estimate of 85,000-100,000 mule deer in Arizona. 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. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. A 2019 study by the South Carolina department of natural resources estimated the white-tailed deer population in the state to be about 730,000. When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. There is also a small population of black-tailed deer on the island of Kauai that were introduced from Oregon in 1961. White-tailed deer are mainly found in the Black Hills, Bighorn Basin and Riverton regions. 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. The white-tailed deer found in Arizona belongs to the subspecies called Coues. Pennsylvania had the highest estimated number of auto claims (156,176). The white-tailed deer is the states only native deer and is Illinoiss state mammal. The state does not count its two species separately. It also says hunters harvest a whopping 280,000 deer each year, on average. Delawares White-Tailed Deer: Hunting and Management. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. Oregon Department of Fish & Game: how to hunt deer and elk in Oregon. However they are a popular game species for the state, perhaps because they inhabit less hospitable terrain and are better at staying hidden than the mule deer, offering hunters more of a challenge. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. 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. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule . Try these articles next! But by that time, damage to deer herds had already been happening for almost 30 years. Hawaii has about 1,000 black-tail deer and 110,000 Axis 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 . If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. Wishau said the industry is seeing a real decline in new hunters. Because of this permits and licenses are becoming more flexible opening up new opportunities for the states hunters. In the early 1900s laws regulating deer hunting were passed but did little good as they went unenforced for the most part. They now live on several Hawaiian islands, and their population is estimated at around 100,000. Thank you for visiting! Arizona is home to two main types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Their size can vary greatly dependent on their location. Today, the state enjoys a healthy population of almost 1 million white-tailed deer who live in each of its 75 counties. The most recent number listed on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks site estimates 1.75 million white-tailed deer in the state. Restrictive game laws also helped allow the population to grow. Population expansion is expected at about 1-2% each year in the near future, how some areas of middle and west Tennessee may be trying to lower the deer numbers to a more manageable level. Deer Gestation Period: How Long Are Deer Pregnant? They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. Unlike white-tailed deer, some mule deer are migratory. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. Unfortunately, this is also where the majority of the states human population live, and too many deer can increase car crashes and crop loss. Read More Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. As the largest of the lower 48 states, Texas has lots of room for deer. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. . There are no western states with over a million deer. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's 2021-22 deer hunting season concluded Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, with 196,988 deer checked, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. 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. 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. . They mostly live in the states coastal regions. 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. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife: White-tailed deer hunting and harvest. . They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. Combined with habitat protection measures, this ban allowed deer to thrive. 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. Courtesy of onX Hunt, here are the eight states in the USA with the highest deer density: Mississippi: 38 deer per square mile. The distribution of hunted deer is about 60% mule deer and 40% Coues deer. LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. Since then, the introduction of white-tailed deer, habitat protection, and controlled hunting have allowed the deer to thrive again. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. Illinois Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting information. This total included 101,509 antlered bucks, 13,637 button bucks, and 93,005 does (44% females). According to the states department of fish and wildlife, since the early 90s the deer population has stayed between 400,000 and just under 700,000. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. When resources are scarce, they will eat insects and small animals. Deer species in the U.S. are split into eastern and western groups, with some cross over in the middle. West Virginia Department of Natural Resources: big game hunting information. That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. For example, in 2016, Wisconsin had an estimated deer population of 1.3 million, while Texas had an estimated deer population of 4 million. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. 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 only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. With larger deer populations there is also an increased risk of elevated deer tick populations. 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. Predators kill white-tailed deer. During this time anyone could hunt deer and they were often a life line, providing meat and skin to the early settlers. 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 state banned hunting in 1841, and the deer population increased. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says they are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters.. Which came first, the black-tailed deer or the mule deer? Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. This is quite a noticeable decline from the population high of 250,000 seen in 1988. but is also indicative that the deer population is trending toward a population level that reduces damage to agriculture and minimizes impacts on our natural communities. Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. Sitka overall have a darker coat than the Columbian. The state attracts more deer hunters than almost any other. 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. The state is home to 20,000 mule deer and 130,000 white-tail deer. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Kentuckys Deer Restoration. Idaho has about 520,000 white-tails, and the rest are mule deer. 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. 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 Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. Wisconsin: 33 deer per square mile. While the white-tailed deer more or less stop east of the Rocky Mountains, the mule deer take over west of the Rockies. 