Legislature bolsters testing for Chronic Wasting Disease March 25, 2024 Oregon, East Oregonian

... has yet to be confirmed in the state... The legislature approved $1.9 million to increase lab capacity for Chronic Wasting Disease testing at the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University.., 

Poacher drops Oregon moose population by one February 1, 2024 ODFW News

... Moose historically are not native to the state and there is no legal hunting season for the largest of the Cervidae family, which includes elk, deer and pronghorn. Moose migrated to Oregon from Washington or Idaho and in 1960, biologists received the first confirmed sightings of moose in northeast Oregon. From 2001-2006 the number of sightings increased substantially in the Blue Mountains, including the first documented calf in 2005.  Today there are an estimated 50 adults and calves in the area...

Evaluating Impacts of Imazapic Treatments on Mule Deer Forage Quality, Quantity, and Composition 2024, Oregon,  Rangeland Ecology & Management

...  The invasion of exotic annual grasses including cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae), and North Africa grass (Ventenata dubia) have drastically altered grassland ecosystems across the western United States ... Our objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of using imazapic (Open Range G, Wilbur-Ellis) to improve summer mule deer forage ... Imazapic treatments appear to be an effective strategy to improve summer mule deer forage quality and quantity without adversely affecting winter food sources...

Initiative seeks to mitigate wildlife collisions January 16, 2024 Oregon, The Nugget Newspaper

... "In conclusion, it appears that the wildlife crossings have provided a means of safe passage for mule deer and other wildlife that routinely cross Route 97; however, the fence and jump-out configuration may be limiting the overall effectiveness of the project," said the report's authors Western EcoSystems Technology....

Video Below:  Oregon Mule Deer Management Plan Update

ODFW’s final Mule Deer Management Plan webinar to focus on human impacts January 5, 2024 Oregon, KTVZ

... ODFW says a new population model will provide more consistency and transparency in population counts, reducing the amount of variability due to sample and environmental variation ... You can watch the webinar and participate via the Mule Deer webpage ...

Oregon's Homeless Encampments: A Threat to Wildlife and Public Safety January 3, 2024 BNN Breaking

... once thriving mule deer populations ... under threat due to an unexpected cause: the rising number of homeless encampments... camp residents keep pit bulls ... these dogs often chase and kill the mule deer. This has resulted in a significant decline in the animal’s population along their crucial winter migration route..,

Poaching Series Pt. 2: Law enforcement, lawmakers, and the public collectively take aim at poachers December 20, 2023 Oregon, KLCC

... “This is K-9 Buck," said OSP Trooper Josh Walcott, introducing a playful yellow lab who became Oregon’s first anti-poaching pooch in 2020... Since he started in 2020, another K-9 dog named Scout has joined OSPFW. “He’s trained to sniff out deer, elk, bear ...

The return of the gray wolf December 12, 2023 Oregon, KGW8

... The last wolf bounty was collected in 1947, and the animals were effectively eradicated from the state.  For more than 70 years, Oregon was essentially wolf-free ... The most recent wolf count in Oregon put the minimum number of wolves at 178 animals living in two dozen packs, though the state cautions that those are only wolves that can be confirmed, and the actual number is likely higher..,

Influence of Wildfire and Feral Horse Use on Mule Deer Summer Range Occupancy

 2023, Oregon - Wildlife Research

... We investigated factors affecting mule deer summer range occupancy within a study area that experienced both wildfires and the presence of feral horses. Methods. We deployed 72, 77, and 75 camera traps throughout the Murderers Creek and Northside wildlife management units located in north-eastern Oregon during summer 2019, 2020, 2021 respectively... Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating that wildfires in forested ecosystems benefit mule deer and add to the limited body of literature indicating that feral horse use of a site negatively impacts mule deer...

‘We don’t know where the deer went’: Surprising drop in wildlife crashes has insurers scratching their heads November 14, 2023 Oregon, KTVZ

... From October through December, Oregon drivers have a one in 197 chance of hitting a deer or other wildlife, according to State Farm Insurance -- and that's a more rare occurrence than for the US as a whole, at one in 127... 

Protect Oregon's Wildlife Unveils New Campaign November 1, 2023 The Source Weekly

... a 28-year-old poacher from Pendleton pleaded guilty to 22 charges including killing several deer and elk, leaving animals to waste and trespassing. He was sentenced to pay $75,000 in fines, forfeit weapons and meat, and spend the next three, two-week-long elk seasons in jail...

