Icon. White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. There are no western states with over a million deer. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Hawaii does not have white-tailed deer or any native deer. The 2021 mule deer survey put their population within the state at 227,392. While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. 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. Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. 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 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. Deer eat a lot, about 2,000 pounds of plant matter each year. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. 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. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. Thank you for reading! That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of deer populations in each deer management unit (DMU). Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. California Department Fish and Wildlife: Deer Harvest Requirements. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring. Hunting seasons, bag limits, deer restocking and habitat restoration are just a few of the management practices that sprung up. This total included 95,665 antlered bucks, 12,219 button bucks, and 83,847 does (44% females). 2021's deer season in Kentucky exceeded already high numbers coming out of the pandemic-affected 2020 . Read more about New Yorks deer abundance on the DEC site here. Statewide, deer populations benefited from a relatively mild winter and favorable weather during fawning season and early summer. Oklahoma has about 2,00 to 3,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tail deer. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. Washington has the most variety of deer. develop estimates of deer density across the state. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The state department of wildlife and fisheries began to manage deer by setting hunting seasons and restocking in the late 1940s. . According to the state of Massachusetts deer management page, there are an estimated 95,000 white-tailed deer in the state. They consider the population stable. Montana has about 300,000 mule deer and about 213,000 white-tail deer. However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. . Connecticut DEEP: hunting and trapping information. 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 . However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. There are nearly 2,000 different species! The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. According to the Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, most of the state conservation efforts are funded through hunting and fishing license sales and firearms sales. Because of that, out-of-state hunters' dollars have been a huge boost to the Iowa economy. Since at least 1962, WRD has used scientifically valid, survey methodology to get estimates of not only deer harvest, but also harvest estimates of other game species. . This is quite a noticeable decline from the population high of 250,000 seen in 1988. Fallow Deer vs. White-Tailed Deer: Key Differences Discover the different traits between the white-tailed and fallow deer species. The program aims to address many factors impacting mule deer such as post-fire rehabilitation, pinyon-juniper removal, invasive weed abatement, re-establishing beneficial shrub/grass/forbs to compromised habitats, water development, spring protection, highway crossings, migration corridor protection, disease surveillance, assessing and trying to mitigate impacts from mining/energy development, predator management, and collaring and monitoring mule deer to identity limiting factors/mortality/habitat selection, etc.. 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. Hunting is the leading cause of deer mortality in most of the state (Figure 3). 42. 2021 data shows an estimated mule deer population of about 84,000 90,000 in Nevada. The white-tailed deer found in Arizona belongs to the subspecies called Coues. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. Recently the state has been increasing their any-deer (does or bucks) permits in an effort to bring down the population due to complains about too many deer and high levels of Lyme disease in certain areas. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. Controlled hunting laws have kept the population stable. The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. Deer hunting plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced. The Kansas DWP reports that white tailed numbers have increased dramatically in the last 20 years. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission: deer hunting information. The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. 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. White tailed deer are found throughout the state, with the highest numbers in eastern half. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. 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. A 2021 estimate puts mule deer at a population of between 90,000 130,000. Slow down. Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. 4382 WMAs. Overpopulation of deer can damage ecosystems by preventing forest regrowth and causing declines in plant diversity. Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. Have some feedback for us? The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. They are an attractive deer with a bright orange-brown coat covered in white spots, much like the fawn of white-tailed deer. At that time, many state wildlife agencies were formed with the goal of conserving the nation's depleted wildlife resources. They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. . 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. 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. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Virginia has a healthy population of white-tail deer. 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. 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. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. The mule deer population has been in decline since 1980, decreasing from 300,000 to todays estimate of 170,000 190,000 in 2020. Overall the state reports the population is currently stable or slightly declining. Arkansas nearly lost its deer population. Spring Spotlight Survey Results, 2022 They live in every state of the country, and their numbers are stable. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. 