Deer Management News

Video Below:  A stark reminder of the impact the 2022-23 winter had on the Wyoming Range Mule deer herd of western Wyoming:  Aerial population surveys now estimate the herd to number about 11,000 animals — considerably less than a February 2023 estimate of 30,000 deer.  

Is grizzlies’ reintroduction in Central Idaho ‘a death sentence’ or restoring nature? March 17, 2024 Idaho, The Columbian

... Many opponents said grizzly reintroduction would turn Idaho into “a predator pit,” reduce wild deer and elk populations, threaten livestock, and pose a danger to residents and outdoor recreators...


As Idaho celebrates first wildlife overpass, some worry the state is trailing March 17, 2024 Boise State Public Radio

... Scattered across Idaho, there are a handful of tunnels carved under roads that allow wildlife to pass through and avoid collisions with cars. But this roughly $7 million bridge by Cervidae Peak is the state’s first overpass dedicated to wildlife. Some studies have shown animals like elk and moose prefer open overpasses compared with narrow underpasses...


Discussion on thermal imaging in hunting could get heated March 17, 2024 Tennessee, Chattanooga Times Free Press

... This is not the "night vision" optics  ... When properly used, you can see animals or any source of heat, even on the darkest of nights ... for game animals such as elk, deer  ...Some states may have already banned the use of thermals and/or drones ... 


Saddle River suspends deer culling program after five years. Here's why March 17, 2024 New Jersey, The Record, Bergen County on MSN.com

... "We have data indicating deer accidents have actually gone up in the borough since the hunting began, possibly because the deer are scared onto roads by the hunters," Lin said [Animal Protection League of New Jersey attorney Doris Lin] ...


Airguns for big game hunting are among six outdoors-related bills signed into Wisconsin law March 16, 2024 Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

... the major impact of Act 115 is to expand the use of airguns to include big game hunting in Wisconsin, including white-tailed deer, black bear and elk...


Downtrend continues for deer harvest, could lead to further restrictions March 16, 2024 Minnesota, KSTP-TV

...   a key factor in the recent dips is the harsh and snowy winters of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 ... it’s too early to tell, but the mild winter could bode well for future harvests..,


Getting a foothold on elk hoof disease March 16, 2024 Washington, The Columbian

... Scientists that have been researching Treponema-Associated Hoof Disease (TAHD) in elk have not found any magic pill to eliminate it ... Southwest Washington is ground zero for TAHD, for it is here that it first appeared within the Mount St. Helens elk herd ... has ravaged SW Washington elk ..,


Moose research begins in northeast Washington March 16, 2024 AOL

... biologists from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife put GPS collars on 28 female moose ... hope to collar 80 ... Moose have been on the decline nationwide ...


Idaho's New Wildlife Overpass Improves Public Safety and Wildlife Migration March 15, 2024 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

... In this area around Cervidae Peak, roughly 8,000-9,000 mule deer and 1,800-2,400 elk of the Boise River herds cross the increasingly busy highway twice each year during their seasonal migrations... a newly completed Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass aims to improve safety for both drivers and animals...


BLM acquires central Idaho lands to protect crucial wildlife habitat March 15, 2024 Idaho, Local News 8

... The BLM says the habitat is crucial to sage-grouse, elk, mule deer, moose and other wildlife...


One mild winter won't impact deer herd long-term March 15, 2024 Michigan, Daily Press

...“To really see a big increase in your deer population, you need multiple mild winters in a row,” said DNR Wildlife Technician Colter Lubben. “Because all a mild winter does is — it gives you one year class.” ... The overwhelming majority of deer harvested during hunting season are one-and-a-half, two-and-a-half, and three-and-a-half years old ..,


WDFW proposes elimination of antlerless deer hunt in some areas March 15, 2024 Washington, Methow Valley News

... The proposed changes are intended to promote population stability and/or recovery of deer populations in affected areas around the state. Mule deer populations in north-central Washington have recently been affected by intense environmental conditions including drought and extreme winters, disease, and widespread wildfire...,


Woodland Trust Deploys Drones To Revolutionise Deer Surveys March 15, 2024 United Kingdom, Heliguy

... Drones offer a landscape view, offering a more comprehensive and complete picture of species distribution and density. This builds confidence that deer are not being undercounted or double-counted... "Drone technology helps to grow our understanding of deer population metrics with an unprecedented level of accuracy and efficiency." ...