Drive carefully, it's peak migration time for many animals Oct. 30, 2023 ODFW News

... Each year, Oregon Department of Transportation crews remove about 6,000 carcasses of deer struck and killed by vehicles near Oregon’s public roadways, and many more die away from roads or on county, city or private roads.  Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife research with GPS-collars show mule deer faithfully follow their migratory route, no matter how many roads or other obstacles get put in the way. They often have no choice but to cross roads to get to food and shelter...

Mule Deer Plan webinar Oct. 24 covers predation and harvest management

October 12, 2023 Oregon, ODFW News  

   ODFW staff will host a webinar about its rewrite of the Mule Deer Management Plan on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. focused on chapters about predation and harvest management.  Watch the webinar, read these chapters and participate via the Mule Deer Plan webpage. Comments and questions can be submitted from the page

Effects of Anthropogenic and Climate-Induced Habitat Changes on Adult Female Mule Deer Survival November, 2023 Rangeland Ecology & Management

... in the John Day Basin, Oregon ... Our results indicated survival was positively influenced by the presence of small amounts of recent fire (< 15% of total winter range burned; 1−20 yr postfire) within an individual's winter range... Our findings also indicate how climate change poses a growing threat to mule deer populations as prolonged periods of drought increase the spread of fatal diseases...

ODFW seeks input on new Wildlife Corridor Action Plan – Deadline Oct. 31 October 2, 2023 Oregon DFW News

     ODFW is seeking public comments on a new Wildlife Corridor Action Plan in accordance with HB 2834, the Wildlife Corridor and Safe Road Crossing Act passed by the 2019 Oregon State Legislature.

The draft Wildlife Corridor Action Plan is available at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/management_plans/ Please submit comments by Oct. 31 to rachel.e.wheat@odfw.oregon.gov

Proposed wildlife crossing in Southern Oregon seeks federal funding October 2, 2023 Oregon, Jefferson Public Radio

... A crossing near the Oregon/California border would help keep deer, elk and other wildlife from becoming roadkill on the side of the interstate... The wildlife overpass would be designed in a way that animals wouldn’t even know they’re crossing over a highway ...

Why Migration Matters So Much For Oregon, Northwest Mule Deer September 30, 2023 Northwest Sportsman Magazine

... habitat... more than anything else determines how many bucks are available on the landscape for us each fall... weather, drought and disease play roles too, as the past 10 years and especially the past five will attest ... see The 2023 Migration of Oregon Mule Deer

Big game outlook for the fall September 22, 2023 Oregon, La Grande Observer

... In general, deer and elk herds did well during the past winter, and benefited from a relatively damp spring in many areas that led to a good crop of forage...  a mild winter and good over-winter survival..,

Oregon hunters advised to test deer, elk meat for disease September 22, 2023 OPB

... Chronic wasting disease was detected in northern Idaho in 2021, just 30 miles from the Oregon border. It has yet to be found in Oregon, though officials are concerned it could appear soon...

Commission prohibits coyote killing contests that are within their authority to regulate September 15, 2023 Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

... The Fish and Wildlife Commission voted five to one abstention to prohibit contests for the taking of coyotes and other unprotected mammals today after hearing testimony from more than 40 people at their meeting in Bend..,

ODFW suspects Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease (AHD) in some mule deer in Madras; Public asked to report sick or dead deer seen in town September 13, 2023 Oregon ODFW News

... ODFW has seen a small increase in mule deer in and around Madras that are dying from what appears to be Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease (AHD)..,

Pendleton hunter sentenced under September 5, 2023 Oregon, OPB

... Oregon has spent the past few years bolstering its poaching laws ... 5,000 poached animals were documented by authorities in Oregon last year ...  authorities seized elk and deer antlers that helped connect him to the poaching of six deer and eight elk ...

Linn County neighbors: Housing risks elk, deer habitat; ODFW agrees September 2, 2023 Oregon, Albany Democrat-Herald

... The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is also concerned about the number of homes proposed in a year-round habitat to deer and elk. About 90 of the 108.6 acres are identified as big game habitat... The department recommends houses in this type of habitat to take two forms: either using one unit per 40 acres or with clustering ...

OR Elk Poacher Gets Unique Hunting Season Sentence, Fined $75K  August 29, 2023 Oregon, Northwest Sportsman Magazine

... A poacher will pay $75,000 in fines and serve jail time after killing numerous deer and elk near Pendleton, OR in what officials called a wildlife crime spree...

Deschutes County commissioners talk with ODFW biologist about widespread mule deer decline, causes August 23, 2023 Oregon, KTVZ

... this isn't a situation unique to Central Oregon," Andrew Walch, ODFW's district wildlife biologist, told the board. "They're declining through much of their range throughout the West, and certainly most of Eastern Oregon... stressors on the deer include drought, roadkill, disease,  and predators like cougars and wolves..,

RMEF, Partners Allot $2.3 Million to Help Oregon Elk, Blacktail and Mule Deer August 22, 2023 Oregon, Wrangler Network

...“These funds go to a good mix of projects to enhance wildlife habitat, scientific research and wildlife management work,” ... Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation ...