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. They remain an important part of the states economy, generating an estimated 1.2 billion dollars through hunting. White-tailed deer prefer the more agricultural and upland areas of the state, whereas the sika deer prefer marshes and forested wetlands. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. During the past deer season, 191,731 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. . Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. The states population declined when coyotes returned to South Carolina in large numbers, but it remains stable. All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. Engage with us in 2023. Over time this heavy hunting and habitat loss took a real toll. Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . How many deer live in the United States? Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. Areas included in this final year of goal setting are the East Central Uplands block ( DPAs 52, 155, 156, 157, 159, 172, 183 . As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. Fall 2021-22 harvest: 191,731. When Europeans first came to America, they found deer a plentiful resource in most states. The white-tailed deer has a reddish-brown coat in the spring which fades to a grayish-brown coat during the fall and winter. 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. Wisconsin: 33 deer per square mile. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. As conservation efforts increased, deer restocking programs helped bring in just over 4,000 deer from other states between 1928 and 1992. They mostly live in the states coastal regions. Most states have yearly hunting seasons that help keep deer populations in check. In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. The state banned hunting in 1841, and the deer population increased. White-tailed deer have bounced back from near extinction in Rhode Island. This means they fork as they grow. 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. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. Oregon has two species of white-tail deer. 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. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. South Carolinas deer are all white-tails. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. Body. 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. There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Deer are thriving in all parts of the state. Using Remote Sensed Data to Monitor Mule Deer Population Performance: Mark Hurley: 10:25-10:55 AM: . Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. This helps them avoid the harsher high elevation winter conditions such as deeper snow that covers up food. 84 . This is due in part to lack of predators and changes in land use (less mature forest, more transition zones). When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. 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. 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. The New Hampshire Fish & Game page lists the population estimate for the state at 100,000 white-tailed deer. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. For both species females are smaller than the males. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. If this growth rate remained constant until year 10, the population would number about 900, or 1 deer per 1.3 acres. 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. 2021 WAFWA Deer & Elk Business Meeting: Jim Heffelfinger: 1:00-2:40 PM: Deer Session 3: Disease: We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. We researched to find out. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. 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. The two species live in different parts of the state. They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. Rhode Island only has 18,000 deer and Delaware comes in at 45,000. The supply of deer food throughout the state was in generally good condition. New Mexico is home to mule deer, Coue deer, and Texas white-tails. Deer Overabundance. The DNR estimated 574,000 hunters spent 8.7 million days afield during the 2017 deer season, and harvested 376,000 deer for a nearly 50% success rate. Most deer live in the western part of the state. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. Washington has the most variety of deer. Nevada is the western state with the . 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. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. Ohio had lost most of its deer by 1900 due to habitat loss and hunting. That includes white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tail deer, and a handful of rare deer species. Conservation efforts, game management programs, and habitat protection have all helped them survive. On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. There are nearly 2,000 different species! But things got worse. Based on hunting data the white-tailed deer population in 2017 was about 135,000. Because of this permits and licenses are becoming more flexible opening up new opportunities for the states hunters. Harvest numbers come from harvest reports submitted by successful hunters and data collected from meat locker records. Try these articles next! Thank you for visiting! Learn more. In the current Maryland white-tailed deer management plan the most recent population estimate I saw was 207,000 tailed deer in 2018. 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. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. White-tailed deer are found throughout the state even in some coastal locales. Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. During the past deer season, 209,356 deer were reported killed by deer hunters in Virginia (Figure 1). 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. This booming population now has deer in overabundance and the state DEC aims to control this with managed harvesting. They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. 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. There are only white-tail deer in North Carolina. Last year, both rifle and archery harvests were below average. Have some feedback for us? Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. The states Department of Natural Resources and other groups want to attract more hunters to reduce deer populations. Marylands deer population includes 207,000 white-tail deer and about 10,000 Sika deer. The dark green shaded counties have the most dense deer populations in Tennessee. Nebraskas deer population includes 300,000 white-tail deer and 130,000 mule deer. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. 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. The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. In the 1800s, however, several Axis deer from India were sent to Hawaii. The harvest was 13% lower than the 2020-2021 total of 81,729 deer. 