Deer Management News
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SCDNR seeks public input on controversial method of deer hunting July 19, 2026 South Carolina, The Post and Courier on MSN.com
... The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources announced three public meetings to gather public input on the practice of using dogs to hunt deer, a longstanding but controversial method of hunting in the Palmetto State....
New elk calves starting to appear on Tomblin WMA July 18, 2026 West Virginia, WV MetroNews
... The herd at this point is relying on self growth to increase numbers... The first elk reintroduced came from the U.S. Forest Service’s Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky. Since then, the state received two more shipments of elk transfers...
Montana wolf regulations proposal released for public comment July 17, 2026 Montana FWP
... This year’s Wolf Report contains two population estimates as FWP is moving toward an updated version of the wolf population estimation tool Integrated Patch Occupancy Model (iPOM). The new version, iPOM 2.0, is yet to be published in a peer reviewed scientific journal, like iPOM. Under iPOM, the wolf population is estimated to be relatively stable at 1,094 wolves. With iPOM 2.0, the population estimate is lower at 725 wolves... In developing iPOM 2.0, Montana researchers were able to incorporate much of the wolf data and research they have collected over the past several years. This Montana-specific data, particularly on pack sizes and distribution, provides a more accurate estimate, said Quentin Kujala, FWP Chief of Conservation Policy... By using iPOM 2.0 to analyze wolf population estimates from past years, it shows a steady decline in wolf numbers from 2021...
DWR completes 133 habitat projects to benefit deer in Utah during FY25 July 16, 2026 DWR News
... During fiscal year 2025, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources completed 133 habitat projects, specifically to help mule deer populations in Utah. Over the past few decades, Utah has seen periods of growth and decline in deer numbers. The most recent population estimate is approximately 324,000 deer statewide. Over the past 10 years, the statewide deer population estimate has ranged from a low of 278,000 to a high of 374,000..,
USGS Research Informs Big Game Management—Mule Deer Sensitive to Temperature Extremes and Habitat Quality July 16, 2026 USGS.gov
... a study as part of the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative assessing drivers influencing mule deer fawn-to-doe ratios over 20 years in Wyoming... Scientists found that temperature had, by far, the strongest effect on age ratios and seasonal habitat suitability had the second strongest effect.
Hotter summers and colder winters hadnegative effects on age ratios, so the number of juvenile mule deer being recruited into mule deer populations decreased in years following extreme temperatures.
High-quality summer habitat and suitable winter habitat had positive effects on age ratios...
Catalina Deer Debate Continues: Coalition Questions Eradication Plan July 16, 2026 California, The Log Newspaper
... the Catalina Island Conservancy’s view that the fire underscores the importance of removing invasive mule deer ... Hernandez wrote. “Santa Rosa Island’s deer, elk, sheep, cattle and other large grazing animals were removed years ago — some decades ago. Yet here we are in 2026 discussing a record wildfire that burned over 18,000 acres. If removing all the herbivores was supposed to be the solution, why are invasive grasses still widespread enough to fuel a fire of this magnitude?” ...
Missouri's Conservation Director Says They're Ending Controversial Policy Of Mass-Shooting Deer July 16, 2026 Lake Expo
... the department is permanently shelving a herd-thinning tactic that drew the ire of hunters over the past couple of years. The method had been dubbed "targeted removal," and it had involved conservation agents working with private landowners to bait deer and then shoot them en masse, often at night, and often using night vision or thermal scopes...
How Chronic Wasting Disease in Delaware Impacts Hunters and Residents July 16, 2026 DNREC News
... Due to the geography of the Delmarva Peninsula, DNREC had expected to find the initial instance of chronic wasting disease in New Castle County, probably close to the Pennsylvania or Maryland state lines because the disease has previously been found in those states. Exactly why it popped up in Sussex first isn’t clear, but there are several possibilities, including coming from a live deer that was infected and illegally released into the wild, from urine collected from deer as a hunting attractant that contained chronic wasting disease prions or from an infected carcass from a deer harvested in an area where chronic wasting disease occurred and the remains were disposed of in such a manner that wild deer came in contact with them..,
'They can navigate the geography, but not the 395' July 16, 2026 California, Mammoth Times
... mule deer made up 33% of all roadkill on U.S. 395 in Mono County from 2002 to 2020. Of special concern is the 10-mile stretch of U.S. 395 extending roughly from the Mammoth Lakes exit south beyond Mammoth Yosemite Airport. The proposed crossings are at the southern end of that stretch...