Kentucky Hunters Fight Senate Plan to Move Wildlife Agency to Department of Agriculture March 14, 2024 Field & Stream

... SB3 will transfer oversight of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) from the state’s Tourism Cabinet to the Department of Agriculture,.. Kentucky Department of Agriculture ... is only in charge of monitoring captive deer farms ...


How To Manage Whitetails on Private Land: Part 2 March 14, 2024 North American Whitetail

...  the evolution of deer population estimation  ...  the most questionable method was the pellet-count, which some biologists persist in using to this day!  ... Several of my colleagues later showed that the number of times a deer defecates is variable, and again the error rate is terrible! So, how do you get a reasonable density estimate for your deer herd? ..,


Senate Hunting Ban Bill Held for Further Study March 14, 2024 Rhode Island,  Sportsmen's Alliance

...  Senate Bill 2732 ... prohibits hunting where “man-made structures and/or natural barriers” are designed to limit an animal’s free movement. It is anybody’s guess what this means, but obviously includes roads, rivers, streams, hills, canals, fences ...


DNR study shows how snow affects deer populations March 14, 2024 Michigan, Upper

... data about how many deer were hunted by predators ... “Body mass and cumulative winter severity are important, but when that snow leaves is twice as important as either one of those,” said Belant... watch the entire presentation on the Michigan United Conservation Clubs’ Facebook page...


Conditioned Media from Deer Antler Stem Cells Effectively Alleviate Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Possibly via Inhibiting the NF-κB Signaling Pathway - Frontiers in Bioscience Landmark, 2024

... Deer antler stem cells (AnSCs), a novel type of adult stem cells, significantly reduced liver injury, which was speculated to be achieved through the paracrine pathway...


F&G again proposes to cut antlerless deer and antelope hunts to help herds recover in eastern Idaho March 12, 2024 Idaho, EIN News

...  “Despite a much-needed mild winter this year, we still want to give east Idaho’s mule deer and pronghorn populations some more recovery time.” ...


Idaho Fish and Game, RMEF expand vital wildlife winter range March 12, 2024 Idaho Fish and Game

... Idaho Fish and Game and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation again teamed up to expand the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) just west of Idaho Falls, used by up to 5,500 elk and 3,000 mule deer during the critical winter months. This time, their collaborative efforts conserved and added 328 acres to the nearly 36,000-acre WMA...


Colorado Parks and Wildlife lands a spectacular hunting and fishing ranch in South Park March 12, 2024 The Colorado Sun

... Great Outdoors Colorado funded most of the $8.25 million purchase of Collard Ranch ... a corridor for thousands of migrating elk moving to and from the surrounding high mountains, as well as mule deer, pronghorn and other wildlife...


Senate kills nuisance deer bill over worries about youth hunting March 11, 2024 Iowa, Clinton Herald

...  House File 2484 passed the House ... would allow those with special depredation licenses to hunt during the January season — even in counties with low deer populations ... Sen. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway, said its important for deer to be undisturbed before the youth season, for fear of chasing them away...


Protected deer found at lower altitudes, report says March 11, 2024 Taiwan, The Taipei Times

... Efforts to restore wildlife populations are bearing fruit, with photographs taken from trail cameras confirming the presence of Formosan sambar deer at lower altitudes at Taroko National Park in eastern Taiwan...


Key Deer Awareness Day: A story of vulnerability and resilience March 11, 2024 Florida, earth on MSN

... This particular date was selected to commemorate the moment in 1967 when Key deer were officially recognized as being endangered... these deer migrated to the Florida Keys from the mainland ... between 6,000 and 12,000 years ago the melting of the Wisconsin Glacier abruptly raised sea levels... transformed a once-unified peninsula into a series of isolated islands ...


Local nonprofit wants more wildlife crossings built on Utah highways March 10, 2024 Fox 13

... “Over the 10-year period between 2010 and 2020, there were 247 vehicle wildlife collisions here on SR-224 at an estimated cost of $7.5 million based on UDOT’S cost-crash criteria. So $7.5 million could pay for a crossing,” said Farkas...


The Humble Acorns: A Feast for Wildlife  March 10, 2024 New York Almanack

... White-tailed deer are among the top acorn consumers, with acorns comprising up to 75 percent of their late fall and early winter diet. One deer may eat 300 acorns per day. In a big mast year (every two to five years), deer weigh more and are more likely to produce twin fawns...