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. 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. If it is just a garden you are trying to protect, you can net off that specific area rather than your whole yard, Motion detecting sprinklers can work great to startle them away. 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. The main deer population in Utah is mule deer, with a 2021 estimate of 314,850. By the turn of the century people began to realize they needed conservation programs or the deer would go the way of the buffalo. Hawaii has about 1,000 black-tail deer and 110,000 Axis deer. Idaho has about 520,000 white-tails, and the rest are mule deer. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. The white-tailed deer is native to North America, Central America and parts of South America. Regular hunting ensures that a state will only have the number of deer its ecosystems can support. The only state they havent established at least a small population is Hawaii. Thus far they report that the harvest has not met the numbers they want, and the state is continuing to work on management strategies. The state almost destroyed its deer population. They are adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions. Title. White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. Predators kill white-tailed deer. Michigans many deer are all white-tails. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: white-tailed deer overview. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. 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. The only Southern state in the top 10, Mississippi has an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer. The mule deer working group lists the 2021 population in the badlands at 21,000. Georgia Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Current Deer Management Plan, 2015-2024; Deer Management Plan 2005-2014; Urban Deer Management Plan 2005-2014; Controlling Deer Damage; DNR Deer Restocking 1928-1974 This flash can alert other deer that danger has been spotted, and is known as flagging. Maines many wild, pristine forests are a healthy habitat for deer. "With roughly 35 calves per hundred cows, we know the herds are increasing. Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. 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. The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most popular game species in Misissippi.Nationally, the white-tailed deer population likely exceeds 30 million. Like other deer species they grow new antlers each spring and shed them during the winter. Texas has the highest deer population, 5.5 million! Most of the population growth in recent years has occurred in the southern half of the lower peninsula. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. New Hampshire: 100,000. South Dakota has more than 80,000 mule deer and 420,000 white-tail deer. Like other states, Mississippi used conservation efforts to bring deer back from the brink of extinction. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. 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. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Kentuckys Deer Restoration. Each year CDFW biologists estimate the deer population in California using a computer model that uses harvest numbers along with survey data. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. We couldnt find any hard numbers and its likely an estimate has not yet been made. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. White-tailed deer dominate Texas, being found in 252 out of 254 counties across the state with an estimated population of 5.3 million. 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. North Dakota is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. 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. As the largest of the lower 48 states, Texas has lots of room for deer. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. The states Department of Natural Resources says these deer are abundant in every county and habitat of West Virginia. For white-tailed deer, the last mention I could find was about 520,000 around 2015. When alarmed, white-tailed deer will raise their tail straight up, flashing the white. 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. For our population numbers, we relied on official numbers from each states Fish and Wildlife Department, Department of Natural Resources, or another appropriate source. 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 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. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule deer. 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. "With the information we gathered from the aerial counts and the harvest reports we can then adjust the hunting permit levels for that area," Palmer said. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. The white-tail deer is the most common type of deer hunted in the United States. There is some concern that in the long run, they may outcompete the native mule deer. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge. 15 SOAs. Take a look! 4) Iowa: Deer population around 400,000. 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. About 74,000 hunters participated in the state's 2017 spring turkey season, and killed 33,000 birds. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Washington: 305,000. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. Small herds also exist on prairies in Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. In 2021, the state launched a new initiative to enhance populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer. Like many other states, deer and other large game in Iowa was hunted to near extinction by the early 1800s. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. Every three years, the DNR approves population objectives for each deer management unit based on population metrics and CDAC input. It also says hunters harvest a whopping 280,000 deer each year, on average. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. Deer are an important game animal in Georgia, and the state is among many that used conservation efforts to increase its population of these deer. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. While populations still continue to fluctuate due to habitat loss, weather, disease and other factors, it remains in the hundreds of thousands. On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. 1756 Forever Wild. 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. Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer.