With chronic wasting disease deer cases increasing, NC pushes testing  December 7, 2023 North Carolina, The Fayetteville Observer

... North Carolina wildlife officials are reminding hunters to be careful when handling deer carcasses and to get harvested animals tested...  stresses to hunters the importance of taking precautions when transporting or disposing of deer carcasses." ...

Wildlife Agency Confirms First Case of CWD in Franklin County, North Carolina November 21, 2023 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission News

... confirms a 2.5-year-old female white-tailed deer harvested in Franklin County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The deer was hunter-harvested during firearms season and represents the first detection of the disease in Franklin County..,

Advent of trail cameras really changed deer hunting November 19, 2023 South Carolina, Davie County Enterprise Record

...  Nowadays, a great majority of those successful hunters knew exactly what they were dealing with, having seen the bucks on trail-camera photos right up until the time they pulled the trigger... More than anything I’ve seen in 50 years in the woods, the trail camera has changed the way hunters target ...

CWD spread continues in NC November 10, 2023 Couth Carolina, Carolina Sportsman

...  Chronic Wasting Disease has reached Johnston County, NC for the first time.  Testing on a 31/2-year-old doe was conducted after the deer was harvested in the county by a hunter during archery season...

Deer discovered swimming off North Carolina’s coast, police say. See the odd video October 17, 2023 AOL

... The deer traveled about a third of a mile before heading back to shore, police said. It then galloped onto the beach and took off running for the dunes...

Chronic wasting disease detected in Johnston County deer, 1st case in Triangle October 13, 2023 North Carolina, YAHOO!News

... A deer in Johnston County died from chronic wasting disease, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed Friday, marking the first case of the fatal illness around the Triangle... a 3 1/2-year-old female white-tailed deer ..,

Off duty detention officer accused of shooting, killing neighbor during dispute over deer October 3, 2023 North Carolina, WLOS

... Brendan Smith ... was bow hunting ... struck a deer, which then crossed into a field in front of his neighbor's house before collapsing... Houser was reportedly shot and killed in the field near his home...

Baby deer everywhere! Fawns left alone are no cause for concern, biologists say May 30, 2023, cbs17.com

... If you’re concerned about a fawn, Owens says to watch for signs of distress. “The best way to tell if a fawn really needs help is based on its behavior, so a fawn that looks really, really skinny with its bones showing or if it’s covered in flies or if it’s actively walking around, calling out, making a lot of noise, those are signs that the fawn’s in distress,” ...

Transportation and wildlife agencies strengthen collaboration to create safe passages for wildlife May 1, 2023 North Carolina, Washington Daily News

... The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) demonstrating their commitment to work together to improve the infrastructure and safety for both wildlife and the traveling public on North Carolina roads...

Two white-tailed deer killed after wild black bear enters exhibit at WNC Nature Center April 17, 2023 North Carolina, WLOS

...  the WNC Nature Center's two white-tailed deer, were found deceased in their exhibit after it appeared "a wild black bear entered their exhibit, and either directly or indirectly caused their passing." ...

Chronic Wasting Disease found in Cumberland and Wilkes Counties April 12, 2023 North Carolina, The Yadkin Ripple

...  Due to new detections of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Cumberland and Wilkes counties, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Executive Director Cameron Ingram invoked emergency powers to delineate Surveillance Areas and specify requirements necessary to reduce movement and infection risk of the disease..,

'My kids' pictures have been posted': Tensions rising between NC landowners and deer hunters with dogs April 10, 2023 North Carolina, WRAL

... There have been confrontations, so several landowners would only talk to us anonymously. One person describes the reaction from hunters that got personal.  "We’ve been publicly threatened," the person said. "My kids' pictures have been posted. My businesses have been attacked." ...

Don't eat anesthetized elk: New NC rule would forbid picking up elk carcasses March 17, 2023 North Carolina Yahoo

... The rule, in part, is to prevent them from accidentally eating one of the large animals − which roam a part of Western North Carolina − after it was dosed with anesthesia...

Wildlife Commission Announces First CWD-Positive Deer in Cumberland County February 8, 2023 North Carolina, NC Wildlife

... a sample collected from a hunter-harvested, white-tailed deer in Cumberland County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the first case of CWD detected outside of the current surveillance area. The agency recently received notification that a deer harvested last October, nine miles east of Fayetteville ..,

$6000 Reward: Elk calf killed with arrow in Cherokee, poaching investigation underway January 5, 2023 North Carolina, KAKE

... Even if elk hunting was legal in North Carolina, according to the EBCI Natural Resources Office, “elk, like deer, are a protected animal under Cherokee code and cannot be hunted on tribal lands.” ...

Exclusive video of extremely rare red wolf cubs showcases the crucial fight to save them January 2, 2023 North Carolina, The Cool Down

... The red wolf is one of the U.S.’s most endangered animals and the only wolf that is solely native to the U.S. There are thought to be between 19 and 21 red wolves left in the wild today.The tiny population lives in North Carolina, though they once inhabited a vast area spanning from New York to Florida and Texas..,

More NC deer test positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, officials stress importance of continued testing December 12, 2022 North Carolina, cbs17.com

... the two new positive deer were detected in Surry County, which is part of the Secondary Surveillance Area... The transport of deer out of the Surveillance Areas is strictly prohibited...

Oh, deer! Triangle researchers looking into impact of development on deer population, movement November 10, 2022 cbs17.com

...  a deer biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, says we are seeing more deer in the Triangle over the past few decades... “As development has continued, of course the amount of good-quality deer habitat keeps getting whittled down and the deer are becoming more and more concentrated in the areas that are left,”...

Third Detection of CWD Confirmed in North Carolina Deer Herd October 20, 2022 EIN News

... the deer was hunter-harvested in Surry County this archery season approximately 10 miles from the two previous positive detections in Yadkin County...

Can the new forest plan save the hunting traditions in the mountains? October 11, 2022 North Carolina, The Transylvania Times

... Gino D’Angelo, assistant professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, highlights the loss of young forest habitat in the Chattahoochee causing an almost two-thirds loss of the deer populations in the past 40 years... the lack of thick cover in these young forest areas deer fawns have limited areas to hide from predators...

A rare sight! An albino deer spotted in Greensboro September 29, 2022 North Carolina, WFMY News2

... they show up every 1 in 30,000 deer, according to NC Wildlife.  Albino deer are deer that lack pigmentation and have a completely white hide and pink eyes, nose and hooves...

Deer found hurt in Charlotte were hit with arrows. Is it legal to hunt wildlife in the city? September 8, 2022 North Carolina, Charlotte Observer

... Another deer was euthanized earlier this year ... there have been three injured deer spotted in the Huntingtowne Farms area this year. They all seemed to be critically injured by a hunter’s bow and arrow...

Deer found seriously hurt in south Charlotte neighborhood expected to recover September 6, 2022 North Carolina, The Charlotte Observer 

... Officials thought that deer would have to be euthanized, but NC Wildlife said an officer tranquilized the deer and removed the arrow.  The deer is expected to make a full recovery within a few weeks...

Where do deer, bears, elk and turtles need help crossing the road in North Carolina? September 6, 2022 Raleigh News & Observer

... , the big federal infrastructure bill signed into law last fall included $350 million for projects that make it easier for animals to cross highways... the question of the moment is: Where do we need wildlife road crossings in North Carolina? This report is our answer to that question.” ...

Wildlife Commission Restricts Use of Attractants for Deer Hunting in CWD Areas August 26, 2022, North Carolina, NC Wildlife

... The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted at its business meeting on Aug. 18 to adopt an emergency amendment to restrict the use of some natural deer attractants/scents in the Primary and Secondary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Surveillance Areas ...

Hemorrhagic Disease reported in deer across North Carolina August 24, 2022 WWAY TV

... Sick deer suspect of having hemorrhagic disease have been reported in 39 counties in the state, with the highest frequency of reports from the Mountains and Piedmont regions.   Once a hemorrhagic disease outbreak begins, it usually continues until weather conditions are not conducive for the biting midges that spread the disease ...

