White-tailed deer and mule deer roam the grasslands and prairies of Wyoming. 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. Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? 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. They are the mule deer, Coues deer, and Texas white-tail. About 206,00 hunters used a crossbow and harvested 93,000 deer. The mule deer working group lists the 2021 population in the badlands at 21,000. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? Habitat, Mortality, Harvest Per Hunter, and Deer Observations. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. This is mainly white-tailed deer however there is a small population of mule deer in the state also, about 1,750 3,000. Lets find out. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? Thank you for visiting! While the white-tailed deer more or less stop east of the Rocky Mountains, the mule deer take over west of the Rockies. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. LDWF biologists and technicians collect harvest and biological data and conduct other research on public . These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. The estimated all-time low whitetail deer population numbers in Louisiana was about 20,000 in 1925. South Dakota is home to both the white-tailed and mule deer. Mule deer are found in the western third of the state, mainly in the High Plains, Smoky Hills and Red Hills regions. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Pennsylvania had the highest estimated number of auto claims (156,176). A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. While caribou, elk and moose are all Cervids, that is members of the deer family, we are not discussing them in this article. The state says its population is well-managed and sustainable. Browse, which is a collective term for shoots, twigs, leaves, and buds. The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. Predation is a natural form of mortality for white-tailed deer. 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. 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. Whereas the size of white-tailed deer can vary greatly, mule deer dont show as much of a difference across their range. We facilitate and provide opportunity for all citizens to use, enjoy . The total deer estimate for the state in recent years is about 280,000 300,000. Winds light and variable.. Tonight The state is also home to the rare, endemic Key deer, which is the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer. There are an estimated 35 to 36 million deer in the U.S. Once hunted almost to extinction, they have made a successful recovery. All of Alaskas deer are black-tail deer. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. It is the only deer native to the state. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. Native plant suppression when there are more deer than the ecosystem can sustain, native plants may be grazed to the point where they are never allowed to grow, reducing food for other animals and allowing invasive species to thrive. 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. Read More North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. Deer in the suburbs are well-known for eating the nice flowers and shrubs youve spent time planting in your yard. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife: White-tailed deer hunting and harvest. Theres a lot more interesting history you can in Colorados Mule Deer Story. In 1974 the state passed the Deer Management Act and had its first deer hunting season the following year. While overall population is down from the peak years of the mid to late 1990s, density of deer still remains a problem in many suburban parts of the state. The main deer population in Utah is mule deer, with a 2021 estimate of 314,850. They are allowed to be hunted and in the 2017-2018 season just over 3,000 were harvested. "With roughly 35 calves per hundred cows, we know the herds are increasing. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. 4382 WMAs. 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. Thank you for reading! The 2021 mule deer survey put their population within the state at 227,392. However, the abundance of deer in many parts of the state is causing increasing problems, particularly in suburban and urban areas. The North Carolina Wildlife Commission estimated the white-tailed deer population in the state to be around 1 million. The white-tail deer is the most common type of deer hunted in the United States. Fall deer densities [PDF] in 2018 varied from 4 to 80 deer per square mile of land area. State Harvest Statistics 2022 - 2023 Deer Statistics for Alabama # of Deer reported: 195241 # of antlered reported: 102366 Public Land. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. It also has about 320,000 black-tail deer, and the rest are mule deer. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. . 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. In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. This is due in part to lack of predators and changes in land use (less mature forest, more transition zones). According to data from State Farm, U.S. drivers had 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims in the U.S. between July 2021 and June 2022, down 5.5 percent from the same period a year ago. Maines many wild, pristine forests are a healthy habitat for deer. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. They mostly live along the watersheds of the states major rivers. The population is thriving, and Louisiana permits controlled hunting to manage it. Iowa's most recent . 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 . Efforts at management started as early as 1917 to save the remaining population. In fact the 2020-21 hunting season is reported as one of Ohios most successful with 197,735 deer harvested. . Field studies from across the United States, including Pennsylvania, show that predators - notably coyotes, bears, and bobcats - prey on white-tailed deer. 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. The rest are mule 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. 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. Deer are found throughout the state with three subspecies broken up by geographic location. White-tailed deer dominate Texas, being found in 252 out of 254 counties across the state with an estimated population of 5.3 million. 2021 population numbers listed by the state estimate 293,950 mule deer and 212,814 white-tailed deer. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. In some states, deer are so plentiful that regular hunting is needed to keep a balanced ecosystem. The deer mostly live in the northeastern part of the state. 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. Hunters in southwest Michigan will be able to use a firearm from Nov. 15, 2020, through Jan. 1, 2021, except for Dec. 1-3. . Sounds good for hunters, but populations this high can be problematic. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. They are most populous in states like Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and New York, but they are slowly infiltrating other areas like Alaska as well. New Hampshire: 100,000. Of the states roughly 500,000 deer, roughly 212,000 are white-tailed, and the rest are mule deer. (Texas is big in everything, it seems even deer!) Washington: 305,000. Have some feedback for us? Slow down. 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. The antlers grow in late spring, and are covered with tissue called velvet during this growth period. 