White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. In 2017 the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division reported an estimated population of 1.27 million. In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. 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. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Nevada is the western state with the . In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. While overall population is down from the peak years of the mid to late 1990s, density of deer still remains a problem in many suburban parts of the state. Nebraska. Learn more. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. Ready for more deer facts? With larger deer populations there is also an increased risk of elevated deer tick populations. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. This 2021 article in the Observer-Dispatch reports a white-tailed deer population of approximately 1.2 million. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. According to the state of Massachusetts deer management page, there are an estimated 95,000 white-tailed deer in the state. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of deer populations in each deer management unit (DMU). 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. There are an estimated 36 million deer in the United States. Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. "With roughly 35 calves per hundred cows, we know the herds are increasing. 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. I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. West Virginia Department of Natural Resources: big game hunting information. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. . Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. Their size can vary greatly dependent on their location. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. 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. The Mississippi State University Extension says only Texas has a larger deer population. . Predators kill white-tailed deer. They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. 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. The main deer population in Utah is mule deer, with a 2021 estimate of 314,850. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. 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. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. The 2020-2021 deer season showed hunters how . When resources are scarce, they will eat insects and small animals. Deer harvests began to increase again in 2016, possibly due to coyote densities declining. Deer Population Facts Population History In the early 1900's there were an estimated 500,000 white-tailed deer in the United States. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. They are classic forest creatures who feature in wilderness stories and artwork. 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. Deer are a favorite big game animal. Texas has the highest deer population, 5.5 million! South Dakota has more than 80,000 mule deer and 420,000 white-tail deer. The deer population in the United States varies by state. Hunters in Region B the remainder of the state harvested 62,916 deer, down 13% from 72,346 . There are no western states with over a million deer. Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. 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. Hunting is the leading cause of deer mortality in most of the state (Figure 3). The states only deer species is thriving in every region. 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. Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. Ohio's average harvest compiled from the past three seasons is 184,746 deer. The male white-tailed deer will grow a new set of antlers every year. Wyoming is home to 70,000 white-tail deer and about 330,000 mule deer. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. They seem to be everywhere, but how populous are they? Considering our current coyote population, these numbers go a long way in explaining why the deer harvests have decreased over the last few years. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. They may occasionally eat small animals like mice or birds, but it isnt very common. While the white-tailed deer more or less stop east of the Rocky Mountains, the mule deer take over west of the Rockies. Over time this heavy hunting and habitat loss took a real toll. White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters. The deer mostly live in the northeastern part of the state. The peak population over the last 25 years was in 2015 with an estimated Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? Washington has the most variety of deer. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. The mule deer working group estimates the 2021 mule deer population at 330,700. They have made most of this information available online at Minnesota DNR Deer Populations & Goals. 4382 WMAs. Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. . This can have a Catch-22 effect on the wildlife population in the state. The most recent data I could find for white-tailed deer reported around 300,000 in 2016. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Although Fayette County had the highest harvest rate at 2.6%. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. Restrictive game laws also helped allow the population to grow. 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. Oregon Department of Fish & Game: how to hunt deer and elk in Oregon. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting resources. Patterns and Habitats, Deer in Texas: Types, Populations, and Where they Live. Overall outlook: "Unless there is a significant EHD event, deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing," Matt Knox, deer project coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, wrote in his 2022 forecast. 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. Nevada is one of the few states where deer populations have declined in recent decades. Icon. The good news seems to be that the white-tailed deer numbers have recovered from the hit they took in 2012-2013 from a bad outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. That is a quick comeback from the estimated 662 that were left in 1941. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. 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. Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . There were fewer than 500 deer left at the time. They mostly live in the states coastal regions. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. Today, the population sits around 660,000. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 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. The state attracts more deer hunters than almost any other. Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is estimated by 1925 only about 400 deer remained. They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. 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. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. 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.. Tag numbers are approximately 20% of the estimated mule deer population for the year (low . Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. 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. The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. Overpopulation of deer can damage ecosystems by preventing forest regrowth and causing declines in plant diversity. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. 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 . Cattle and sheep began competing with deer for space and grazing by the 1860s, combined with the 1859 Gold Rush that brought 100,000 people into the state soon to be followed by a railroad bringing even more settlers. 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. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? Try these articles next! Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. 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. The state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. 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. Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. 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. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. This is due in part to lack of predators and changes in land use (less mature forest, more transition zones). 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. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. Delawares White-Tailed Deer: Hunting and Management. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. Washington has the most variety of deer. Colorado doesnt count deer species separately. 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.
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