NC reports 2 cases of deadly disease in deer since March 31 August 19, 2022 North Carolina, WRAL

... N.C. Wildlife reported a second case of chronic wasting disease in a deer in Yadkin County, west of Winston-Salem. The deer was just one mile from where the first case was discovered after March 31...

Chronic Wasting Disease reported in NC deer; new rules & restrictions for hunting season July 12, 2022 North Carolina, CBS 17

... Chronic Wasting Disease in deer was first reported in North Carolina in March ... one positive case ... restrictions would “prohibit the intentional baiting and feeding of free-ranging” deer in the “primary CWD surveillance area and secondary CWD surveillance area,” according to official plan documents ...,

2021-22 NC deer harvest numbers remain high following increased hunting interest during the pandemic May 10, 2022 North Carolina, WNCN Raleigh

...  hunters "reported harvesting 168,427 deer during the 2021-22 hunting season," which officials state is a 6.3 percent increase from the average harvest over the last three seasons... Officials said antlered bucks were harvested the most at 53 percent, followed by does at 42.6 percent, and button bucks made up 4.4 percent of the harvest...  see full report

No more CWD positives detected in deer harvest May 3, 2022 North Carolina,  Sampson Independent

... No additional positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) detections have been found in the 2021-2022 deer harvest since the single deer that tested positive in Yadkin County in March ... wildlife biologists collected over 7,200 deer tissue samples ...

Fatal deer and elk disease finally turns up in North Carolina April 21, 2022 The Mountaineer

... emergency measures for the mulit-county focus area include:  Mandatory testing of all white-tailed deer taken in the PSA during the blackpowder and all lawful weapons deer hunting seasons.  Prohibition on transport of white-tailed deer, dead or alive, except for meat, antlers and hides that have been properly cleaned...

Expect new rules: chronic wasting diseases confirmed in Yadkin County deer April 14, 2022 North Carolina, Davie County Enterprise Record

...“We’re dealing with an infectious disease that has no cure. The infectious agent can’t be killed ... Once it gets into a wild deer population, we know the prevalence will increase. The percentage of the number of animals with the disease will increase. Long-term, it will have a permanent impact on the population we can’t undo.” [Moriah Boggess, the commission’s deer-project leader]

First NC deer tests positive for Chronic Wasting Disease March 31, 2022 North Carolina, CBS17 Raleigh

... “the deer was harvested in northern Yadkin County in December 2021.”  The Wildlife Resources Commission said it collected more than 7,200 samples in the past season after CWD was discovered in a deer close to the North Carolina/Virginia border in 2021..,

No chronic wasting disease found in NC deer — yet  March 20, 2022 North Carolina, Salisbury Post

...  it’s getting closer with the announcement by officials in Virginia that two more CWD-infected deer were harvested last fall in counties that border North Carolina. One deer taken in Floyd County, 28½ miles from North Carolina, tested positive ...

Scientists test North Carolina deer for COVID-19 February 15, 2022  WFAE 90.7 

... swabbed roughly 75 deer ... Six North Carolina deer had tested positive as of Monday, according to early results posted to the USDA. website, though Boggess emphasized the study samples are still being processed ...

9 Endangered Red Wolves To Be Released In North Carolina February 9, 2022 Kiss 95.1

... The nine red wolves include a family and two breeding pairs. The animals will come from five different zoo facilities ...

Highway Patrols warns drivers to watch out for deer November 10, 2021 North Carolina, FOX Carolina

... Last year, Highway Patrol says there were 2,700 deer vs. vehicle collisions... "If you see one, you always know there may be two or three more behind them," ...

What's next for elk in the Smokies 20 years after experimental release November 22, 2021 North Carolina,  WJHL

... As many as 10 million elk roamed across North America before European settlers arrived on the continent ... he last elk in North Carolina was killed in the late 18th century ...  total population estimates around 200  ...  in Great Smoky Mountains National Park [restocking]  ...

Deer are on the move in NC now October 15, 2021 North Carolina, The (Raleigh) News & Observer 

... “There should be no significant change in the deer population this year compared to last year or the year before,” [Moriah Boggess, a deer biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission] ... Even though last year’s pandemic shutdowns gave some parts of nature a chance to heal and expand, the deer population likely was not affected..,

Duke Forest’s annual deer reduction program aims to manage population, inform research September 29, 2021 North Carolina, The Chronicle

... The Duke Forest’s 14th annual deer herd reduction program ...“We work with two pre-selected and vetted hunt groups,” ...

Duke Forest’s annual deer reduction program aims to manage population, inform research September 29, 2021 North Carolina, The Chronicle

... The Duke Forest’s 14th annual deer herd reduction program ...“We work with two pre-selected and vetted hunt groups,” ...

Increased monitoring for chronic wasting disease in full swing  September 29, 2021 The Richmond Observer

...  The Wildlife Commission has been monitoring for CWD since 1999 through coordinated statewide surveillance.  Samples from over 15,000 white-tailed deer have been tested, and to date, CWD has not been detected in North Carolina’s deer herd... a deer harvested just over 30 miles from the North Carolina border tested positive ...

Chronic wasting disease ID'd as threat locally  September 23, 2021 North Carolina, Mt. Airy News

... “Our response plan triggers with a sample found within 30 miles of our border,” Godwin stated in her advisory to Rep. Stevens concerning its proximity to North Carolina. “This sample is close enough that we are preparing to increase our surveillance in the four border counties (Alleghany, Surry, Stokes and Rockingham).” ...

Mother-son duo frame deer, animals in $10,000 insurance fraud scam, NC officials say  September 20, 2021 North Carolina, Raleigh News & Observer

...  she said “her car and truck had been struck multiple times by deer and other animals,” the North Carolina Department of Insurance said Thursday in a news release...

Do Twin Fawns Remain Pals Into Adulthood?  September 13, 2021 North Carolina, WFDD

... “Yearling bucks, they will disperse and leave the area and begin establishing their own home range. And this can be up to three to five or more miles from where they were raised. But for yearling does, they will generally stay in the area where they were born, and they can often form family groups.” ...

Research Shows Red Wolves Coexist with Deer, Other Game Species June 17, 2021 North Carolina, Public News Service

... Three decades ago, a small group of captive-bred red wolves were released into the state's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. The number of wild red wolves peaked in the mid-2000s to more than 100, but has taken a steady nosedive and is now under ten..,

Haywood sees huge surge in deer hunting last year May 28, 2021 North Carolina, 

The Mountaineer

... “The pandemic resulted in more time at home and opportunity to engage in outdoor activities for lots of people. The increase in new hunters and overall hunter participation is an encouraging trend that we hope will continue in the future,” said Wildlife Commission Biologist Jon Shaw..,

Chronic Wasting Disease closes in on N.C. deer population May 22, 2021, North Carolina, The Mountaineer

...  discovered in Virginia not far from the N.C. state line ... about 33 miles from Surry and Stokes counties — is the closest its gotten to N.C..,

Deer harvest is up in North Carolina May 18, 2021 thewashingtondailynews.com

... “The pandemic resulted in more time at home and opportunity to engage in outdoor activities for lots of people.  The increase in new hunters and overall hunter participation is an encouraging trend that we hope will continue in the future” Shaw said..,

Eight red wolves released into the wild in eastern North Carolina in hopes of keeping the species from going extinct May 17, 2021 The Progressive Pulse

... Four adult red wolves were released into a wildlife refuge in eastern North Carolina, and four red wolf pups were fostered to a female in hopes of rebuilding the world’s only wild population of the endangered species...

North Carolina’s deer harvest increased in 2020-21 season April 27, 2021 WWAY TV

... hunters across the state reported harvesting 169,973 deer during the 2020-21 hunting season — a 9.1 percent increase compared to the average harvest the last three seasons... 50.8 percent were antlered bucks, 4.7 percent were button bucks and 44.5 percent were does ...  Data 

No chronic wasting disease detected in N.C. deer herd April 22, 2021 North Carolina, The Stanly News and Press

... during the 2020-21 sampling season, wildlife biologists collected 1,042 deer tissue samples across the state from hunters, meat processors, taxidermists, road-kills and sick deer..,

NC Senate bill takes aim at hunters in effort to protect deer population February 12, 2021 North Carolina, myfox8.com

... The reason for the bill begins with an extremely contagious illness called Chronic Wasting Disease... Lawmakers in the North Carolina Senate are bringing Senate Bill 66 to the floor next week, which would make it illegal for hunters to use deer excretions that have not been tested for the disease...