Ohio wildlife lost, recovered July 15, 2026 Morrow County Sentinel
... The Native Americans conserved in hunting by rotating their hunting grounds. They used controlled burns and followed migration patterns... Due to hunting for city markets and home use ... by 1880, all the elk were gone... in 1904, there were no more deer in the state ... Second-growth forests matured and there are now 750,00 to 1 million deer. [Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Historic Programs Administrator Phil Hutchison] ...
Commissioners discuss CPW deer management, ROSI variance July 15, 2026 Colorado, The Mountain Mail
... The 2024 post-hunt population estimate for the Cottonwood Creek herd was approximately 3,230 deer. CPW is proposing to lower its population objective from 6,300-7,700 deer to 3,000-5,000. The agency said the herd has not reached its current population objective during the past 25 years. Reaching the midpoint of the existing objective would require the population to increase by about 117% from its 2024 estimate...
New Deer Bait Privilege License Available July 22 July 15, 2026 Tennessee, TN.gov
... There are specific types and amounts of bait that are authorized and other bait site rules that are in effect. A full list of the regulations for hunting over bait are listed on the website here....
Video Below: Deer University Episode102 - How Fawns Avoid Predators July 14, 2026 Mississippi, MSU Deer Lab
Jacob and Eric sit down with Sam Overfors, a recent Deer Lab graduate, to discuss his work evaluating anti-predator behavior in fawns. Sam used thermal drones and GPS collars to investigate how fawns move across the landscape.
Video Below: Wild Deer Culling Research pt.1 July 14, 2026 The King Ranch Study
Long debated in deer hunting stories, the subject of wild deer culling for genetic improvement is a debate that never dies, but there is a lot of sound research that has examined this question. This is the first of a three part series reviewing the results of genetic culling research. On this episode we're joined by Dr. Mickey Hellickson to discuss foundational deer culling research that he helped lead on the famous King Ranch looking at genetic culling via hunting in a free-range setting.
Michigan bill legalizing backyard deer feeding passes, but bans could remain July 14, 2026 Bridge Michigan
... A bill that would allow Michiganders to feed deer in their backyards is sitting on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk ... House Bill 4350, which passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support, would allow the practice but says any feeding must align with US Department of Agriculture standards ...
Rules panel OKs closing youth deer hunts in 9-county area July 14, 2026 South Dakota, KELOLAND.com
... State Wildlife Division director Tom Kirschenmann explained to the rules panel that deer populations in those counties are extremely down. Kirschenmann said one of the reasons is what’s known as EHD — Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease ..,
Deer license demand exceeds supply in North Dakota July 14, 2026 Wahpeton Daily News
... In the course of 20 years, habitat for deer has dropped from 4 million acres to 1 million acres ... Doug Leier, a biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the demand is high, but the supply continues to drop...
Conservation's CWD strategies get pushback July 12, 2026 Missouri, Leader Publications
... Placing feed for deer is prohibited within 10 miles of a CWD detection, but an exception is made for placing feed within 100 feet of a residence or occupied building... Isabelle cites how hunters’ use of feed can occur widely across multiple locations on one landscape, bringing deer into close contact with each other, while recreational feeding is more limited in geography...
Southern California becoming a hub for wildlife crossings July 12, 2026 California, Los Angeles Daily News
... The region has become one of the nation’s most acute examples of habitat fragmentation, particularly for wide-ranging species such as mountain lions, deer and desert bighorn sheep... because its extensive network of freeways cuts through mountain ranges, canyons and critical habitat corridors, while continued development leaves wildlife isolated in shrinking patches of open space...
"Their home is burning": Claremont Fire pushes more wildlife into Boise neighborhoods July 11, 2026 Idaho, KIVI-TV
... Neighbors report increase in deer, owls and other wildlife during Claremont Fire ... There have been more deer than usual, more hawks and birds and kestrels ...
AGFC urges public to report suspected screwworm cases July 10, 2026 Arkansas, AOL
... local citizens are starting to notice patches of bare spots ... if you witness a deer with a possible parasite ... report the case to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission or the Arkansas Department of Agriculture ...
Video Below: What happened to hundreds of deer at Marineland July 10, 2026 Canada
More than 300 deer at Marineland have been the focus of a months-long investigation by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Marineland workers allege an animal broker has been improperly removing hundreds of deer from the park, including those pledged to other people.
Another severe winter hampers U.P. deer herd July 10, 2026 Michigan DNR News
... The U.P. logged 111 days with at least 12 inches of snow on the ground this winter, making it one of the harshest seasons in the past quarter-century for the deer herd...“It’s going to hit the fawns first,” Roell said. “They’re younger; they’re weaker.” In addition, malnourished does may not be able to give birth ..,
Are moose tourists or natives in Colorado? A new answer just dropped. July 9, 1016 The Colorado Sun
... a new study led by University of Colorado archaeologists ... Their conclusion? Moose were in Colorado for hundreds of years before 1978, and there’s a good argument that should include thousands of years before that, to the Early Holocene era, as ice sheets retreated north...,
'Zombie deer disease' rates climb in Missouri; wildlife officials urge management July 9, 2026 KSDK
... While statewide infection rates remain below one percent, Jefferson County's rate has climbed to three-and-a-half percent...
How Much Water Do Deer Drink? July 8, 2026 National Deer Association
... On average, deer require about 1.5 to 3 quarts of water per day for every 100 pounds of body weight. That means a mature buck pushing 200 pounds needs about a gallon a day, whereas a 100-pound doe would need about half of that... In most cases across their range, a deer’s daily water requirements are more than satisfied with the water in their food and the water released from that food during digestion...
Ohio Hunting seasons announced July 8, 2026 Ohio's Country Journal
... Deer bag limits increased to three in Defiance, Paulding, and Warren counties. The bag limit in Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties, areas affected by an unprecedented outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in 2025, is two deer (no more than one antlerless). The Wildlife Council also approved a season bag limit in the CWD surveillance area of six deer...
California wolves feed heavily on cattle and their presence causes significant stress among livestock July 8, 2026 Phys.org
... Mule deer are their only significant wild food source, but populations have dropped sharply since the 1970s. Saitone said the scarcity of wild prey may be one reason wolves are eating cattle instead. Researchers found mule deer in just 45% of the scat samples, significantly less common than cattle..,
Oregon secures $33.2M for first I-5 wildlife overpass July 7, 2026 Rogue Valley Times
... A federal appropriation of $33.2 million is coming to the Oregon Department of Transportation for the construction of the state’s first wildlife overpass on Interstate 5, just north of the California border... bridging forested lands teaming with black-tailed and mule deer, Roosevelt elk ...
We get a lesson on New World Screwworms from a UF expert July 7, 2026 Florida, WGCU News
... There was actually a localized outbreak of New World Screwworms in the Florida Keys in 2016 but it was contained using what’s called the Sterile Insect Technique where millions of sterile flies are released with the goal of them mating with wild females which crash the population...
Are forestry clearcuts ecological traps for caribou? 2026 British Columbia, Landscape Ecology
... Caribou selected regenerating (≤ 25 years old) clearcuts as or more strongly than other landcovers, whereas older clearcuts (26–39 years old) were used neutrally or avoided... Predation risk was elevated in clearcuts and near roads, with higher activity of wolves (clearcuts), coyotes (roads), and black bears (both)... selection of high-risk clearcuts by caribou represents an understudied pathway potentially contributing to population declines...
Will Catalina Island kill its deer? Debate intensifies over eradication plan July 6, 2026 California, Spectrum News
... The original proposal called for helicopter crews to shoot deer from the air. Following public criticism, the plan was revised to rely primarily on trained ground-based marksmen, though helicopters would still be used to assist with operations... At the request of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone questioned whether removing the deer would significantly reduce wildfire risk. He testified that while deer consume brush, the vegetation that replaces it is often grass, which firefighters generally find easier to control...
