Pennsylvania Game Commission: hunting and trapping resource page. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. DEC determines desired deer population changes using data on public preferences and deer impacts to forests. In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. Wolves and mountain lions, their natural predators, no longer live in the state. Although they were once almost wiped out from many states, they have successfully repopulated most of their former territories. There are six subspecies of mule deer found across California. Small herds also exist on prairies in Fall River, Meade, Butte, Bennett and Gregory counties. Hawaii does not have white-tailed deer or any native deer. RALEIGH, N.C. (May 10, 2022) Results from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's annual deer harvest summary indicate hunters across the state reported harvesting 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 hunting season a 6.3% increase . 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. 3) Colorado: Deer population around 25,000. We protect and manage the fish, forest, and wildlife of the state. Restrictive game laws also helped allow the population to grow. While populations often have good and bad years, the state feels its time to step in and try to improve the situation. This means you would have had to put in an application for the 2021 controlled hunt draw and have been successful in order to hunt any eastern Oregon units for deer this year. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? 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. 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. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. Most states have yearly hunting seasons that help keep deer populations in check. There are more than 490,000 acres of wildlife management areas in West Virginia. When too many deer are in one environment, they can be a detriment by not allowing plants to grow to maturity or even completely wiping out a species of plant from an ecosystem. Field studies from across the United States, including Pennsylvania, show that predators - notably coyotes, bears, and bobcats - prey on white-tailed deer. They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. February 07, 2022. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule . During this time anyone could hunt deer and they were often a life line, providing meat and skin to the early settlers. This total included 95,665 antlered bucks, 12,219 button bucks, and 83,847 does (44% females). Most deer live in the western part of the state. 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. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. The total number of deer hunters in the state is obtained from the hunting license database. White-tailed deer are mainly herbivores and will eat what they can find during each season. Growth has boomed since with an estimated population today of 700,000 750,000 white-tailed 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 . This time the population grew to 212 deer in only 6 years. In the current Maryland white-tailed deer management plan the most recent population estimate I saw was 207,000 tailed deer in 2018. The states Department of Natural Resources says these deer are abundant in every county and habitat of West Virginia. White-tailed deer are an important game animal in the state. 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. State/Province Updates: Moderator: Sara Holm: 1:00-1:10 PM: California Deer and Elk Status Update: . Overall the state reports the population is currently stable or slightly declining. 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. At that time, many state wildlife agencies were formed with the goal of conserving the nation's depleted wildlife resources. Predation is a natural form of mortality for white-tailed deer. Importing of white-tailed deer from Michigan began in 1930 to strategic habitats. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. This 2021 article in the Greenville Sun quoted the states wildlife resource agency as estimating 900,000 white-tailed deer in the state. 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. Slow down. 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. 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. The white-tailed deer is native to North America, Central America and parts of South America. 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. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. Deer species in the U.S. are split into eastern and western groups, with some cross over in the middle. If you see a sick or abnormally thin deer or deer dead of unknown causes, please report its location to the CWD hotline: (866) CWD-WATCH (293-9282) . Overall outlook: New York's 2021 deer hunting forecast said biologists expect 2021-'22 to be another productive season for hunters. 84 . Washingtons deer thrive in the mountain regions. The 2021 mule deer survey put their population within the state at 227,392. There were fewer than 500 deer left at the time. 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. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. 2021-2023 Deer Population Objectives. Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. Alabama: 25 deer per square mile. 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. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. Insurance provider State Farm estimated there were. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. The rest are mule deer. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. Population expansion is expected at about 1-2% each year in the near future, how some areas of middle and west Tennessee may be trying to lower the deer numbers to a more manageable level. 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. As any gardener knows, deer also eat fruits, vegetables, and flowers. White-tailed deer prefer the more agricultural and upland areas of the state, whereas the sika deer prefer marshes and forested wetlands. The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. There is some concern that in the long run, they may outcompete the native mule deer. They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. The states only deer species is thriving in every region. For instance, in farmland management zones, harvesting approximately 25% of the . There are an estimated 36 million deer in the United States. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. They remain an important part of the states economy, generating an estimated 1.2 billion dollars through hunting. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. 2021's deer season in Kentucky exceeded already high numbers coming out of the pandemic-affected 2020 . The only Southern state in the top 10, Mississippi has an estimated 1.75 million white-tailed deer. 15 SOAs. Deer adapt to changing environments, and that adaptability has helped them make a strong comeback. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). 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. 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. They mostly live in the states coastal regions. There is also a small population of black-tailed deer on the island of Kauai that were introduced from Oregon in 1961. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. All this brings us to today. 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. It was hard to find a species break-down, but in general it appears each of the three main species make up a fairly equal portion of that total, about 100,000 each. Thus far they report that the harvest has not met the numbers they want, and the state is continuing to work on management strategies. These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA . We couldnt find any hard numbers and its likely an estimate has not yet been made. Finally, Maine's deer population grew prolifically through the 1990's as a result of the regulatory system that limited doe harvest, plus a series of mild winters. 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. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. The mule deer population has been in decline since 1980, decreasing from 300,000 to todays estimate of 170,000 190,000 in 2020. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. The harvest was 10.9% lower than the 2020/21 record harvest of 17,265 deer, but marked the ninth consecutive year that the Delaware harvest exceeded 14,000 deer. In Mississippi, the deer herd is estimated at 1.75 million animals, which is higher on a deer-per-unit-area basis (density) than any other state, and only Texas has a greater number of deer. 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. Please note that tracking wildlife populations is not an exact science. Potential Deer Population Growth in 10 Years. When resources are scarce, they will eat insects and small animals. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. They are herbivores who eat what is seasonally available. Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. The 2021 estimate for mule deer is 249,691. Although we think of deer as a forest animal, they also thrive in Floridas swampy coastal regions. Preliminary figures show that hunters registered 175,667 deer during the What Is The Deer Population In Wisconsin? Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Have some feedback for us? Thank you for reading! The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. Read more about white-tailed deer in Michigan at Michigan.gov. 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. Clearly restocking, management efforts, and the shift away from clearing land for agriculture have worked, to the point where many counties are now trying to lower the number of deer to a more sustainable number. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife: White-tailed deer in Maine. Spotlight surveys have been used by biologists nationwide since the mid-1900s and are effective for monitoring population trends, determining the distribution of species, identifying habitat use, and predicting disease outbreaks. Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. White-tailed deer are statewide but more populous in the east, while mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state. This 2015 article states the Arizona Big Game Management estimated Coues population at about 50,000-60,000 deer. 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. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. Because of that, out-of-state hunters' dollars have been a huge boost to the Iowa economy. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's 2021-22 deer hunting season concluded Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, with 196,988 deer checked, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Using Remote Sensed Data to Monitor Mule Deer Population Performance: Mark Hurley: 10:25-10:55 AM: . They are most populous in states like Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New York, but they are slowly infiltrating other areas like Alaska as well. Spring Spotlight Survey Results, 2022 The mule deer is a generalist and will forage on whatever is available. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: hunting in Utah. Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. These deer live on a series of islands along the river. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. Iowas first conservation law came around in 1856, restricting what time of year deer could be hunted. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. In the western states, Idaho is the only state that has at least 750,000 deer within a state. 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. 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. White-tailed deer can be found throughout the state while mule deer are mainly found around and to the west of the Missouri River breaks. Combined with habitat protection measures, this ban allowed deer to thrive. Rhode Island only has 18,000 deer and Delaware comes in at 45,000. 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. Since losing its mountain lions and wolves, the state depends on hunting to keep the population under control. File Layout [< 1.0 MB] Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (NST-EST2022-POPCHG2020-2022) [< 1.0 MB] With each new release of annual estimates, the entire time series of estimates is revised for all years back to the . If this growth rate remained constant until year 10, the population would number about 900, or 1 deer per 1.3 acres. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. The rut, which is their mating season, occurs in the fall and the fawns are born in the spring.