The video below from Oregon Fish and Wildlife starts at about 16 minutes in.

Oregon Data:   According to the 2023 hunting forecast:  "Deer and elk populations came through a relatively "normal" winter and enjoyed excellent spring forage conditions thanks to a cold, wet spring."  A dry 2022 into the end of October, but a wet spring left ample dry grass for deer.  The state estimated 155,472 mule deer in 2023.

Data and analysis for the chart above.  Mule deer population estimates are from the state.  Blacktail estimates are based on hunting data and approximately consistent with available state estimates for 1998, 2004, and 2012.

A long decline in mule deer in Central Oregon and throughout the West. A decline in mule deer populations along a critical migration route was reported in 2024 related to homeless encampments and associated pit bulls that chase and kill deer.   The 2022 population estimate of 438,000 is based on the state's estimate of 161,412 mule deer and a blacktail population estimate of 276,595 based on hunting data and comments from the state.   The increase in the 2020 deer hunt is associated with increased hunting during the pandemic, by 2021 the deer hunt returned to below trend.   

Not included in the population estimates are a white-tail population of less than 15,000 in the eastern part of the state as of 2021 and a smaller population of Columbian white-tail deer, less than 1,000.  The state estimated 161,412 mule deer in 2022. In central Oregon, the mule deer population fell by 51% from 2002 to 2022.  ODFW's  2022 Forecast,  2021 Forecast, and  2020 Forecast.  A benchmark of 20 bucks per 100 does was frequently used in 2021.  

Deer tags were reduced in 2020 for eastern Oregon because disease outbreaks reduced mule deer populations. High February 2019 snowfall made spring migration difficult and reduced fawn numbers in many areas.  The 2019 Big Game forecast notes that fawn survival was low in many areas and deer have not fully recovered from the severe winter of 2016-17. In 2019 the "... Paulina Unit, east of Bend, is down to 5,918 deer from 15,400 in 2002, a 61% decline."

The severe winters of 2016-18 significantly reduced populations to about 444,000.   For mule deer the state estimated 229,326 in 2015, 226,775 in 2016, 135,566 in 2017, 190,445 in 2018 and 176,017 2019 and 155,472 in 2023.

 As illustrated below, the mule deer population has been on a long decline.  

Oregon Mule Deer Population 1980 to 2023

Source Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA)

The state reported in 2021 (p. 34) that: "in 1998 the black-tailed deer population was estimated at 387,000, declining to 320,000 in 2004; the population seems to have been relatively stable since that time."  The 1998 to 2004 decline was about 17 percent. In 1979, ODFW estimated the statewide black-tailed deer population at 452,000, a decline of 29 percent into 2004.

The graph below tracks the deer hunt from 1952 to 2022 relying on reports from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  This data and a few state estimates were used to estimate much of the blacktail population in the graph above.

The 28% decline in the 2017 deer harvest suggests a total population of about 450,000. The 2018 mule deer population population estimate was reduced to 190,445 and 176,017 in 2019, about 180,000 in 2020, a range of 160,000 to 180,000. 

In 2016 an estimated 226,775 mule deer.   The severe winter of 2016-17 reduced the herd which was still recovering into 2018. Emergency deer tag reductions were implemented for the 2017-18 hunt to help the herd recover. A mild 2017-18 winter resulted in good survival, but herds are still recovering in some areas. Drought in mid-2018 reduced deer numbers especially in central and eastern Oregon, see the 2018 ODFW forecast.

ODFW is working on a method of estimating black-tailed deer populations using scat.  Good weather for the herd in 2016 with the target black-tail deer buck-to-doe ratio was about 25 to 30 bucks per 100 does.   An estimated 300,000 to 320,000 blacktails and 225,000 to 235,000 mule deer in 2015.  A 2004 estimate of 247,350 mule deer.

A mild winter for 2013-14 and a very mild winter for 2014-15 increased survival, but limited precipitation created poor forage for deer in 2015, followed by the harder winter of 2015-16.   Deer tags were increased by 1 percent and elk tags by 3 percent for the 2015 hunt.  Deer populations were up in the north coast.  In the southwest, Adenovirus Hemorrhagic Disease reduced the population in fall, 2014. Black-tail populations in the western Cascades are at about management objectives.  Drought in the High Desert reduced mule deer populations which fell to about 220,000 in 2012 from about 300,000 in 1982.  In 2012 estimated populations of  216,000 mule deer, and 320,000 blacktail.  (This blacktail population number is the same as the last official state estimate in 2004).  

