They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. White-tailed deer, also known as whitetails or Virginia deer, are a common game animal in the United States. Slow down. This study from 2020 says that while imprecise, their best estimate is 333,000 346,000 black tailed deer live across Alaska. Mule deer are classified as the species Odocoileus hemionus, the Rocky-Mountain mule deer. Read More 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. White-tailed deer are an abundant and sustainable game species in Louisiana and the species most targeted by Louisiana hunters. 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. Deer Overabundance. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. They live all over the state, and the Department of Wildlife and Parks says the population is growing. The states population declined when coyotes returned to South Carolina in large numbers, but it remains stable. Today, they are an important game animal and a key part of the states ecosystems. Since at least 1962, WRD has used scientifically valid, survey methodology to get estimates of not only deer harvest, but also harvest estimates of other game species. They are allowed to be hunted and in the 2017-2018 season just over 3,000 were harvested. 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. White-tailed deer are statewide but more populous in the east, while mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state. Overall the state reports the population is currently stable or slightly declining. Their population is recovering due to prohibiting antlerless harvest for a few years and milder winters. 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. The FWC is working to reduce the risk of CWD spreading into this state with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, hunters, captive cervid owners, landowners, and the public. The peak population over the last 25 years was in 2015 with an estimated 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. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation: deer hunting resources. 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. This represents a 2.4 percent increase in harvest from 2019 (193,073) and is 38 percent below the record harvest established in 2002 (319,902). Hunting is now an important part in keeping populations managed in the state, especially to help reduce populations in urban areas. Each year, DNR compiles county-level deer data across Indiana. Deer numbers in Arkansas significantly declined due to unrestricted market hunting during the 1800s until 1915. It was estimated at 376,450 in 2018 but took a sharp decline in recent years. White-tailed deer have bounced back from near extinction in Rhode Island. But the lawsuit forced its hand, and between February 22 and 24, hunters killed 218 wolves, according to the Wisconsin . 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. They have adapted well and currently coexist peacefully with the states native ecosystems. The rest are mule deer. New Hampshire Fish & Game: Deer Hunting in New Hampshire. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: white-tailed deer overview. Put up a fence but it has to be tall. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Browse, which is a collective term for shoots, twigs, leaves, and buds. The 2021 estimate for mule deer is 249,691. Despite this, the deer population has remained stable for many years. New Hampshire: 100,000. The population is mostly in the southern part of the state. We researched to find out. The state almost destroyed its deer population. Market hunting decimated the states population by the late 1800s. They are most populous on the western Great Plains, in the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern states, and on the west coast of North America. 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. 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. Recent estimates indicate about 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer, and 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most popular game species in Misissippi.Nationally, the white-tailed deer population likely exceeds 30 million. 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. Arizona is home to two main types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Arizona has a small population of whitetails, though they tend to prefer areas with more vegetation. However, they have adapted well to many environments. Many towns are trying to figure out programs that will work for them to keep the deer population in check. Thats an impressive comeback from the near extinction they faced in the state at the turn of the 20th century. Which states have the most white-tail deer? On average in North America, males weigh 150-300 pounds and females weigh 88 198 pounds. This can have a Catch-22 effect on the wildlife population in the state. Icon. While deer are prey for some large carnivores, there are not enough of these predators to keep deer numbers in check. In Wisconsin, there have been 1,822 entries for the buck, which is . They are the mule deer, Coues deer, and Texas white-tail. Those areas where populations are rapidly increasing are typically urban/suburban areas where the utilization of hunting as a management tool has been greatly hindered. The 2020-2021 deer season showed hunters how . Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. Have some feedback for us? 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. Last year, both rifle and archery harvests were below average. 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. White-tailed deer populations are growing at a steady pace in Texas. Both species were introduced to Hawaii, but they have not damaged Hawaiis native ecosystems. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. 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. Title. They also said that a significant portion of that population was found in east Tennessee. As in other states, deer tend to live in different regions. Vermont has more deer hunters than any other New England state. Overall outlook: "Unless there is a significant EHD event, deer populations and the deer kill across most of the state should be stable to increasing," Matt Knox, deer project coordinator with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, wrote in his 2022 forecast. On the other hand, hunting them provides food for many and their meat is very prized. Indiana Department of Natural Resources: White-tailed Deer History & Biology. The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. 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. A small population has also been introduced on the island of Kaui, Hawaii. Habitat loss, decrease in forgeable food and hunting brought species to the brink by the early 1900s. It is the only deer native to the state. 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. But what is their population by state? They live in forests, prairies, coastal areas, and grasslands. 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 . Washington has the most variety of deer. A 2018 estimate puts the white-tailed deer estimate around 18,000 for Rhode Island. Deer are a favorite big game animal. State wildlife officials say the actual number may be higher. I could not find a specific estimate for the smaller white-tailed deer population. . Producers working to lower deer populations in their fields have found that these early hunts are critical in reducing the total number of female deer over the course of the year. Coat color tends to be more reddish-brown in the spring and grayish-brown during winter. There are three main types of deer in New Mexico, the mule deer, the Coues deer and the Texas white-tailed deer. Deer are one of the most populous and hunted big game animals in North America. Unlike white-tailed deer, some mule deer are migratory. I am owned by two dogs who take me on hikes in the mountains where we see coyotes, black bears, and wild turkeys. These sika deer were originally from Japan and were released from private property in Maryland during the early 1900s. Like other deer species they grow new antlers each spring and shed them during the winter. Iowa's most recent . Courtesy of onX Hunt, here are the eight states in the USA with the highest deer density: Mississippi: 38 deer per square mile. North Dakota Game & Fish: deer hunting information. The more recent 2021 mule deer survey (linked at bottom of article) lists about 80,600 mule deer. The state attracts more deer hunters than almost any other. If the deer population gets too large, it can damage forest growth and destroy native vegetation. Indiana: 28 deer per square mile. 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. Outdoor Alabama: Deer hunting information and regulations. That was a 26 percent increase from the 2019-2020 season of 126,452. . They are largely concentrated around the so-called Hill Country and Edwards Plateau regions. Columbian weigh between 88 180 pounds. That number sure has come a long way from 1900 when they were thought to have been completely wiped out with no wild populations left.