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 The majority of the North American population lives east of the Rocky Mountains. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. However, in West Virginia, drivers had the highest likelihood of hitting an animal. Michigans many deer are all white-tails. Importing of white-tailed deer from Michigan began in 1930 to strategic habitats. The 2,500 hunter sample size is more than adequate, statistically, to produce precise . Since then, the introduction of white-tailed deer, habitat protection, and controlled hunting have allowed the deer to thrive again. Although Fayette County had the highest harvest rate at 2.6%. Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report . While populations still continue to fluctuate due to habitat loss, weather, disease and other factors, it remains in the hundreds of thousands. Conservation efforts, game management programs, and habitat protection have all helped them survive. 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. 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. 2) Oklahoma: Deer population around 500,000. The Largest Deer in the World Do you know which species of deer are the largest? Other deer related concerns in the state include Lyme disease and deer-vehicle collisions, which are taken to account in the states management practices. Michigan: 31 deer per square mile. 5) South Dakota: Deer population around 300,000. Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. 42. After gathering 2020 data the state reported stable mule deer herds and slightly increasing whitetail herds. Kyle Sams, a deer program biologist, says the population models still show an upward trend and favorable growth rate that will allow the number of deer harvested to continue to increase. Deer Gestation Period: How Long Are Deer Pregnant? The Columbian white-tail is a rare species named after the Columbia River. 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. There are an estimated 36 million deer in the United States. 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 . Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries: Deer Research, Management and Reports. 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. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. New Hampshires Fish and Game Department says human feeding has damaged its deer populations. One of the things that makes white-tailed deer so widespread is their ability to adapt to many environments. Be on the lookout. Mule deer are the most populous, and the state combines its counts of Coues and white-tailed. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. Deer prefer forested areas where they can find vegetation to eat. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. Combined with habitat protection measures, this ban allowed deer to thrive. White-tailed deer population in Pennsylvania has been 1.4-1.5 million for the last few years. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Missouri Department of Conservation: deer hunting regulations. They are adaptable to a wide range of climate conditions. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Population has been on a slow increase for many years. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Also, their numbers can fluctuate quite a bit based on how severe the winters are from year to year. On Saturday, February 18, 2023, staff from CPW were able to recapture and refit the collar on male wolf 2101 near North Park. The two species live in different parts of the state. Kansas has about 50,000 mule deer, and the rest are white-tails. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. Every three years, the DNR approves population objectives for each deer management unit based on population metrics and CDAC input. White tailed deer are found throughout the state, with the highest numbers in eastern half. Careful management slowly brought the population back and by 1985 hunters were able to harvest 32,000 deer. Their tail is thinner than the white-tailed deer, with a distinctive black tip at the bottom. Title. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. Wildlife biologists suggest developing softwood, nut-bearing habitats as a better alternative to human feeding. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. Colorado doesnt count deer species separately. The first game laws restricting hunting went into effect in 1853. Today its hard to image they werent always so abundant. Ideally 8 feet and solid (not opaque). The estimated population total today is 427,500 mule deer and white-tailed deer. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources estimated Utah's deer population at about 384,000 in 2015. This total included 101,509 antlered bucks, 13,637 button bucks, and 93,005 does (44% females). Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. Their numbers rebounded through conservation efforts from 25 in 1955 to 800 in more recent years. This number can drift up and down depending on the severity of the winter and how many harsh or mild winters there may be in a row. White-tailed deer in Florida tend to be a little smaller than in other states, due in part to the warm climate. Montana has a large population of two types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. The male white-tailed deer will grow a new set of antlers every year. Hunting controls, restocking and improved habitat brought the deer population up to about 17,000 by 1965. In 2021, the state launched a new initiative to enhance populations of mule deer and white-tailed deer. This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. But the lawsuit forced its hand, and between February 22 and 24, hunters killed 218 wolves, according to the Wisconsin . 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. Archery (including crossbows) accounted for 14% of the deer kill; muzzleloaders, 23%; and firearms, 63%. Washington has the most variety of deer. Black-tailed deer have a white patch on rump, which their tail mostly covers. California Department Fish and Wildlife: Deer Harvest Requirements. I could not find an exact count that was more recent, however based on estimated deer harvest numbers the total population in Florida as of 2019 may be closer to 550,000. The Illinois Division of Wildlife Resources says deer are an important part of the states economy. 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. Maryland Department of Natural Resources: hunting in Maryland. Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Big Game Hunting. 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 . 2021 WAFWA Deer & Elk Business Meeting: Jim Heffelfinger: 1:00-2:40 PM: Deer Session 3: Disease: Deer management units with the highest fall densities were mostly in the east-central, south-central and southwestern parts of the state. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. For these numbers, we have included all 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.. 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. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. Additional Sources used in this article : WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. In the 1800s, however, several Axis deer from India were sent to Hawaii. Pennsylvania: 34 deer per square mile. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: white-tailed deer hunting information. Deer hunting in the state is an important tool to raise money for wildlife management and land acquisition. Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. . Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? But by that time, damage to deer herds had already been happening for almost 30 years.