Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. The others are black-tail deer and mule deer. 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. All of Pennsylvanias deer are white-tails. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. DEC determines desired deer population changes using data on public preferences and deer impacts to forests. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. This 2015 article states the Arizona Big Game Management estimated Coues population at about 50,000-60,000 deer. Virginia has a healthy population of white-tail deer. White-tailed deer and mule deer roam the grasslands and prairies of Wyoming. March 29, 2021 6:10 am. 1756 Forever Wild. 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. . The Department notes that deer live in natural woodlands, shelterbelts, old homesteads, and grasslands in every part of Kansas. 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. You can find blacktail deer in western Oregon, whitetail deer in northeastern Oregon and mule deer east of the Cascade range. Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to hear from you about the current Colorado big game hunting season structure and possible changes for 2025-2029. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. Emily is an editor and content marketing specialist of five years. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife: hunting rules and regulations. This flash can alert other deer that danger has been spotted, and is known as flagging. In Wisconsin, there have been 1,822 entries for the buck, which is . In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. Slow down. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. Last year, both rifle and archery harvests were below average. Most deer live in the western part of the state. Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. 84 . . These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA . The state initially planned to wait for the fall of 2021 to hold a harvest. But things got worse. White-tailed deer are an important game animal in Michigan. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. . North Carolina's major efforts to restore our state's deer resource took place in the 1940s through the 1970s. 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. A 2020 study by the Mule Deer Working Group put total deer population (including black-tailed and mule deer) in California at 460,420. White-tailed deer dominate Texas, being found in 252 out of 254 counties across the state with an estimated population of 5.3 million. There is a really nice timeline of events affecting the deer on the states history of deer management page. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. 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. Arkansas nearly lost its deer population. State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. Why do so many states allow deer hunting? Take a look! New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. Making deer dependent on human feeding can make them more vulnerable to predators, diseases, and vehicle collisions. However in localized urban and suburban areas, many populations are increasing. Growth has boomed since with an estimated population today of 700,000 750,000 white-tailed deer. But numbers have been on the rise since then, from an estimated 20,000 in 1940 to 700,000 in 2014. She now has three rescue cats and two high-needs Pomeranian mixes to take up her love and attention. 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. Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. There are nearly 2,000 different species! This means they fork as they grow. Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. The main noticeable difference between the mule deer and the white-tailed deer are ear size, tails, and antlers. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the return of this deer is a tribute to good landowner attitude and progressive management, research, and enforcement programs.. Texas has the highest deer population, 5.5 million! The endangered Columbian white-tailed deer are only found in the far southwestern corner of Washington along the lower Columbia River. Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. Animal husbandry and agriculture also grew, removing forested land in favor of farming. Sika deer are native to Japan, but a small herd of them was introduced to the wild from a private farm. Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. The first game laws restricting hunting went into effect in 1853. Officials are still unsure of the exact number of white-tailed deer currently living in Alaska. 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 Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? The total population estimate for deer living in the U.S. is approximately 35-36 million. Icon. They also state the greatest density of deer can be found in Rockingham, Hillsborough and Cheshire counties, as well as along the Connecticut River Valley in Grafton County. 2021 Virginia Deer Season Review. Texas is home to around 225,000 mule deer and millions of white-tail deer. North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. Managers have been able to relax hunting regulations over the years in response to increasing deer herds. The white-tailed deer gets its name from its white patches, which are behind the nose, around the eyes, inside the ears, over the chin and throat, and beneath the tail. 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. Deer populations are actually higher than they were historically in many areas, or they are at the point of exceeding the carrying capacity of their local environment. The over-arching goals of this mule deer plan are: 1) Preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage deer and their habitat to ensure healthy, productive populations; 2) Manage deer for a variety of recreational, educational, and . All this brings us to today. White-tailed deer are a popular game animal found in almost every part of the United States. Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). 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. In 1960, there were 22 deer management areas and most deer seasons were only 2 to 4 weeks, with the longest at 56 days. For example, in 2016, Wisconsin had an estimated deer population of 1.3 million, while Texas had an estimated deer population of 4 million. 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. Washingtons deer thrive in the mountain regions. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. 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. Strict measure were taken to improve this, including closing all hunting for many years, restocking from other states, and cracking down on enforcing regulations. The state is home to 20,000 mule deer and 130,000 white-tail deer. In Vermont they also prefer the valley areas that have a mix of forest and fields. I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. Idaho is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. Habitat, not predators, is the major factor determining mule deer numbers in Nevada. Deer live in almost every country of the world. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge. Marylands deer population includes 207,000 white-tail deer and about 10,000 Sika deer. However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy . Predators kill white-tailed deer. Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. It is one of the few states where mule deer are a more popular game animal than whitetails. The process is outlined in detail in Appendix 2 of our Management Plan for White-tailed deer in New York State: 2021-2030 (PDF). The sika deer population is mainly found along coastal regions and is much lower than the white-tailed deer. Theres a lot more interesting history you can in Colorados Mule Deer Story. 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. The reader should bear in mind that many . Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Vehicle collisions as population density increases, so does the likelihood of deer-vehicle collisions. 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. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. Factors causing deer populations to grow in recent years include expansion of homes into rural areas that are hospitable for deer but are not suitable for hunting. 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.