We researched to find out. However Texas is also home to mule deer, who live in the Trans-Pecos and Panhandle regions. Whereas the size of white-tailed deer can vary greatly, mule deer dont show as much of a difference across their range. There are no western states with over a million deer. When alarmed, white-tailed deer will raise their tail straight up, flashing the white. That is a far cry from nearly zero in 1890. . Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. Wyoming is home to 70,000 white-tail deer and about 330,000 mule deer. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. 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. The states Department of Natural Resources says these deer are abundant in every county and habitat of West Virginia. Florida has a healthy deer population that includes a large number of white-tails and fewer than 1,000 rare Key deer. The most recent estimate I could find for West Virginias white-tailed deer population was about 550,000 in 2017. 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. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. Delawares White-Tailed Deer: Hunting and Management. Iowa has produced some of the largest bucks in the history of our country. Focus on plants that arent as attractive to deer (marigold, verbena, snapdragon, butterfly bush, boxwood, juniper, bee balm). 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. Columbia Black-tailed deer (Northern California and Pacific Northwest). Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. 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. 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. Mule deer are found in the central mountains and southern deserts of the state, while white-tailed deer are most populous in the northern forested areas. Mule deer are found in the western third of the state, mainly in the High Plains, Smoky Hills and Red Hills regions. 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. Today Arkansas enjoys plenty of deer, with a 2020 estimate of 900,000 white-tailed deer. While caribou, elk and moose are all Cervids, that is members of the deer family, we are not discussing them in this article. Like many other states, Kentucky outlawed deer hunting in the early part of the 20th century. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. Today, the population sits around 660,000. The emphasis is a science-based approach to managing of mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations. 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. Caption: Ohio's deer archery hunting season . Everything You Want To Know About Muntjac, What Do White-Tailed Deer Eat? They are also an important food source for the endangered Florida panther. Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report . With larger deer populations there is also an increased risk of elevated deer tick populations. Overall outlook: New York's 2021 deer hunting forecast said biologists expect 2021-'22 to be another productive season for hunters. 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. These deer are ruminants, which means they have a four-chambered stomach. They are classic forest creatures who feature in wilderness stories and artwork. Be on the lookout. Most other western states have between 100,000 to 540,000 deer per state. Mule deer are primarily found in the badlands alongside the Little Missouri River. Currently about 110,000 deer are harvested each year in the state. The overall size, length, and branches on antlers depends on how well-fed the deer is, how old it is, and some is just genetics. Today, the deer population is estimated to be at least 500,000. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. 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. Missouris white-tailed deer population sits at about 1.4 million. 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. However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. There is some concern that in the long run, they may outcompete the native mule deer. Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. In the early 1900s not many deer remained in Alabama after overhunting, estimates were down to about 2,000. That includes white-tail deer, mule deer, black-tail deer, and a handful of rare deer species. Deer are thriving in the states forested areas. The Wisconsin DNR annually estimates the size of deer populations in each deer management unit (DMU). The harvest was 13% lower than the 2020-2021 total of 81,729 deer. 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. Deer are popular among hunters and wildlife watchers. Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. It is estimated by 1925 only about 400 deer remained. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. . 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. During this time, Maine's deer population grew to an estimated all time high of 331,000, however, much of the growth occurred within the southern tier of the state. Washington has the most variety of deer. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. As the largest of the lower 48 states, Texas has lots of room for deer. Which states have named the white-tail deer their state animal? Colorados white-tailed deer mostly live in the eastern and central mountain areas. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. It is estimated that only 10,000 deer inhabited the state in 1900. The numbers above do not include deer . In the 1950s, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought deer from other states to repopulate parts of Florida. One of the things that makes white-tailed deer so widespread is their ability to adapt to many environments. Each year, hunters take 40 to 70 percent of the antlered bucks and up to 25 percent of the does within many areas of Missouri. All of Alaskas deer are black-tail deer. For both species females are smaller than the males. The estimated all-time low whitetail deer population numbers in Louisiana was about 20,000 in 1925. This is mainly white-tailed deer however there is a small population of mule deer in the state also, about 1,750 3,000. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. While populations often have good and bad years, the state feels its time to step in and try to improve the situation. Its 2020 estimate . 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. 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. Deer Population by State: How Many Deer are in the U.S.? According to this article in the Washington Times Herald, as of 2020 the white-tailed deer population in Indiana was estimated at 680,000. However, they have adapted well to many environments. Hunters harvested 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 season; a robust number indicative of a strong population. The mule deer population has been in decline since 1980, decreasing from 300,000 to todays estimate of 170,000 190,000 in 2020. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. Pennsylvania Game Commission: hunting and trapping resource page. White-tailed deer were once common in Delaware, but hunting reduced their numbers. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. 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. Hunters in Region B the remainder of the state harvested 62,916 deer, down 13% from 72,346 . 10 Black Snakes in Georgia (With Pictures), 16 Species of Bats in Texas (With Pictures), Black Bear Population by State (Recent Reports), Mountain Lion Population (In Each U.S. State), Moose Population by State (Estimates and Info), 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), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (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). White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. States With Minimal Deer Populations. This total included 95,665 antlered bucks, 12,219 button bucks, and 83,847 does (44% females). Courtesy of onX Hunt, here are the eight states in the USA with the highest deer density: Mississippi: 38 deer per square mile. There are approximately 5.6 Million White-tailed deer in Texas. Learn more about the gestation period of fawn in this article. The deer population in the United States varies by state. Deer Meat: 10 Things You Should Know About Venison, Discover The Largest Whitetail Deer Ever Caught In Maine. Depending on the time of year, they eat: The total population of all deer in the U.S. is around 25 to 35 million. 4) Iowa: Deer population around 400,000. Key deer are the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer in North America, weighing only about 55-65 pounds. Kansas is home to two kinds of deer, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Idaho is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. The Illinois Division of Wildlife Resources says deer are an important part of the states economy. 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. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. 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. Montana has about 300,000 mule deer and about 213,000 white-tail deer. Because of this permits and licenses are becoming more flexible opening up new opportunities for the states hunters. 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. Population has been on a slow increase for many years. 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. 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 Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. There were fewer than 500 deer left at the time. Nebraska is another state that is home to both white-tailed and mule . There is also a population of white-tailed deer in Utah, however I could not find any credible estimates other than 1,000 back in 2008. Oregon has two species of white-tail deer. Currently, the estimated deer population in Georgia is 1.27 million. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. Washington has the most variety of deer. State wildlife biologists were concerned about damage from these non-native deer, but monitoring programs have found they coexist peacefully with the states native species.
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deer population by state 2021