New World screwworm tracker: Confirmed Texas cases and what you need to know July 6, 2026 Texas Standard
... The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed 31 New World screwworm infestations, including 30 in Texas and one in New Mexico, as federal and state officials continue working to contain the flesh-eating parasite.... This tracker is updated as new infestations are confirmed...
Disentangling factors affecting establishment and growth of white oak (Quercus alba) regeneration in Missouri, USA 2026, Forest Ecology and Management
... We tracked 3 sources of white oak reproduction: acorns, germinants, and seedlings. A mast event overwhelmed consumers and established an abundance of oak seedlings. Heavy shade limited the growth and persistence of white oak reproduction. Deer herbivory reduced the size of white oak advance reproduction but not survival...
Which Pa. roads are most dangerous for wildlife crossings? Work group seeks to find out. July 5, 2026 Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Live
... the Pennsylvania Wildlife Connectivity Interagency Work Group ... will focus on advancing wildlife corridors and crossings through coordinated planning, mapping and data collection, landscape conservation efforts ...
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Deer in the News
Fawn rescued out of 10-foot abandoned well in the Town of Milan July 16, 2026 New York, The Poughkeepsie Journal on MSN
... Radomski and Grillo, utilizing a ladder borrowed from a concerned resident and pruning shears to clear the vegetation around the well, were able to safely extricate the animal...
Orphaned after vehicle collisions, Dozens of fawns get 2nd chance at Cherokee County rescue July 13, 2026 Georgia, CBS News
... At Smithwick Station, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility, more than 40 fawns have arrived this season alone. Most lost their mothers after vehicle collisions on Georgia roads ... The challenge for volunteers is to raise the fawns without allowing them to become attached to people...
Man found guilty in shooting death of prison guard helping deer cross road July 13, 2026 Washington, The Everett Herald on MSN
... Spaeth and his wife were outside their home trying to slow traffic for deer on the rural, two-lane road ... As Spaeth neared his passenger window, Picard grabbed his gun from next to the driver’s seat and shot the man ...
Firefighter frees ash-covered fawn from brush, gives him oxygen, and volunteers name him Phoenix July 8, 2026 Florida, The Cool Down
... now recovering after first responders and wildlife volunteers stepped in to help... bringing the animal to Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife ...
Video Below: A baby deer was rescued after it was spotted on the roof of a home in Oregon. July 6, 2026
How do whitetail bucks spend summer? Inside their bachelor groups July 4, 2026 Yahoo
... At this time of year, bucks remain separated from does and their fawns. These purely male herds create and reinforce social bonds, carving out a rigid pecking order ....
Baby deer saved from levee trap June 26, 2026 Minnesota, The Weather Channel
... the young deer, which had wandered into the levee area but was unable to leave due to the steep, slick embankments... After successfully freeing the fawn, the rescue crew released it into a nearby wooded area where its mother had been spotted searching for her missing baby ...
Flames, Fences, And A Fawn: Crews Battle 200-Acre Pasco County Brush Fire, Save Trapped Baby Deer June 26, 2026 Florida, AOL
... While working the active fire lines, crews discovered a baby deer caught in a nearby fence... The fawn is now in the custody of the Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife, where veterinary staff is treating its injuries...
Video Below: First elk seen crossing newly constructed wildlife overpass June 20, 2026, Colorado, Denver Gazette
... According to CDOT, the overpass crosses Interstate 25 (I-25) near the Greenland Interchange between Larkspur and Monument, and is the world’s largest structure over a major roadway for wildlife to cross...
Video Below: Three deer fell through the ice on Big Green Lake in #Wisconsin, leaving them stranded and struggling to reach shore. A rescue team used a drone to gently guide the animals across the ice and back to safety. - June 19, 2026
Viral Video of Deer Herd Escaping to Higher Ground in Louisiana Floods June 19, 2026, 99.9 KTDY
... In the video [below] you'll see a large herd of deer in flood water up to their necks searching for higher ground...
Moose Removed from Yard in Rupert Idaho June 19, 2026 News Radio 1310 KLIX
... Concerns centered on proximity to people and Interstate 84 ... The yearling in Rupert was tranquilized and moved to a place where it would have more room to roam...
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