The 2021 big game outlook states that the white-tailed deer population is stable to increasing. A useful trick if they are grazing and need to quickly flee from a predator. Part of what helped this rebound was less agriculture, which allowed the land to revert back to mixed woodland which deer prefer. White-tailed deer density estimates across the eastern United States, 2008. Deer Per Square Mile: 9.4 As you can see, populations drop drastically from the No. The mule deer population has been in decline since 1980, decreasing from 300,000 to todays estimate of 170,000 190,000 in 2020. In Tennessee cervids include deer and elk. An official website of the United States government. There are eight accepted subspecies in the U.S., including the two black-tailed species. We couldnt find any hard numbers and its likely an estimate has not yet been made. https://fs.usda.gov/rds/archive/webservice/oaipmh, National Agricultural Library Thesaurus Term, Digitized white-tailed deer densities for the continental United States. If you ever see a deer in the woods and they spot you, you might catch them flagging as they run away. Ohio Department of Natural Resources: hunting and trapping regulations. Deer populations in Tennessee are affected by hemorrhagic disease (HD) on occasion. Antlers may vary from small spikes that grow only a few inches above the skin to much larger racks including multiple points. 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. Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Deer hunting information. And its certainly one of the best in the Midwest with 17.4 deer per square mile. Estimated Number of Hunters by Species. While there is no one fail safe solution to keep them away, here are a few top tips. While CWD is considered 100 percent fatal once contracted, it is not known to harm humans or livestock. July 1, 2022 |Timber 2 Table Wild Game Recipes, November 3, 2016 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. After the breeding season is over males will shed their antlers during the winter. Deer farms also regularly transport deer across state lines, which has been shown to be a method CWD can spread in other captive deer herds. They are only found in the Florida keys and are an endangered species. Georgia Wildlife Resources Division: deer hunting information. Estimated Harvest per 100 Hunter-days, by Species. Click here to learn more on deer hunting in Ohio. They like to win big. These types of terrain dont hold as many deer statewide. West Virginia Department of Natural Resources: big game hunting information. 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, The Best Way to Cook Chanterelle Mushrooms, 12 Reasons Why Your Venison Tastes Like Hell, Midwesterner Discovers Very Rare Melanistic Deer, Why an Old-School .30-06 Hunter is Switching to the 6.5 PRC, Southerners Shoot the Oldest Bucks, Texans Bag the Most Does, and More Highlights from the 2023 NDA Deer Report, Lost and Found: Neighbor Finds Hunters Huge Buck More Than a Year Later, Alabama Rut Kicking, Police Dog Saves Deer Hunter from Icy River, and More Deer Hunting News. Illinois Department of Natural Resources: deer hunting information. 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. Due to less productive habitat and other factors, eastern Tennessee has been the slowest area of the state for deer population growth. For full disclosure, both Indiana and Michigan were excluded from this list because their respective DNRs no longer estimate statewide populations. Alaska Department of Fish & Game: deer hunting information and regulations. 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. Some might not consider Kentucky a true midwestern state, but it practically is one. Deer farming creates high-density populations of deer, making it an ideal environment for transmitting CWD. Wyoming Game & Fish Department: Deer Hunting. White-tailed deer are common in Tennessee, while a small population of elk can be found in the eastern portion of the state. We will be looking at the population of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and black-tailed deer. The site is secure. Trying to figure out their population in the state is challenging due to the remote and densely forested areas where they live. To submit, please register and login first. The Axis deer, also known as the chital, is native to the Indian subcontinent. Giles County led the state in the total . The distribution of hunted deer is about 60% mule deer and 40% Coues deer. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission starting putting limits on hunting in 1916 to try and turn the tide, with an estimated 2,000 deer remaining in the state. 6 Types of Deer in North America (With Pictures), Gray Wolf Population by State (Estimates & Info), How Strong Are Rhinos? Using object-based image analysis followed by random forests classification, we rapidly digitized choropleth maps of white-tailed deer densities, allowing access to deer density information stored in images. According to this article, the DNREC estimated the deer population at the start of the 2020-21 season at 45,000 white-tailed deer. This 2021 article in the Observer-Dispatch reports a white-tailed deer population of approximately 1.2 million. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. But, when its all said and done and the numbers shake out, Iowa only has 6.3 deer per square mile. In 1991, hunting related expenditures had an overall impact of over $405,238,000 to Tennessee's economy. This is where we cover all things deer hunting, from experts and whitetail trivia to news, gear, and hardcore hunting advice. I definitely expected it to rank much higher on this list. All this brings us to today. While caribou, elk and moose are all Cervids, that is members of the deer family, we are not discussing them in this article. Vermont: 133,000 They're all white-tails deer. 2019. So what are the problems that come with too many deer? This 2015 article states the Arizona Big Game Management estimated Coues population at about 50,000-60,000 deer. Thus, for many research practitioners, there has been less of a focus on this methodology for GIS. performance.franklintn.gov | Last Updated 2021-07-26T18:03:35.000Z. 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. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: deer hunting information. "We saw a record harvest for the 2020-21 deer season of 216,835," said Ralph Meeker, deer program coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Hunting seasons, bag limits, deer restocking and habitat restoration are just a few of the management practices that sprung up. Many animals, such as songbirds, rely on this understory habitat. (original article) Quality Deer Management Association. They will spend the summer in higher elevations, then travel down to lower elevations during the winter. Wyoming is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. Estimated Number of Hunters and Trappers of Furbearers. It made our list of top meat hunting states and is one of the top producers of Booner bucks. I know the fawn birth adds to the equation,but it just don't seem to add up. As part of the states deer management plan, the state is divided up into numbered permit areas, each with their own deer population goal. I was blessed to take a beautiful 8-point buck. Ideally 8 feet and solid (not opaque). This not only allows them to digest a wide variety of foods, but they can eat and wait until later to digest. By the turn of the century people began to realize they needed conservation programs or the deer would go the way of the buffalo. Our density there is 19.1 deer per square mile post-hunt (C.I = 15.0 24.5, C.V. = 0.124) if you're interested. 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. Here is my WAG. 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. Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks: deer hunting information. 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. Unfortunately, this is also where the majority of the states human population live, and too many deer can increase car crashes and crop loss. According to this article in the Des Moines Register, the states estimate for whitetail deer population in 2020 was 445,000. Arizona is home to two main types of deer, the mule deer and the white-tailed deer. Needless to say, I live and hunt in the Bluegrass State. While populations still continue to fluctuate due to habitat loss, weather, disease and other factors, it remains in the hundreds of thousands. Tennessee Age Dependency 62.9 Age Dependency Ratio 26.6 Old Age Dependency Ratio 36.3 Child Dependency Ratio Tennessee Sex Ratio Tennessee Population by Age Show Source Land area updated every 10 years. Historical data from Tennessee suggests that there has been no negative impact on the herd due to lower buck limits (11-buck limit pre-1998, 3-buck limit post-1998). Digitized white-tailed deer densities for the continental United States. And here comes the biggest shock of all. But its still really good in the grand scheme of things. Whereas the size of white-tailed deer can vary greatly, mule deer dont show as much of a difference across their range. However, deer overpopulation can lead to damage and problems for human safety. Despite these high harvests, the population still remains pretty stable. On the one hand they cause a lot of damage to crops and use up many natural resources. 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. The rest are mule deer. Idaho is home to both mule deer and white-tailed deer. This remains pretty average for the states deer population over the last 20 years which has ranged from about 115,000 to 160,000. The most recent data I could find for white-tailed deer reported around 300,000 in 2016. Its also important to know certain areas will have concentrations of deer. Many white-tailed deer live in forests and prefer habitat with young growth and forest edge. All males and some females have a tuft of modified feathers on the chest called a beard. In recent years, the Agency's attention has turned to increasing and maintaining the doe harvest in order to control herd growth. Click here for more information on deer hunting in Iowa. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The .gov means its official. Hunting of black-tailed deer is allowed, and at the time of writing this article so is hunting of mule and white-tailed deer, in order to help get more information on these new populations entering the state. The Agencys deer management program has achieved an 82% approval rate utilizing this philosophy (University of Tennessee 2004). Once the antlers are fully developed, the males rub the velvet off, exposing the bone antlers. This is due in part to lack of predators and changes in land use (less mature forest, more transition zones). Digitized white-tailed deer densities for the continental United States. Everyone wants to hunt there. Maryland Department of Natural Resources: hunting in Maryland. SET OPTIONS. The total deer estimate for the state in recent years is about 280,000 300,000. The white-tailed deer has a reddish-brown coat in the spring which fades to a grayish-brown coat during the fall and winter. 