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. Nebraskas deer population includes 300,000 white-tail deer and 130,000 mule deer. Opportunities to help us shape deer population goals for 23 of Minnesota's 130 deer permit areas continue through Monday, Feb. 13, when the goal-setting questionnaire for this year will be closed. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. During the past deer season, 191,731 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia. The state says its population is well-managed and sustainable. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: white-tailed deer hunting information. About 74,000 hunters participated in the state's 2017 spring turkey season, and killed 33,000 birds. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. Which states have the most white-tail deer? This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. Emily is an editor and content marketing specialist of five years. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . Deer prefer forested areas where they can find vegetation to eat. The states Department of Natural Resources and other groups want to attract more hunters to reduce deer populations. However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. Arizona Game & Fish: deer hunting rules and regulations. 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. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). These experiments demonstrate the tremendous capacity for deer population growth when occupying good habitat. What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? For instance, in farmland management zones, harvesting approximately 25% of the . These sika deer were originally from Japan and were released from private property in Maryland during the early 1900s. I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. Icon. Wayne county had a harvest percentage rate of 2.4% and Hickman county had a harvest rate percentage of 2.1%. Arizona has a small population of whitetails, though they tend to prefer areas with more vegetation. According to the same state estimates, White-tail populations have consistently increased since 1989 where they were estimated to number around 3.5 Million. For white-tailed deer, the last mention I could find was about 520,000 around 2015. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. Maines many wild, pristine forests are a healthy habitat for deer. 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. She now has three rescue cats and two high-needs Pomeranian mixes to take up her love and attention. They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. It is the only deer native to the state. Michigans many deer are all white-tails. 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. After many years of stability, the state reports deer population trended downwards between 2003 and 2015. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? Overall the state reports the population is currently stable or slightly declining. Florida Coastal White-tailed Deer (panhandle and northwestern portion of the state), Florida White-tailed Deer (northwestern, central and southern portion of the state). In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. That is up from an estimated 1.7 million ten years ago. That includes white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tail deer, and a handful of rare deer species. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. Patterns and Habitats, Deer in Texas: Types, Populations, and Where they Live. While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. Fall 2021-22 harvest: 191,731. They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. This coupled with careful management clearly has allowed deer in Mississippi to make an impressive comeback. The peak population over the last 25 years was in 2015 with an estimated Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. High 62F. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. As part of the states deer management plan, the state is divided up into numbered permit areas, each with their own deer population goal. The total deer population in Kansas was listed in this article as being 700,000. South Dakota is home to both the white-tailed and mule deer. Like other deer species they grow new antlers each spring and shed them during the winter. White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters. 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.. Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. . Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: White-tailed deer in Maine. Its 2020 estimate . White-tailed deer are not native to Alaska and do not have well-established populations there. In the 1800s, however, several Axis deer from India were sent to Hawaii. 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. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. The male white-tailed deer will grow a new set of antlers every year. Like many states, Oklahoma had nearly lost all its deer by the early 1900s. Their population is recovering due to prohibiting antlerless harvest for a few years and milder winters. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. Survey data is collected by field biologists using aerial and ground surveys in the . New Mexico is home to mule deer, Coue deer, and Texas white-tails. The only state they havent established at least a small population is Hawaii. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is according to the most recent (2019) population estimates conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TP&W).. The supply of deer food throughout the state was in generally good condition. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Some states also have small populations of endemic deer species found only in that state. Archery (including crossbows) accounted for 14% of the deer kill; muzzleloaders, 23%; and firearms, 63%. Oklahoma has about 2,00 to 3,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tail deer. Based on hunting data the white-tailed deer population in 2017 was about 135,000. 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. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Recent field studies from southeastern United States have . There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. Nevada is one of the few states where deer populations have declined in recent decades. As conservation efforts increased, deer restocking programs helped bring in just over 4,000 deer from other states between 1928 and 1992. However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. 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. Once present in only a few counties, they are now abundant in each of the states 95 counties. 27. 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) . White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. If you do plant deer favorites (fruit trees, sunflowers, peas, lettuce, tulips, hosta, berry bushes), do so strategically. New Mexico has three native deer species. They are an attractive deer with a bright orange-brown coat covered in white spots, much like the fawn of white-tailed deer. Title. Deer adapt to changing environments, and that adaptability has helped them make a strong comeback. 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.

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