The most recent data I could find for white-tailed deer reported around 300,000 in 2016. The Sooner State comes in at No. As part of the Wildlife Resources Division's (WRD) goal to maintain a sustainable wild turkey population in Georgia, estimates of the state's turkey harvest, turkey hunter effort, and turkey hunter success are acquired each year and then used to adjust hunting regulations in subsequent years to achieve . This is mainly white-tailed deer however there is a small population of mule deer in the state also, about 1,750 3,000. Like many states, Oklahoma had nearly lost all its deer by the early 1900s. That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. 5. Loss of habitat too many deer in a forested area can completely eat through the green understory. Which came first, the black-tailed deer or the mule deer? There is also a small population of black-tailed deer on the island of Kauai that were introduced from Oregon in 1961. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This includes during the winter and early spring, they feed on Douglas fir, western red cedar, red huckleberry, salal, deer fern, and lichens growing on trees. Seems to me (statistically) the place would eventually be hunted out. Its also important to know certain areas will have concentrations of deer. Most people think of the Midwest as the gold standard of the deer hunting world. 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. It may be that monitoring of this species separate from overall deer in the state has not yet been established. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. In the current Maryland white-tailed deer management plan the most recent population estimate I saw was 207,000 tailed deer in 2018. This includes plant shoots, legumes, cacti, leaves, grasses, fruit, corn, acorns and mushrooms. To submit, please register and login first. Click here for more deer hunting articles and videos. 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. (Estimates & Examples), Bobcat Population by State (Estimates & Facts), 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), 4 Types of Water Snakes in Iowa (With Pictures), 5 Water Snakes in South Carolina (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). The second most challenging aspect results from the lack of communication between the Agency and hunters. The TWRA page states that the deer population has expanded from just a few counties in eastern Tennessee during the 1940s to being present in all 95 counties state-wide today. Fewer deer means more food for other deer, which leads to healthier and bigger animals. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. Hunting of black-tailed deer is allowed, and at the time of writing this article so is hunting of mule and white-tailed deer, in order to help get more information on these new populations entering the state. Hemorrhagic disease has not been found to be a danger to humans. Some deer may survive and recover from the disease, but many die and are often found in or near water. The .gov means its official. The largest deer are often found along the northern portions of their range, while the tiny Key Deer of Florida barely make it to 100 pounds. While overall the deer population is considered to be stable, the migratory populations in the Sierra Nevada and the black-tailed deer in the northwest are likely in decline, while suburban populations are increasing. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. White-tailed deer belong to the order of artiodactyla and familyCervidae and may live up to 12 years in the wild, although they rarely reach anything over seven years of age. The percentage of does in the overall harvest has increased steadily from 19% in 1984 to 32% in 1994 to 45% in 2004. Another plains state, we see virtually the same story as in Oklahoma. 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 summer coat of a white-tailed deer is reddish-brown, while its winter coat is gray. Wild Hog Regulations. It is important they have access to both the cover provided by the forest and the grazing in open areas and along the forest edge. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. And its certainly one of the best in the Midwest with 17.4 deer per square mile. But by that time, damage to deer herds had already been happening for almost 30 years. This means they fork as they grow. Customize the settings according to your preferences. Delawares White-Tailed Deer: Hunting and Management. For many years deer hunting wasnt allowed in the state in efforts to allow the population to recover from the overhunting of the 1700s and early 180os. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. However, thats still a decent number. That is up from an estimated 1.7 million ten years ago. "We saw a record harvest for the 2020-21 deer season of 216,835," said Ralph Meeker, deer program coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. In the early 1900s laws regulating deer hunting were passed but did little good as they went unenforced for the most part. But everyone I talk to who has, heralds this state as one of the best in the country. There is a great timeline of deer management through the years on the wildlife departments website. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. I was blessed to take a beautiful 8-point buck. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting resources. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: 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. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. That said, like Kansas and Oklahoma, there is a lot of open ground in Iowa, much of which doesnt support large populations of deer. Giles County led the state in the total . 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. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. In recent years, the Agency's attention has turned to increasing and maintaining the doe harvest in order to control herd growth. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. To browse or use data from this site, no account is necessary! Other states have deer and elk populations too, but some also have moose, mule deer and other big game cervids that sportsmen travel out of state to hunt. Tennessee Population Pyramid 2023 Tennessee Median Age 38.8 Total 37.5 Male 40.1 Female Tennessee Adults There are 5,264,378 adults, (1,107,564 of whom are seniors) in Tennessee. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. Advertisement The region as a whole had a harvest of 20,546 deer. 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. The Deer density map shows our area to have at best 30 deer per sq. White-tailed deer are statewide but more populous in the east, while mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife estimated a population of 1 million white-tailed deer at the start of the 2020-21 hunting season. According to this article in the Washington Times Herald, as of 2020 the white-tailed deer population in Indiana was estimated at 680,000. A 2020 study by the Mule Deer Working Group put total deer population (including black-tailed and mule deer) in California at 460,420. 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. Obviously, there are a few factors to this metric, such as the size of the state, the amount of urban vs. rural land, etc. They have made most of this information available online at Minnesota DNR Deer Populations & Goals. In response to the growing popularity of quality deer management (QDM), the Agency has continually researched QDM initiatives. While there, I witnessed a very healthy population of deer that seemed to be higher than this number. Maryland also has a population of sika deer. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. The antlers grow in late spring, and are covered with tissue called velvet during this growth period. Thank you for visiting! Something that many of you might find very interesting is how this list compares to that of our nations highest deer populations per square mile, of which almost all of these states did not make the cut. Connecticut DEEP: hunting and trapping information. All too often, hunters rely on outside sources of information regarding deer and deer hunting. Illinois Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting information. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Utah: 315,000 Only about 1,000 of these deer are white-tail deer. Not likely. Click here to learn more on deer hunting in Ohio. Today, the population sits around 660,000. That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. We will be looking at the population of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed deer. And while Minnesota isnt what it used to be, it still does well and cranks out good harvest numbers each year. They may occasionally eat small animals like mice or birds, but it isnt very common. With 18.4 deer per square mile, its hard to argue against its validity. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. White-tailed deer were plentiful in Illinois during the early 1800s, but supply began to dwindle by 1850 with the development of the railroads, cutting of timber and conversion of prairie land to farm land. As you can see, populations drop drastically from the No. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. Antlers are vascular extensions of the skull covered with hairy skin, called velvet, during the growing period. We have 6 members and if each of us take 3 deer per year, that would be more than half the population. I hunted in Ohio for the first time this season. The information on this page (the dataset metadata) is also available in these formats: In 2008, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) developed a map of white-tailed deer density with information obtained from state wildlife agencies. Retrieved from the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota, http://dx.doi.org/10.13020/D6G014. This has been accomplished through liberalized antlerless bag limits, liberalized deer tagging regulations, increased seasons, and increased non-quota antlerless hunting opportunities. The 2021 estimate for mule deer is 249,691. Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. Deer were in trouble in Florida with low populations between the 1700s and 1940s due to unregulated hide trading, hunting and a cattle-fever tick scare that caused mass deer removal. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. Within these two high-prevalence counties, the disease is not distributed evenly, and . Bear Harvest Report. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. 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. And here comes the biggest shock of all. 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. I could not find a specific estimate for the smaller white-tailed deer population. We have built the easiest Tennessee Heat Map Maker in the universe! White-tailed deer are common in Tennessee, while a small population of elk can be found in the eastern portion of the state. Our density there is 19.1 deer per square mile post-hunt (C.I = 15.0 24.5, C.V. = 0.124) if you're interested. Deer farming creates high-density populations of deer, making it an ideal environment for transmitting CWD. But things got worse. 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. (dataset) Hanberry, Brice B.; Hanberry, Phillip (2023). 6 to 7 spot. Over time this heavy hunting and habitat loss took a real toll. Does 2.5 years of age and older in high-quality habitats generally have two fawns, whereas their 1.5-year-old counterparts usually have only one. Its the only state with this claim. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. 2015-16 Deer Harvest Estimates (PDF) Big Game Harvest Data back to 1915. This 2015 article states the Arizona Big Game Management estimated Coues population at about 50,000-60,000 deer. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. Therefore, QDM is best left as a management tool utilized by individual hunters and/or landowners. A total of 159,962 deer were harvested. Growth of the Tennessee deer herd is expected to continue to increase at 1-2 % per year for the near future with most expansion occurring in the Mississippi River counties and in eastern Tennessee. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. In fact the 2020-21 hunting season is reported as one of Ohios most successful with 197,735 deer harvested. Courtesy of onX Hunt, here are the eight states in the USA with the highest deer density . Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. QDMA Whitetail Report, 2009. The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. 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. Deer also eat hard masts such as acorns, fruits (soft mast), and herbaceous plants based on seasonal availability. North Dakota is home to both white-tailed and mule deer. The mule deer is a generalist and will forage on whatever is available. 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. White-tailed deer are classified as the species Odocoileus virginianus, the Virginia white-tailed deer. However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. Webpage with information and links to data files for download. 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. Furthermore, they salivate excessively and have an increased pulse, respiration rate, and temperature. 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. The rest are mule deer. They consider the population stable. This is quite a noticeable decline from the population high of 250,000 seen in 1988. It used to produce more and bigger deer than it does now. Estimated Number of Hunters and Trappers of Furbearers. That leaves you with the average number of whitetails per square mile. During this time anyone could hunt deer and they were often a life line, providing meat and skin to the early settlers. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. Statewide regulations have allowed QDM practitioners to implement their strategies with great success, while also keeping non-QDM practitioners happy. Because of this permits and licenses are becoming more flexible opening up new opportunities for the states hunters. To browse or use data from this site, no account is necessary! A comparison of buck age structure from annual deer harvest suggests that the Tennessee deer herd compares favorably with those states with more restrictive buck regulations. Retrieved from the Data Repository for the University of Minnesota, http://dx.doi.org/10.13020/D6G014. To get this data, we simply divided the states deer populations by their total number of claimed square miles. mile. This booming population now has deer in overabundance and the state DEC aims to control this with managed harvesting. Their population is recovering due to prohibiting antlerless harvest for a few years and milder winters. White-tailed deer are mainly found in the Black Hills, Bighorn Basin and Riverton regions. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. 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.

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