While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. 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. We researched to find out. Deer enjoy eating mushrooms, nuts, berries, pumpkins, spinach, and apples. 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. In the 1920s, the population almost went extinct from hunting and deforestation. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. 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 . By 1930 less than 500 deer remained. Iowa's most recent . The numbers above do not include deer . According to the same state estimates, White-tail populations have consistently increased since 1989 where they were estimated to number around 3.5 Million. Wildlife biologists suggest developing softwood, nut-bearing habitats as a better alternative to human feeding. 4382 WMAs. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. The New Hampshire Fish & Game page lists the population estimate for the state at 100,000 white-tailed deer. The only Southern state in the top 10, Mississippi has an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the deer and elk meat industry begun in Colorado as early as 1880. The supply of deer food throughout the state was in generally good condition. The most recent number listed on the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks site estimates 1.75 million white-tailed deer in the state. 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. Read more about New Yorks deer abundance on the DEC site here. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. They are the mule deer, Coues deer, and Texas white-tail. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. 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. Archery (including crossbows) accounted for 14% of the deer kill; muzzleloaders, 23%; and firearms, 63%. Hunters in Region B the remainder of the state harvested 62,916 deer, down 13% from 72,346 . Based on 2015 deer populations estimates from North American Whitetail Magazine, here are the worse deer states to live: 1) Georgia: Deer population around 1.2 million. These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA . Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? 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. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. 4) Iowa: Deer population around 400,000. The estimated all-time low whitetail deer population numbers in Louisiana was about 20,000 in 1925. 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 more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. This time the population grew to 212 deer in only 6 years. White-tailed Deer: Mammals: Species Information: Wildlife: Fish - Maine The Sitka blacktail deer is native to the coastal rainforests of southeastern Alaska, and has been introduced to areas of South Central Alaska. These experiments demonstrate the tremendous capacity for deer population growth when occupying good habitat. Have some feedback for us? 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. Fallow Deer vs. White-Tailed Deer: Key Differences Discover the different traits between the white-tailed and fallow deer species. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. A 2020 study by the Mule Deer Working Group put total deer population (including black-tailed and mule deer) in California at 460,420. But what is their population by state? 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. Marylands deer population includes 207,000 white-tail deer and about 10,000 Sika deer. 20+ Foods, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Recorded, The 4 Best Deer Repellents: Reviewed and Ranked, How and Where Do Deer Sleep? Hunting seasons, bag limits, deer restocking and habitat restoration are just a few of the management practices that sprung up. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? Iowas first conservation law came around in 1856, restricting what time of year deer could be hunted. There are nearly 2,000 different species! The numbers game: Best WV deer counties, by hunting method There is a great timeline of deer management through the years on the wildlife departments website. A 2021 estimate puts mule deer at a population of between 90,000 130,000. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. 48 State Parks. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Thank you for reading! Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. Take a look! Washington State Mule Deer Management Plan Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. This total included 101,509 antlered bucks, 13,637 button bucks, and 93,005 does (44% females). Wisconsin's deer population is at a critical high Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. Loss of habitat too many deer in a forested area can completely eat through the green understory. State Population Totals: 2020-2022 - Census.gov Hawaii has about 1,000 black-tail deer and 110,000 Axis deer. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. 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. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. However, in West Virginia, drivers had the highest likelihood of hitting an animal. How severe droughts have factored into a decline in Utah's deer - KSL Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. The main deer population in Utah is mule deer, with a 2021 estimate of 314,850. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. 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. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. The two species live in different parts of the state. 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. 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. The following section is not related to the 2021 Deer Hunter Survey but is offered as information relevant to the state's deer population. Deer hunting is a huge sport in the state, and the 2020-21 season saw a whopping 435,180 deer harvested, one of the largest in the country. Mule deer are native to the state, and the white-tailed deer were introduced by Idaho Fish & Game in the 1950s to present more hunting opportunities. 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. Using Remote Sensed Data to Monitor Mule Deer Population Performance: Mark Hurley: 10:25-10:55 AM: . Each year CDFW biologists estimate the deer population in California using a computer model that uses harvest numbers along with survey data. I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. 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. New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. 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. Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. Delaware Sets Deer Harvest Record - State of Delaware News 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. 2021 Colorado Herd Counts (Online Edition) The longest known mule deer migration occurs in Wyoming where deer travel 150 miles from the Red Desert to the mountain slopes around the Hoback Basin. 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. 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 process is outlined in detail in Appendix 2 of our Management Plan for White-tailed deer in New York State: 2021-2030 (PDF). Mule deer are classified as the species Odocoileus hemionus, the Rocky-Mountain mule deer. Browse, which is a collective term for shoots, twigs, leaves, and buds. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. Mule deer are the most populous with a 2020 estimate of 85,000-100,000 mule deer in Arizona. How many deer live in the United States? Deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing. . 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. The data are then monitored over time to improve deer management and inform decisions about harvest goals. Thus far they report that the harvest has not met the numbers they want, and the state is continuing to work on management strategies. State Farm says in any state, the risk of hitting a deer doubles in the fall, when the animals are mating. We will be looking at the population of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed deer. On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. The states Department of Natural Resources says these deer are abundant in every county and habitat of West Virginia. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. 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. Body. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. 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). Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. One of the things that makes white-tailed deer so widespread is their ability to adapt to many environments. Read More Deer rely on young forest and forest edge habitat. Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. A small population has also been introduced on the island of Kaui, Hawaii. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. . Like most deer, black-tail browse on what vegetation is available in each season. What is the White-Tailed Deer Population by State? Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. 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. It is easy to see deer in most U.S. state parks, reserves, and even suburban yards. This is according to the most recent (2019) population estimates conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife (TP&W).. While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. Today, the population sits around 660,000. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule 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 . 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. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). About 74,000 hunters participated in the state's 2017 spring turkey season, and killed 33,000 birds. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. The Vermont fish & wildlife page reports that the pre-hunt estimate for white-tailed deer population in the state was approximately 133,000. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. That is up from an estimated 1.7 million ten years ago. Rhode Island only has 18,000 deer and Delaware comes in at 45,000. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. They mostly live in the states coastal regions. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. This total included 95,665 antlered bucks, 12,219 button bucks, and 83,847 does (44% females). 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. Ohio's Final 2021-22 Deer Harvest Report - Ohio Department of Natural Nebraskas deer population includes 300,000 white-tail deer and 130,000 mule deer. Long story short, conservation and advances in wildlife management brought the deer back. Predators kill white-tailed deer. The Oklahoman reports the estimated deer population today at around 750,000. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where you can regularly encounter anything from elk to black bears to river otters. Washington has the most variety of deer. 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. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. States With the Most Registered Hunters | Stacker Deer Overabundance - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Over the years, she raised livestock animals, small animals, dogs, cats, and birds, which is where she learned most of what she knows about various animals and what allowed her to work as a dog groomer and manager of a specialty pet store. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. After many years of stability, the state reports deer population trended downwards between 2003 and 2015. They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Growth has boomed since with an estimated population today of 700,000 750,000 white-tailed deer. 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). 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. California's Deer Population Estimates - California Department of She now has three rescue cats and two high-needs Pomeranian mixes to take up her love and attention. In fact the 2020-21 hunting season is reported as one of Ohios most successful with 197,735 deer harvested. 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama - Game Harvest Menu This helps them avoid the harsher high elevation winter conditions such as deeper snow that covers up food. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. 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. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. Program Schedule - California Fish and Wildlife Scientific Journal The peak population over the last 25 years was in 2015 with an estimated The rest are mule deer. 2021-2023 Deer Population Objectives. It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Recent field studies from southeastern United States have . Thank you for visiting! Deer Population by State 2023 Nebraska Game & Parks: deer hunting in Nebraska. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. Regular hunting ensures that a state will only have the number of deer its ecosystems can support. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. There is a really nice timeline of events affecting the deer on the states history of deer management page. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Kentuckys Deer Restoration. Strict measure were taken to improve this, including closing all hunting for many years, restocking from other states, and cracking down on enforcing regulations. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. Deer Population - Georgia Wildlife Blog Some states also have small populations of endemic deer species found only in that state. Potential Deer Population Growth in 10 Years. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. There are only white-tail deer in North Carolina. It also says hunters harvest a whopping 280,000 deer each year, on average. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. 2021 Oregon Deer And Elk Hunting Prospects By Region Thank you for reading! Insurance provider State Farm estimated there were. New for 2021, all eastern Oregon deer hunting is controlled. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. Deer live in almost every country of the world. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . Utah Deer Population: The state estimates 305,700 mule deer for 2021, above the recent low of 268,180 in 2003, but about the same as the 1998 population of 307,500. 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. Deer are a favorite big game animal. On the other hand, hunting them provides food for many and their meat is very prized. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Maryland Hunters Report Taking 70,845 Deer in 2021-2022 Season SCDNR - 2021 Deer Harvest Report - South Carolina Department of Natural The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. When alarmed, white-tailed deer will raise their tail straight up, flashing the white. Hunting controls, restocking and improved habitat brought the deer population up to about 17,000 by 1965. 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. Montana has about 300,000 mule deer and about 213,000 white-tail deer. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. SCDNR - 2020 Deer Harvest Report - South Carolina Department of Natural Outdoors: Deer population in New York wasn't always so high They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. The sika deer population is mainly found along coastal regions and is much lower than the white-tailed deer. The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Although they were once almost wiped out from many states, they have successfully repopulated most of their former territories. Most deer live in the western part of the state. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. This is quite a noticeable decline from the population high of 250,000 seen in 1988. Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. 3) Colorado: Deer population around 25,000. 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. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900.