A 2009 estimate of 6,000 whitetail deer.  The state reports that "in 1998 the black-tailed deer population was estimated at 387,000, declining to 320,000 in 2004; the population seems to have been relatively stable since that time." (p. 35)

The Oregon deer population has been in a long decline since the 1960s, but has been relatively stable for the past few years. The black-tailed deer population was estimated be about 452,000 in 1979 and 320,000 in 2004, 300,000 in 2012, slightly higher in 2014 and 2015. The mule deer population, east of the Cascade Crest, was estimated at 216,000 in 2009. Around 212,000 total mule deer in 2011, about 215,000 total mule deer in 2014 with 32,000 bucks. [2013 ODFW population analysis]  The mule deer population was estimated to be 275,000 in 1998.

The 2014 black-tailed deer population of the north coast was up as increased logging creates better habitat,  populations also appear to be increasing along the mid-coast with improved buck ratios and reduced deer affected from hair-loss disease.  Deer populations continue their decline in the western Cascades,  declines in logging, but better buck ratios.  Deer populations in the south Cascades are down, especially mule deer, but doing better in valleys.  Mule deer populations in the high desert continue to be low, but a slight increase from last year.  Increased clear cutting is boosting populations in the Wilson unit. 

The buck to doe ratio in 2014 on some private lands was 29 to 100, but as low as 15 per 100 in the Rogue  unit - a ratio considered to be dangerously low by many deer managers and may be contributing to the deer population decline.  General deer management policies have led to low buck to doe ratios, ratios from 19 to 33 bucks per 100 does reported for the Rogue Unit. The 2016 mule deer management objective was from 12-25 bucks per hundred does.

In eastern Oregon mule numbers declined from about 300,000 in 1981 to 220,000 in 2012.  

Columbian white-tail:  There is a small population of Columbian white-tailed deer in Douglas County and the Columbia River Gorge, some of which were moved during 2013 when it was feared they would be flooded.  These deer were common in Western Oregon, but with only about 450 remained by the mid 1960s.  Farming altered their major habitat.  More than 900 Columbian whitetails in 2016 in Oregon and Washington.

Chronic Wasting Disease  As of 2024 not positive discovered, but the state allocated $1.9 for testing. As of 2023 no positives recorded in Oregon, but deer in Idaho have tested positive.  The state has tested more than 24,000 deer and elk for CWD over the past 20 year.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) Outbreaks in 2021, 2020, and 2019.  

History  Deer were overhunted to very low levels in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  About 80,000 deer in 1913 according to an Outdoor Life estimate.  "Scientific studies of the 1930s reported that between 1926 and 1933 Oregon’s mule deer population ranged from 39,000 to 75,000 animals." Columbian white-tails declined to just a few and were declared endangered in 1968.  

An estimated blacktail population of 452,000 in 1979 falling to about 320,000 by 2004.and 212,000 in 2011.    The estimated mule deer population in 2004 was 247,350.  In 2005 an estimate of 230,700, according to a DFW report, page 7. Peak deer harvest was in 1961 at 163,939 with 31 percent of total mule deer harvest being antlerless and 37 percent of black-tail antlerless.  The percentage of does in the harvest has generally gone down since then.   In 2004, the numbers fell to below 10 percent for mule deer and in the 9 to 14 percent range for black-tail deer.  

The severe winter of 1992-93 reduced deer populations. The 2012 harvest was 43,098, or 26.3 percent of the historical high.  In 2012, hunter success was about 36 percent.  Every fall thousands of mule deer make a 30 to 75 mile trip between Bend and La Pine, increasingly difficult due to development.  Blacktail population information for 1969 to 1998 from ODFW.  Blacktail herd composition 2012 to 2021 from ODFW.

Chart below from Oregon's Mule Deer Management Plan, February 2003 (page 7). "The estimated spring [mule deer] population in 1990 was 256,000 ... The estimated 2001 population was 283,000...  Vernon Bailey (1936) estimated Oregon’s mule deer population to be 39,000 to 75,000 animals from 1926 to 1933..."  Mule deer population information from ODFW for 1968 to 1998.

Elk densities are highest on the north coast, down a little along the mid-coast with bull ratios only a little above 10 per 100 cows.  The 2016-17 winter reduced populations.  In 2016 an estimated 74,227 Rocky Mountain elk and 60,057 Roosevelt elk.  In 2012 an estimated 120,000 elk.

Graph below from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Elk Population 1991 to 2011