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. Value for Tennessee (No. South Dakota is home to both the white-tailed and mule deer. And while Minnesota isn't what it used to be, it still does well and cranks out good harvest numbers each year. Idaho Fish & Game: Deer Hunting information. Geography/TIGER or American FactFinder.. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation: But one thing is for sure, hunters wont mind seeing as many deer as the land can healthily support. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Advertisement The region as a whole had a harvest of 20,546 deer. 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. The good news seems to be that the white-tailed deer numbers have recovered from the hit they took in 2012-2013 from a bad outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: deer information and hunting guide. The lower deer density is also reflected in lower harvest numbers just as is the case in Region 3. That said, dont take anything away from Kansas, because it continues to be one of the best states in the entire country. These deer gained the name mule due to their elongated ears that resemble a donkey. The whitetails that come of out this state both the quantity and quality are nothing short of amazing. Things began to turn around when state refuges were created and periodic deer stocking occurred. Click here for more information on deer hunting in Kentucky. They consider the population stable. White-tailed deer are the most economically importantbig game speciesin Tennessee. Unlike white-tailed deer, some mule deer are migratory. Some might ask what the perfect number is. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Tennessee: 900,000 Tennessee's deer are all white-tails. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 9 10 12 15 18 22 26 Arial Book Antiqua Courier New Georgia 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. QDMA Whitetail Report, 2009. New Hampshire Fish & Game: Deer Hunting in New Hampshire. California Department Fish and Wildlife: Deer Harvest Requirements. The gestation period is around 199 days, and the fawns are weaned at 3-4 months of age. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: deer hunting guide. Because while it isnt as good as it once was due to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), it still continues to surpass expectations. The Coues deer are most commonly found in the southeastern mountains but also up through the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains. White-tailed deer are statewide but more populous in the east, while mule deer are found in the western two-thirds of the state. For example, deer have the potential to cause damage to crops and other ornamental plants. Virginia DWR: deer hunting regulations and seasons. Connecticut DEEP: hunting and trapping information. Due to many factors including over-harvesting, hunting and habitat loss the white-tailed deer became uncommon in Connecticut between 1700 1900. CREATE YOUR TENNESSEE DENSITY MAP IN 3 STEPS! See table on backside of brochure for bag limits. Data contained within this data set includes average response time for the City of Franklin and for departments within the State of Tennessee, fire loss per $1,000,000 of assessed value and calls for service, 2005-2019. Herd growth has been such that hunting is allowed in all Tennessee counties with the Tennessee deer herd numbering approximately 900,000 animals. Forest Service Research Data Archive. Deer can be found from sea level to high elevations in the mountains. Mule deer are found in the western third of the state, mainly in the High Plains, Smoky Hills and Red Hills regions. The Columbian white-tailed deer is an endangered species so is protected rather than hunted. It will be something the state keeps an eye on going forward. 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. Tennessee Hunting Deer Regulations. Density mapping using GIS tools has become relatively easy to do. (3.63 psm) Basically total reported deer kill is 40% of the total deer . While deer are not naturally found in Hawaii, an invasive species has taken over in the last 150 years, the Axis deer. Hanberry, Brice B.; Hanberry, Phillip. 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. The white-tailed deer is Tennessee's most popular big game animal. Hunting. No, thats not at the top. The main deer population in Utah is mule deer, with a 2021 estimate of 314,850. While 2020 saw an incredible harvest, some expect it to fall a bit this fall. Thing have come a long way from the first post-conservation deer estimate of 500-700 deer in 1936. Oregon Department of Fish & Game: how to hunt deer and elk in Oregon. Late spring to fall, they consume grasses, blackberries, apples, fireweed, pearly everlasting, forbs, salmonberry, salal, and maple. We have built the easiest Tennessee Heat Map Maker in the universe! 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. Carter County hunters harvested 1397, while Johnson County had 976 and Unicoi County had 352 total deer harvested, one of the lowest counties in the state. To date, the majority of the herd exists in middle and western Tennessee, while densities in the Mississippi River counties, the Cumberland Plateau, and far eastern portions of the state remain below desired levels. A 2020 study by the Mule Deer Working Group put total deer population (including black-tailed and mule deer) in California at 460,420. 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