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. This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. Ideally 8 feet and solid (not opaque). Deer become infected after being bitten by a midge carrying the virus. The lowest estimate in the state came around 1931, when Virginia was down to just 25,000 deer after over 100 years of hunting and habitat loss. Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer are mainly found in the Black Hills, Bighorn Basin and Riverton regions. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. I dont blame them. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: information for hunting in Florida. The information on this page (the dataset metadata) is also available in these formats: This data publication includes vector digital data files containing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) densities during 1982, 1994-1999, and 2001-2005 in the continental United States. Hemorrhagic disease has not been found to be a danger to humans. In general, black-tailed deer occur in the western half of the state, while white-tailed and mule deer occur in the eastern half. Unfortunately that number decreased in 2001 due to the slight decline in hunter numbers. Private lands only and archery only, except in Unit CWD where guns and muzzleloaders are allowed and select public lands are additionally open for hunting. White-tailed deer have played an important role in the lives of humans for generations and will continue to do so. Hunter success has grown with the increasing harvests, hitting an all-time high in 2004 with 46% of deer hunters harvesting at least one deer. Click here for more information on deer hunting in Iowa. See Region 1 WMA regulations starting on page 37 to see which public lands are open during this hunt. The total deer estimate for the state in recent years is about 280,000 300,000. This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. Thus, for many research practitioners, there has been less of a focus on this methodology for GIS. Its also important to know certain areas will have concentrations of deer. Land area updated every 10 years. The increasing deer population has been reflected in an increasing harvest, which was a record 179,542 deer during the 2004/05 season. The only population estimate I could find for sika deer was approximately 10,000 in 2016. With laws enacted and amount of farmed land decreasing, deer began to rebound. Lastly, parasites (e.g., ticks) commonly associated with deer can present human health challenges. 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. Its the only state with this claim. 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. 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. 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. In Tennessee, they are classified as a species . White-tailed deer dominate Texas, being found in 252 out of 254 counties across the state with an estimated population of 5.3 million. However the Alaska Department of Fish and Game says that they are both crossing the border with Canada and starting to colonize. 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. While there, I witnessed a very healthy population of deer that seemed to be higher than this number. Bonus reads:Top 10 Booner States for Deer Hunting Since 2010 |10 Worst Deer Hunting States to Kill a Booner |Top 15 Deer Hunting States for Meat Hunters. Crossbows are legal during the entire archery season on both the Kentucky and Tennessee portions of LBL. A deer stocking program began in 1932 and continued for nearly 30 years. portion of LBL have increased to two deer, only one antlered and by any means (gun, muzzleloader, or archery). https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2019-0053. Iowas first conservation law came around in 1856, restricting what time of year deer could be hunted. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: white-tailed deer hunting information. With 18.4 deer per square mile, its hard to argue against its validity. QDM is generally defined by three principles; Although the State does not argue the importance and legitimacy of all three practices, QDM can not be practiced on a statewide basis since it is impossible for the Agency to provide optimum habitat statewide due to the expanse and physiographic variability of the land. This is mainly white-tailed deer however there is a small population of mule deer in the state also, about 1,750 3,000. 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. While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. Wild Hog Regulations. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. SET OPTIONS. API. When alarmed, white-tailed deer will raise their tail straight up, flashing the white. Maryland also has a population of sika deer. 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. While populations often have good and bad years, the state feels its time to step in and try to improve the situation. That is up from an estimated 1.7 million ten years ago. Human dimension studies conducted by the University of Tennessee show a deer hunting satisfaction rate of approximately 80% between the years 2000-2004. (3.63 psm) Basically total reported deer kill is 40% of the total deer . North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: white-tailed deer overview. Males are larger than females. And its certainly one of the best in the Midwest with 17.4 deer per square mile. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? Go here for more on deer hunting in Texas. An article published in November of 2021 in the CT Insider quotes the CT DEEP stating that the three year average for total deer population in the state is 101,000. Texans like to win. With the overall deer herd increasing at an estimated rate of 1-2% per year, and especially with the anticipated herd growth in eastern and far western Tennessee in the next few years, it will become more difficult to harvest the necessary number of does with little or no growth in hunter numbers. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. I hunted in Ohio for the first time this season. On the other hand, hunting them provides food for many and their meat is very prized. As conservation efforts increased, deer restocking programs helped bring in just over 4,000 deer from other states between 1928 and 1992. May 20, 2010 #4 B Boone 58 Well-Known Member Joined Jun 23, 2004 Messages 15,991 Location Food Plot lol! The lower deer density is also reflected in lower harvest numbers just as is the case in Region 3. Deer also eat hard masts such as acorns, fruits (soft mast), and herbaceous plants based on seasonal availability. Found in forests as well as the suburbs, deer are often thought to have spiritual meaning and can bring nature close to home since they are often seen in backyards and neighborhoods. According to this article in the Washington Times Herald, as of 2020 the white-tailed deer population in Indiana was estimated at 680,000. The top of their tail is brown, but the underside is very fluffy and white. Loss of habitat too many deer in a forested area can completely eat through the green understory. Their successful strategy has brought the estimated deer population today to about 500,000. The tail is straight and black on top with white underneath. Population estimates for recent years put the white-tailed deer numbers around 850,000 1 million. For both species females are smaller than the males. Plant them closer to your house, and put a border around them of stronger smelling plants such as lavender, mint or garlic. Due to less productive habitat and other factors, eastern Tennessee has been the slowest area of the state for deer population growth. In the late 1800s, India gifted eight Axis deer to King Kamehameha V. These eight ended up on Molokai and have since been introduced to most of the other Hawaiian islands. Statewide regulations have allowed QDM practitioners to implement their strategies with great success, while also keeping non-QDM practitioners happy. 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. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. While nobody knows exactly what the deer population was before the European settlers showed up, it is believed there are many more today than there were historically. Go here for more on deer hunting in Oklahoma. Click here to learn more on deer hunting in Ohio. By the late 1800s and early 1900s, deer populations had plummeted across the country and some states were in danger of loosing deer entirely. The whitetails that come of out this state both the quantity and quality are nothing short of amazing. But its still really good in the grand scheme of things. They are small deer with fully grown males rarely weighing over 100 pounds. This state isnt what it once was. Enough that the Fish & Game Department created a pamphlet outlining why too much food assistance from humans is problematic for people and deer alike. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 2015-16 Deer Harvest Estimates (PDF) Big Game Harvest Data back to 1915. QDMA Whitetail Report, 2009. Strict measure were taken to improve this, including closing all hunting for many years, restocking from other states, and cracking down on enforcing regulations. Growth has boomed since with an estimated population today of 700,000 750,000 white-tailed deer. As mentioned, some areas will be higher and some will be lower. That said, dont take anything away from Kansas, because it continues to be one of the best states in the entire country. Mule deer make up the largest portion of the population and 95% of the annual deer harvested. However in many areas of eastern Massachusetts where hunting is restricted by town firearm laws or land closures, the deer population is not well controlled. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. Density mapping using GIS tools has become relatively easy to do. Whether you need to know how to test the soil in your food plot, tighten the groups from your crossbow, or scope out the latest on that big buck you saw online, you've landed around the right campfire. Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. Giles County led the state in the total . And their 15.3-deer-per-sqare-mile rating ranks them at No. CREATE YOUR TENNESSEE DENSITY MAP IN 3 STEPS! These viruses are transmitted through a biting fly or midge in the genusCulicoides. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. As the population grew, the demand for market hunting increased and deer were hunted in greater and greater numbers. This has rebounded from the estimated 10,000 deer in 1900. However, at an application level, density analysis can provide valuable insight into natural and social phenomena. The following population estimates were taken from state government websites and other authoritative sources. 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. Download a map ofA.E.D.C Wildlife Management Area, Information aboutLand Between the Lakes Wildlife Management Area, To order a color Wildlife Management Area map click here: WMA Color Map Order Form, CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW INTERACTIVE MAP, Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. There is a great timeline of deer management through the years on the wildlife departments website. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. Another plains state, we see virtually the same story as in Oklahoma. This includes flowers, grass, tree and shrub fruits, nuts, acorns, berries and lichen. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. Deer where nearly extirpated from the state by the early 1900s, with only a few thousand left in remote pockets. In recent years, the Agency's attention has turned to increasing and maintaining the doe harvest in order to control herd growth. It is a tough balance for the Axis deer on the islands. Antlers are vascular extensions of the skull covered with hairy skin, called velvet, during the growing period. All this brings us to today. Estimates of deer density were: White = rare, absent, or urban area with unknown population, Green = less than 15 deer per square mile, Yellow = 15 to 30 deer per square mile, Orange = 30 to 40 deer per square mile, or Red = greater than 45 deer per square mile. In a 2020 article the state DNR estimated a white-tailed deer population of about 900,000 1,000,000. Studies of mule deer populations have shown that they have been recorded as eating nearly 800 different plant species. An official website of the United States government. The white-tailed deer has a reddish-brown coat in the spring which fades to a grayish-brown coat during the fall and winter. I could not find a specific estimate for the smaller white-tailed deer population. Purpose: Digitization of white-tailed deer densities during 1982 in the United States. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. All other states were looked at and the deer populations were measured to determine which states have the most deer. Vermont: 133,000 They're all white-tails deer. Minnesota only harbors 9.4 deer per square mile. Estimated Number of Hunters and Trappers of Furbearers. While CWD is considered 100 percent fatal once contracted, it is not known to harm humans or livestock. The QDMA spatial map depicting deer density (deer per square mile) was digitized across the eastern United States. Turkey Interactive Turkey Harvest Map (Mobile-Friendly Version) Hunter Harvest Surveys. Where found: Coastal areas of the U.S. along the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife estimated a population of 1 million white-tailed deer at the start of the 2020-21 hunting season. Public Hunting Information; Leftover Tier 2 and Waterfowl Quota Hunt Permit Drawings; Manner & Means . The antlered deer bag limit is a total of two for the entire 2020-21 deer seasons. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, November 3, 2016 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. We sent samples to Wildlife . Florida Coastal White-tailed Deer (panhandle and northwestern portion of the state), Florida White-tailed Deer (northwestern, central and southern portion of the state). They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. Iowa finds itself at No. They theorize habitat change, two decades of aggressive antlerless deer harvest, and the complete colonization of the state by coyotes and their impact on fawn survival as possible causes. The economy of Tennessee has benefited from the rise in deer numbers in terms of increased revenues to small businesses in rural areas, sporting goods businesses, hotels and restaurants, etc. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. While caribou, elk and moose are all Cervids, that is members of the deer family, we are not discussing them in this article. However world-wide there are 26 known subspecies, with 17 of those occurring in the U.S. White-tailed deer and mule deer are not native to the area. The deer density of a state refers to the average amount of deer found per square mile. Some might not consider Kentucky a true midwestern state, but it practically is one. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. 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. 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