Delaware Deer: An estimated 38,000 whitetail deer in 2024 with about 37,400 deer post-hunt in 2022. The state estimated 35,000 to 40,000 deer in 2020, a pre-hunt population of 45,000. A pre-hunt population of about 46,000 in 2019 and post-hunt of 31,000. A roughly stable pre-hunt population of around 45,000 since 2005.
Delaware Deer News
DNREC hasn't yet detected Chronic Wasting Disease in Delaware November 28, 2024 Delaware Public Media
... DNREC’s largest survey monitoring effort includes almost 50 workers from different departments who help test for CWD. They sampled over 600 deer this season..,
Season for increased vehicle-deer crashes arrives October 1, 2024 Delaware, Coastal Point
... October through December marks deer-mating season, so the animals are more active and more likely to dart into the road, increasing the risk of a costly and potentially deadly collision...
Wilmington man indicted for allegedly poaching white-tailed deer May 13, 2024 Delaware, Wilmington News Journal
... had illegally hunted the trophy buck on private property about 10 miles from his sister’s land, and later learned that the written permission from his sister he had presented to wildlife officers had been falsified – after the deer was killed – to mislead authorities...
Delaware bans trail cameras for recreational use in state wildlife areas, forests, and parks June 3, 2023 Delaware Public Media
... Factors leading to the ban include acknowledgement trail cameras are a technological advancement in hunting and used successfully by many hunters for harvesting deer...
Delaware Wild Animals: 6 Destinations to Look for Them April 13, 2023 Delaware, Southwest Journal
... Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control estimates that between 30,000 and 35,000 white-tailed deer are in the state..,
Delaware’s 2022-’23 deer hunting season yields third-highest harvest March 28, 2023
... Delaware hunters harvested 16,848 deer — the state’s third-highest number — during the 2022-’23 hunting season ... an increase of 9.5% over last year’s harvest total ..,
Local farmer concerned with Sussex's coyote population November 11, 2022 Delaware, Cape Gazette
... “It’s going to devastate turkeys and the local deer herd,” said Hopkins, showing photos of a pack of coyotes taken at night with a trail camera. “You can tell there are more coyotes around because the deer herd is real skittish.” ...
Public Encouraged to Avoid 'Rescuing' Young Wildlife May 19, 2022 State of Delaware News
... Many wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, will leave their young to forage for food, returning a few times a day, trusting their young’s natural instinct to lie quietly so as not to be detected by predators... For more help in trying to determine if a young wild animal is orphaned or injured, or is simply exhibiting normal behavior instead of needing to be rescued, contact the Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators...
Delaware Deer Harvest Announced for 2021/22 Hunting Season April 27, 2022 Delaware.gov
... Delaware hunters reported harvesting 15,383 deer during the 2021/22 hunting season, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today. The harvest was 10.9% lower than the 2020/21 record harvest of 17,265 deer ..,
Delaware Deer Archive: Population and Management, Deer in the News, Disease, Suburban Management, Transportation
Delaware Data: A reported estimated from the state in 2024 of 38,000. The state estimated 35,000 to 40,000 whitetail deer in 2020, about 37,500 deer. Based on hunting data, a post-hunt population of 37,400 in 2022. A roughly stable pre-hunt population of 45,000 in 2020 and in 2005, 2015, and 2019, also 2013. A 2019 estimate of 46,000 pre-hunt in 2019. An estimated population of 35,000 in 2017 and about stable for the previous few years.
The population likely increased somewhat during 2014, but declining into 2015. DNREC reported good habitat conditions resulting from the cool and wet spring and summer, coupled with an exceptional hard mast crop (acorns and other tree nuts). One estimate puts the population at 45,000 whitetails in 2013. Official post-hunt state estimates of 25,730 in 2009 and 37,563 in 2005. Another estimate is 31,071 in 2009, falling from 36,563 in 2005. A pre-hunt estimate from a research paper of 54,861 in 2005.
In 2013 the herd recovered from an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a viral infection that can be lethal to deer. Sussex County was particularly hard hit by EHD. In 2013 the state targeted 40 deer per square mile of habitat statewide. In the 2014-'15 season hunters took 54 percent does (7,683). During the 2013-'14 season, 53 percent females (7,558) and 47 percent males (6,705). Delaware’s highest deer harvest occurred during the 2004-'05 season, with 14,669 deer.
Chronic Wasting Disease As of 2024, not detected. Surveillances began in 2002.
History Although deer were abundant in Delaware at the time of first settlement in the 1600's, over hunting and habitat destruction nearly exterminated deer. To restore herds, hunting was banned from 1841 to 1954. A limited deer season was allowed in 1954 with 505 deer taken. No restocking of deer was done in Delaware.
By the late 1980's, deer management was focused on reducing the herd. In 2005 the post-hunt deer population was estimated at 37,563. Expanded limits and season length were used to reduce the heard to 25,730 in 2009. In 2007 the ratio of deer harvested to licenses issues was about 0.73. "Unlike most states, when Delaware held its first hunting season hunters were allowed to harvest both bucks and does." History About half the deer are taken during the shotgun season.
Sitka deer, an Asian Elk species, were introduced onto private land in 1916 and they have generally occupied the marshy, swampy and woodsy realm of the Eastern Shore. In the last few years they have been spotted in Sussex county. Smaller than white-tails at about 50 to 100 pounds, darker coats, smaller antlers.
Deer Hunt: 1954 to 2012 from DNREC
Coyote About 100 coyotes in 2013. Delaware opened a coyote season in 2013, in part to protect the deer population. One coyote was killed in 2013.
Report Poaching: (302) 739-4580
For help in trying to determine if a young wild animal is orphaned or injured, or is simply exhibiting normal behavior instead of needing to be rescued, contact the Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators...
Reporting Sick or Dead Wildlife - DNREC Alpha
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control - Delaware.gov
... If you see sick wildlife, or dead wildlife where it looks like the cause of death is an illness, please report it to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife. If you see five or more sick or dead wild animals at the same location, please also call division staff at 302-735-3600 (Ext. 2)... If you need a wildlife rehabilitator, please contact the Delaware Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators and Educators...