DNR says mild winters will help deer population March 9, 2024 Minnesota, Journal

... “The reason the deer harvest was down this year is that we had two back-to-back brutal winters with deep snow across most of northern Minnesota, especially the northeast,” ... 14% less than the five-year average... The 2023 harvest in the Minnesota arrowhead (northeast) region was 21% less than 2022 ..,


Video Below:  In the tenth episode of Fish and Game’s ‘State of Deer and Elk’ series, Fish and Game Regional Wildlife Biologist, Miranda Reinson, discusses how and why the Department steps in to feed wintering deer and elk. March 8, 2024



Kansas lawmakers angle to undercut governor by overhauling state wildlife and parks commission March 8, 2024 Kansas Reflector

... Consternation about possible ban on feeding deer on private land triggers backlash  ... The commission’s interest in the ethics of baiting deer and creating for wildlife a fair-chase environment was interpreted as a financial threat to the hunting industry in Kansas and inspired lobbying at the Capitol to tilt commission appointments toward people vested in maintaining a business-like approach...


The Virginia Appalachian Deer Study: Conclusions to Understanding Population Trends of Whitetails in the Allegheny Mountains March 7, 2023 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

... the VADS crew observed a final 12-week fawn survival rate of 31 percent (0.310; 0.210-0.457). Similar to the previous update, black bears accounted for most fawn mortalities (n =18; 48 percent of all mortality), followed by bobcats (n = 5) and coyotes (n = 3)... Elevation was the most important predictor of fawn survival, with fawn mortality risk increasing as elevation increased..,


CPW study shows zombie deer disease affects 40 out of 54 deer herds in Colorado March 7, 2024 Colorado, KREX Grand Junction on MSN

... Mesa County has shown less than five percent of deer populations are infected, …in unit 60, we’ve got greater than 20 percent prevalence, and in 61, it’s between 10 and 20 percent ... across the state, they’ve identified chronic wasting disease in 40 out of 54 of our deer herds. 17 out of 42 elk herds are also now infected...


Deer faring well from this year's winter March 7, 2024 Utah, Cache Valley Daily

... This year’s winter has been different; the snow is not as deep and the cold has not been as bad as last year... “We observed heavy, fat and healthy does, highest statewide average body fat levels observed in the last 10 years since we started this project ... We measured record high adult doe body fat percentages on the Cache, Morgan, Wasatch-Manti, Monroe and Pine Valley units.” ..,


Wisconsin DNR nears end of 7-year deer study on CWD, predators March 6, 2024 Watertown Daily Times

... Wisconsin recorded a record 1,580 CWD cases in 2023, and so far 44 of the state’s 72 counties have documented at least one case in wild deer...  CWD boomed in Dane, Iowa, Sauk and Richland counties, with infection rates ranging from 17% in Dane to 29% in Iowa County ... CWD spreads faster and with higher infection rates in prime deer habitats ..,


Chronic wasting disease not detected in Arizona’s deer, elk population March 6, 2024 TUCSON News Now Kold

... Department officials did not find any cases of CWD in the 1,235 deer (mule and white-tailed) and elk that were sampled in 2023..,


Maryland national parks see 1st cases of ‘zombie deer disease’ March 6, 2024 FOX News on MSN.com

... Two deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) at Antietam and Monocacy national battlefields ... the disease has been present in the state since 2010..,


North Dakota 2023 Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Elk Harvests March 6, 2024 NDGF News

... hunter success during the 2023 season for bighorn sheep was 100%, 89% for moose and 71% for elk... The department issued 253 moose licenses last year. Of that total, 246 hunters harvested 219 animals – 132 bulls and 87 cows/calves ... The department issued 649 elk licenses last year. Of that total, 589 hunters harvested 418 elk – 190 bulls and 228 cows/calves..,


Statewide feed ban for deer considered March 6, 2024 Mississippi, oxfordeagle

... Supplemental feeding is considered to be one of the main risks of Chronic Wasting Disease spreading in deer. Studies in Arkansas show maternal deer family groups concentrate around feeders at a higher rate than they naturally would.   Further research by MSU shows that corn, commonly used in supplemental feeding, contains aflatoxins ...


Historic warm, low-snow winter boon to many wildlife, bust for others March 6, 2024 Minnesota, The Lawton Constitution

...  after back-to-back severe winters in 1995-96 and 1996-97 when many deer perished. With a string of mild winters that followed, northern Minnesota saw its highest-ever deer population ... This is one of the few winters of the past 10 years that haven't seen deep snow on the ground that restricts their access to food and their ability to escape predators..,


DNR Says Minnesota Moose Population Has Remained Relatively Stable March 6, 2024 Lakeland PBS

... The most recent DNR population estimate is approximately 3,470 animals. Results continue to suggest that after a steep decline from a population estimate of approximately 8,000 in 2009, Minnesota’s moose population appears to have stabilized and has fluctuated around 3,700 animals in recent years..,


Diamond Valley applauded for resisting deer cull March 5, 2024 California, Western Wheel

... I applaud Craig Beaton, operations manager for the Town of Diamond Valley, who refuses any idea of a cull for the deer... One can purchase marigold flowers that deter the deer from eating up gardens; also chicken wire can help keep them out if gardens are your concern...


Alabama Sees Significant Decrease in Deer Harvest Numbers, Baldwin County Leads March 5, 2024 BNN Breaking

... hunters in Alabama harvested more than 201,000 deer, a stark contrast to the over 300,000 deer taken during the 2022-2023 season... These statistics raise questions about the health and management of deer populations in Alabama and Tennessee..,


New WNC black bear, deer hunting seasons pass despite public disapproval March 5, 2024 North Carolina, AOL.com

... a measure that will significantly expand the length of black bear hunting in the mountain region... 69% of the 646 respondents saying they do not support the change ... the bear population in the mountains is growing 7% each year ..,


Bill calls for reintroduction of predator 'capable of killing deer' in Colorado March 5, 2024 OutThere Colorado

... to reintroduce wolverines ...  there was once a viable population of wolverines in the state, but this was last confirmed in 1919 ...  a wolverine was tracked traveling into northcentral Colorado in 2009 ... As stated in the proposed bill, there are an estimated three hundred to four hundred wolverines left in the lower 48 states ..,


Searching the internet to find and conserve deer information

Deer in the News

Some animals transform their hair structure to battle winters March 18, 2024 Utah, earth on MSN

... Millet meticulously examined hairs from three iconic big game animals: pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk. Under the SEM's intense gaze, she discovered an intricate system resembling a messy honeycomb – a network of tiny air pockets... the honeycomb structure changes dramatically between summer and winter...


Ireland was once home to deer with massive 12-foot antlers March 16, 2024 Popular Science

... the extinct giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus), more commonly known as the Irish elk... at about 6.5 feet tall and weighing upwards of 1,500 pounds, the males boasted antlers over 12 feet wide. By comparison, modern elk have antlers that are about four feet across ...


Deer finally finds the shore after breaking through Six Mile ice March 15, 2024 Michigan, 

... After repeatedly getting its front hooves on the ice only to have it give way, the deer figured out it could thrash out a route, using its legs and then body to cut a path to open water... it had spent at least 90 minutes in icy waters ...


Neighbors work together to free deer from plastic jug stuck on its head March 13, 2024 Pennsylvania, Yahoo

... state game wardens came to the woods near his home four times ... Lisa and Matt Mertz became the deer’s saviors...  I’m not sure if it would’ve survived another day ...

     Deer with plastic stuck on its head wandering around North Hills March 11, 2024 Pennsylvania, KDKA-AM Radio Pittsburgh on MSN

... the doe has been wandering around the area for over two weeks... the Game Warden nearly caught it on Sunday but came up short... it’s definitely not getting food ...


Michigan DNR says early spring causes more active deer populations March 12, 2024 Upper on MSN

...  due to early spring... could be potentially dangerous for drivers... south-facing roads are most likely to attract deer.  “They green up first, so it attracts the deer to them,” ...


The return of the rare Piebald deer: First 2024 sighting in Jones Woods Park March 10, 2024 New York, Staten Island Advance

...  renowned for its distinctive coat pattern and fluffier appearance ... The last reported sighting of a Piebald Deer in Staten Island was in 2022 at Goodhue Park in New Brighton... 


Young elk falls through ice on Colorado pond, video shows. See ‘heartwarming’ rescue March 8, 2024 Colorado, Yahoo

... The video shows the elk floating near the edge of the pond and struggling to keep its head high enough above the water. The video doesn’t show the rope rescue ...


Windsor Locks residents upset with CT officials for euthanizing moose March 6, 2024 Connecticut, CT Insider

... there was "clearly enough time for DEEP to get an action plan to relocate this moose. ... I'm pretty (ticked) off. That moose didn't do anything...


Unusual miniature white tail deer seen running with other ‘misfit’ deer in Pennsylvania March 5, 2024 Pennsylvania, Erie Times-News on MSN

... a small deer that has a unique genetic condition ... It has shorter legs than other deer... one that was wounded ... “She has a bad hobble ...There’s a three-legged one there, they’re all just hanging out, they’re misfits,” ...


How Fast Can a Deer Run? February 28, 2024 Yahoo

... Whitetail deer can reach a top speed between 35 and 40 miles per hour, according to most estimates ...


Moose euthanized in Windsor Locks after it wanders too close to highway February 26, 2024 Connecticut, Fox 61

...  a report of a moose within 20 feet of Interstate 91 southbound and the Route 20 exit ramp in Windsor Locks. DEEP consulted with other law enforcement agencies and euthanized the animal ...


Deer’s head stuck in plastic container for 12 days February 23, 2024 Indiana, Yahoo News

... The deer was first spotted on February 10 in Vermillion County, Indiana, but troopers couldn’t catch it... the deer had busted through the bottom of the container so it could eat and drink...


Tragedy and Teamwork in Hartsville: The Rescue of a Deer from Urban Predators February 22, 2024 South Carolina, BNN Breaking

...  A young deer, pursued by wild dogs, finds itself in a life-threatening predicament, seeking refuge in a retention pond near Neptune Island Water Park... Despite the collective effort, the doe's injuries proved too severe...


Deer With Container On Its Head Saved By Rescuers: 'We Never Gave Up' February 17, 2024 New York, NY Patch

... Frankie Floridia of Strong Island Animal Rescue worked tirelessly for the entire 10 days to save the deer, who was first spotted on Sound Breeze Trail/ Great Rock Drive in Wading River...


Oklahoma Game Wardens seek public aid in unusual deer dumping case in Osage County February 17, 2024 KTUL

... The deer appeared to be 'unlawfully raised as a fawn and had to red ear tags ... it was 'simply killed, and maliciously dumped/abandoned to the driveway.' ...


Ohio Police Officers Work Together to Save Deer Tangled in Outdoor Hammock February 9, 2024 People on MSN

... Ohio's New Philadelphia Police Department shared a video to their Facebook page of ... working together to help a deer free its antlers from a hammock made of thick ropes....


Man arrested for killing ‘Hollywood Buck’ facing 19 total charges for poaching, trespassing February 9, 2024 Virginia, WRIC on MSN

... killing Richmond’s beloved “Hollywood Buck” ... Trespass after forbidden, Killing a deer; exceeding bag limit, Trespassing to hunt, fish or trap, Hunting regulation: failure to report ...

Below a Facebook post of 3 albino deer in Roxboro, North Carolina.  - February 1, 2024

Hornbrook Fire Dept. readies for animal rescues at Iron Gate Reservoir, with ten deer dead January 31, 2024 California, KDRV

...   This week, ten deer reportedly died at Iron Gate's lakebed, stuck in mud... where its dam removal has drained the lake's water this month... people are reporting stranded animals that have left some euthanized, stuck in mud, or muck, of the reservoir...


Suspect charged in killing of Hollywood Cemetery buck January 30, 2023 Virginia, Richmond

... charged with 19 separate wildlife violations ... several people who saw the Dec. 14 [Facebook] post recognized the animal as a frequent visitor of Hollywood Cemetery in the Oregon Hill neighborhood and reported the post to the DWR ...


Image of slain deer decked out in Christmas lights sparks state investigation January 19, 2024 Florida, Yahoo

... A deer with Christmas lights caught up in its antlers was killed shortly after a resident posted a picture of the animal prancing around a northern Leon County neighborhood ... proudly holding up the head of the slain deer ...


Beloved deer on Daufuskie goes missing. People on social media point fingers at hunters January 18, 2024 South Carolina, YAHOO!News

... The deer, named Turbo, was loved by island residents and visitors. Locals shared that she’d approach people looking for ice cream or french fries. She would wait by the ferry for her caretaker to return from the grocery store...