Deer Friendly - Connecticut

Connecticut Deer: An estimate from the state of 100,000 in early 2025. A 2024 estimate of 110,000 whitetail deer. A state estimate of about 107,000 in 2022, down from about 114,000 in 2021 and 124,000 in 2020. A rough estimate from the state put the deer population at about 100,000 in early 2016 and mid-2017, but an analysis by a private group puts the number at 50,000 in 2016. Another state expert notes that the population has plunged. Mild winters and abundant acorn crops in 2016-17 and 2015-16 have benefited the deer herd with the population increasing into 2017. A peak populaton of about 152,000 the early 2000s.

Connecticut Deer News

Oxford crews rescue deer stranded on ice in Lake Zoar, fire officials say December 28, 2025 Connecticut Post on MSN

... The animal was found about 600 feet out on the ice ... unable to stand up due to exhaustion. Crews donned wet suits and used an inflatable boat to reach the deer ...

Heads up, acorns are dropping all over CT. Here’s why it matters for more than growing trees. October 10, 2025 Connecticut, Yahoo on MSN

... The more acorn production, the less deer have to travel to find them, leading to fewer road crossing ... The number of deer collisions is down from the early 2000s, when the deer population was at its height, according to Labonte. In 1996, there were an estimated 150,000 deer in Connecticut..,

Fewer deer killed by Connecticut hunters and drivers in 2024, report shows September 8, 2025 Connecticut Post

... according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's 2024 Deer Program Summary ... DEEP's estimate of the deer population peaked at 152,000 statewide in the early 2000s, then declined to about 110,000 and has remained fairly stable, with a slight decline since 2020, according to the report. In the past three years, the number of harvested deer (excluding roadkill) has declined by 10.7% ...

Deer used to be scarce in Connecticut. Here's why that's changed June 29, 2025, The Advocate

... how many deer there are in Connecticut ... about 100,000, Weitzel estimates ... “We know that at around 1890 there were probably only 300,000 deer left. That's a big difference. That's 1 percent of the population that currently exists,” he said. “Prior to Europeans showing up, we estimate there were probably around 30 million deer as well..,

Economics Nearly Wiped Out New England's Deer June 2, 2025 Connecticut, Mirage News

... white-tailed deer populations appeared to thrive prior to European colonization ... mid-to-late 17th-century data set, the deer populations started to decline pretty early... with the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century, you're now integrating New England into the early mercantile capitalist economic system with new pressures, and deer as a natural resource are now being valued in a new way that's designed for going after profit more than the utilitarian needs of people ...

Sage Deer: A Super-Aligned Driving Generalist Is Your Copilot 2025 Connecticut, Journal of Anthropological Archaeology

...used sustainably by Native peoples for millennia but hunted nearly to extinction soon after European colonization ... in the lower Connecticut River Valley suggest that deer abundance in this locality declined in the 17th century due to increased hunting pressure consistent with commodification of the species within a novel mercantile capitalist economy... at a time of general human population decline—appears to have been driven by capitalist market forces that increased demand for deerskin clothing for purposes of social signaling...

Connecticut hunting and fishing licenses sales decline. March 19, 2025, Hartford Courant on MSN.com

... In 1996, there were an estimated 150,000 deer in Connecticut. But as the state introduced more hunting incentive programs, the numbers of deer began to decline and stabilize. “We estimate the state’s deer population to be around 100,000 today,” Labonte said. “Most of the population is in Fairfield County and along the shoreline where there are the least amount of predators..,

Lawmakers reintroduce bill to allow bear hunting in Connecticut February 10, 2025 MSN

... The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) estimates the state has between 1,000 and 1,200 bears and Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble said DEEP supports a bear hunt bill..,

Firefighters rescue deer stuck on thin ice at West Hartford reservoir December 24, 2024 Connecticut, Hartford Courant hon MSN

... animals that fall through the ice tend to die before they can be rescued. The deer, however, was alive, appeared “very alert” and was “reasonably” close to shore ... it had not fallen through the ice but was unable to stand up...

Beacon Falls deer processing business to..ld to stop operating December 17, 2024 Connecticut, WTNH.com

... There were “numerous potential building and land use violations,” according to police, along with unsanitary conditions both inside and outside of the home....

Deer rescued from icy pond in Dayville December 15, 2024 Connecticut, Yahoo

... The East Killingly Fire Department provided an ice sled that was used in the rescue operation ...

Annual acorn count helps take pulse of CT's forests October 31, 2024 Connecticut, CT Mirror

... This year’s survey showed red oak trees had a bumper acorn crop... only 9% of white oaks produced acorns...a disturbing trend... There is growing concern about the lack white oak saplings in the entire country..,

Dangerous time for CT motorists: It’s peak season for deer collisions October 28, 2024 Connecticut, Hartford Courant on MSN

... The number of deer collisions is down from the early 2000s, when the deer population was at its height, according to deer and moose wildlife biologist Andrew Labonte, who works with DEEP’s wildlife division. In 1996, there were an estimated 150,000 deer in Connecticut. “We estimate the state’s deer population to be around 100,000 today,” ..,

Deer-car crashes in Connecticut are expected to rise in the coming months. Here's why October 16, 2024 StamfordAdvocate

... There were 417 deer crashes last year in Connecticut between October and December, the rutting, or mating, season when deer are most active...

Connecticut sees decline in hunting, fishing licenses in recent years September 27, 2024 StamfordAdvocate

... the white-tailed deer... population peaked at about 152,000 in the early 2000s and steadily declined to about 110,000 currently... The number of deer hunting permits increased consistently from 1975 to 1992 and remained relatively stable from 1992 to 2009, but has been dropping since then every year except 2020 ..,

Have You Seen 'Honey'? Baby Deer Is On The Lam In Southbury August 29, 2024 Connecticut, Patch

... A bottle-fed 2-1/2 month-old fawn was spooked by a bear and high-tailed it out of her humans' home ...Animal Control officials posted to social media

Deer in Lisbon tests positive for EEE virus August 21, 2024 Connecticut, Yahoo on MSN

... a white-tailed deer in Lisbon was infected with the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus..,

Why Connecticut's black bear population is increasing and expanding at record levels August 5, 2024 StamfordAdvocate

... currently estimated between 1,000 and 1,200. ... for a long time before the late 1900s, the state didn't have a resident bear population at all... In the 1800s, much of the land in the Northeast was cleared for agriculture and farming ... in the 1980s, the state saw a return of black bears ..,

Recent deer-versus-car crashes in Connecticut prompt alerts from police, wildlife biologists June 16, 2024 CT Insider

... Between 6,000 to 7,000 deer have been killed on state roadways annually in recent years, a significant drop from the mid-1990s, when the annual estimate was about 18,000, state wildlife biologist Andrew LaBonte said..,

Granby officer helps reunite abandoned fawn with mother, police say June 2, 3035 Connecticut, New Haven Register

... the fawn was struggling with labored breathing and was cold to the touch, prompting her to wrap the animal with blankets and stimulate it to help it breathe... the mother deer came back ...

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...

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 ...

Devil's Den In Weston To Close Weekdays During Limited Deer Hunt October 26, 2023 Connecticut, Patch

... The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has announced that it will hold its annual controlled deer hunt at Devil’s Den Preserve ... has been held each fall since 2001 ...

Deer may be forced to wander CT in search of food, after spring freeze causes fall acorn shortage September 29, 2023 Connecticut Public Radio

... The majority of the state is experiencing an acorn crop failure, said J.P. Barsky, a forest researcher for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station ...

Connecticut Deer Archive: Population and Management, Deer in the News, Disease, Suburban Management, Transportation.

Connecticut Conservatin Bulletin - 1955 to 1972

Connecticut Data: Wildlife Division biologist Andrew LaBonte estimated the state deer population to be around 100,000 in March, 2025, who indicated the population and begun to decline and stabilized after reaching. An estimated 2024 deer population of 110,000 reported in the press. A state estimate reported in 2022 of about 107,000 in 2022 based a graph published in the 2022 deer program report [see Data and Calculations for the graph below] with the recent population in the 110,000 range. with a 16.4 percent increase in the deer hunt from 2021 to 2022.

Population Estimates Below Based on the Connecticut DEEP 2021 Deer Program Report Hunting Data and News Reports

Data, Sources, and Calculations

The graph above uses a population reconstruction model to estimate the deer population from 2011 to 2022. The graph is in the 2022 deer program report and provides slightly higher estimates than statements to the press linked on this page. For 1975 to 2010 the graphic in the report gives selected year population estimates. Other population estimates were added using hunting data and linear trends for 1975 to 1990. This estimate puts the maximum deer population at 152,000 in the early 2000s, consistent with other estimates. The number of deer killed annually by vehicle collisions in the years prior to 2024 has been around 6,000 to 7,000 deer, a significant drop from the mid-1990s, when the annual estimate was about 18,000.

The large acorn crop in 2025 supports deer populations but reduces hunting success as the deer move around less looking for food. The state estimated the deer population at about 101,000 for 2019 through 2021, but that estimate has been raised somewhat to about 114,000 for 2022 and 124,000 for 2020 based on their most recent deer report. The big drop in the 2021 archery hunt was attributed to weather and a good acorn crop. The deer kill has been trending slightly lower over the period. In 2022 an abysmal acorn crop will reduce the population, but will increase the number of deer killed by hunters. The 2018 population benefited from recent mild winters, but faced a lower acorn crop.

Mild winters and abundant acorn crops in 2016-17 and 2015-16 benefited the deer herd. 2020 Deer Summary A a rough estimate from the state in early 2016 and mid 2017 of about 100,000. A state estimate of 126,000 deer in 2006 .

A hunting group observes that Connecticut had 62,189 deer (per statewide aerial deer survey) in 2007; since then Connecticut has seen a decline in the deer population and harvest of approximately 20%; leaving Connecticut with an estimated 50,000 deer or 10 dpsm in 2016. The lower estimate is more consistent with the decline in reported deer vehicle collisions from about a decade ago. DVC s (deer vehicle collisions) in Connecticut in 2000 were 3,089 and in 2015 there were 749; a decrease of 76% over 15 years. The 2015 harvest was 66.2% percent of the peak in 2004. The increase in the 2016 harvest is attributed to a poor acorn crop that forced deer to more around more as well as several mild winters increasing fawn survival.

The record acorn crop in 2015 reduced deer movement and contributed to the lower harvest, but the legalization of Sunday hunting increased the number of hunting days which would increase the harvest. Hunters reported reduced deer in 2015. A 2015 study put the 90-day fawn survival rate at 0.22, down from 0.66 and 0.40 in the previous three years, related to the increase in predators. The last official State estimate was 126,000 in 2006; yet the last State aerial survey showed only 62,189 deer statewide. Connecticut has made a habit of using the 2X factor on their deer population over the last 15 years to estimate from survey. In 2014, a state expert (Scott Williams) concluded that the deer population has plunged. A population of about 120,000 around 2001. Most deer hunting is on private land.

Because of lower deer populations no antlerless deer tags were issued in 2016 in central parts of Connecticut. Deer populations are highest in the southwest.

Increased predation by coyote and bobcat populations are thought to be the primary factor for the recent deer population decline, the first measured since the early 1900's when deer were very scarce from over hunting and conservation measures were implemented. Fawn recruitment in a 2015 study was 0.22 per doe; the population will decline significantly as a result. Peak of the rut around the last two weeks in November, begins in late October and runs through early January.

An important deer count in the Redding and Newton area related to a Center for Disease Control study became a controversy in 2015 when a local hunting group challenged the DEEP's count and hired an aviation firm that found substantially fewer deer.

The deer harvest declined by 9.2 percent in 2014 to 11,394. Overall hunter success was 23 percent. Most deer are killed on private land. See the 2014 Deer Program report. The number of deer killed in vehicle collisions, which approximately follows in proportion to the deer population, fell by more than half from the early 2000's to 2014. An estimated 3,700 deer killed by vehicles in 2016. In 2014 there were 1,081 deer vehicle collisions reported [page 20].

Historic deer harvest and permits from the DEEP 2021 Deer Program Report

History "Before Europeans arrived in what is today Connecticut, Native Americans cut and burned forestland to grow crops and nurture populations of game. By 1850 ... white-tailed deer and many other common species were scarce, if not extirpated altogether." Unregulated hunting from about 1700 into the early 1900s reduced the herd to just a few deer. More History.

The first statewide deer hunt in recent history was opened in the 1970's. Now, deer densities of 30 per square mile are not uncommon in the state. Hunting data approximately tracks the deer population. In 2014, hunters could take two deer, but only one can be a buck.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) first reported in the state in 2017, usually found to the south, but a likely result of climate change. Cases identified in 2022.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus. A 2024 infection reported near Lisbon.

Moose Estimates of about 100 to 150 moose in 2023. An estimated 210 moose in 2016, about 100 to 150 moose in the state in 2015, mostly in the northeastern and northwestern wooded areas. Estimated at 63 in 2004. The first recent sighting was in 2000.

Coyotes migrated eastward into the state about 70 years ago. In early 2022 an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 coyotes in the state. The eastern coyotes are larger, having some dog and wolf DNA.

Black Bears An estimated to be nearly 1200 in 2022 and 2024, up from about 800 in 2017. Bears are native to Connecticut but were extirpated from the state in the 1800s as as forests were cleared for farming. Bears made their return in the 1980s.