State wildlife commissioners considering Sunday hunting December 27, 2020 North Carolina, The Coastland Times

... will consider Sunday hunting on its game lands during the 2021-22 annual rules cycle under new authority granted in 2017 with the Outdoor Heritage Enhanced Act...

Deer pinned in log-jammed creek pulled to safety by NC firefighters in unusual rescue November 19, 2020 North Carolina, Charlotte Observer

... The Lenoir Fire Department says it got a call about the animal Wednesday morning and arrived “to find a deer trapped in a log jam and in water,” the department wrote on Facebook...

Rearing White-Tailed Deer In Pisgah Forest October 26, 2020 North Carolina, The Transylvania Times

... By the early 1900s the white-tail deer population had declined to the point of concern. George Vanderbilt undertook efforts to re-stock deer on his vast estate. Then, following the creation of the Pisgah National Forest, a game preserve was established leading to a rebound in the number of deer in this relatively safe environment..,

  Rare white deer spotted in Raleigh near Beltline October 26, 2020 North Carolina, WTVD

...  there are two genetic mutations that could cause a deer to be completely white: piebaldism and albinism. Piebald deer can vary from a few white splotches to being completely white with dark eyes. Albino deer are always white, but have red or pink eyes...

How Likely Are Deer Collisions In North Carolina? October 15, 2019 North Carolina, YAHOO!

...  Drivers in North Carolina have a one in 75 chance of colliding with an animal on the road.  Sixty-seven percent of the more than 1.96 million animal collisions from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, involved deer ...

Boat captain and passengers rescue deer from Cape Fear River October 14, 2020 North Carolina, WECT

... the buck was swimming in circles and appeared in need of help... I finally got to grab its' antlers ... 

  Police in North Carolina rescue deer stuck in mud hole May 17, 2020 WSOC-TV

... Officers said with a little creativity and a few pallets they were able to rescue the deer ... department’s Facebook page ...

Deer harvest for 2019-20 season up nearly 7% April 25, 2020 North Carolina, thewashingtondailynews.com

... Deer harvests increased in all zones except for the Northeastern Zone, which saw a 2% decline. In the Western Zone, deer harvests increased by 20.8%; 9.6% in the Northwestern Zone; 8.6% in the Central Zone; and 6.7% in the Southeastern Zone...

Deer and elk safe from chronic wasting disease for now April 25, 2020 North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... North Carolina’s deer population continues to show no signs of chronic wasting disease, based on the latest annual sampling results...

Deer Harvest for 2019-20 Season Up Nearly 7 Percent from Previous Three-Year Average April 24, 2020 North Carolina, wataugaonline.com

... hunters across the state reported harvesting 161,940 deer during the 2019-20 hunting season ... Of the deer harvested, 51.1 percent were antlered bucks, 4.5 percent were button bucks and 44.4 percent were does. Most deer were harvested with a gun (76 percent), followed by blackpowder (10.9 percent), bow (7.3 percent) and crossbow (5.8 percent) ... [results county by county] ..,

Assessment of the Effect of Urbanization on Diversity, Population Dynamics and Wildlife Interactions Using Citizen-science Camera Trapping and Ancillary Data.  AW Parsons - 2020

... Using an integrated population model, I found that suburban white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) survival and recruitment were negatively related to coyote density at low levels of development but positively related at high levels of development, consistent with deer exploiting suburban and urban areas for concentrated resources and/or as refuges from coyote predation. Overall, I found that diversity, the frequency of interspecific interactions and prey population dynamics can all be higher in suburban areas...

Chronic Wasting Disease not detected in North Carolina deer herd April 14, 2020 N.C. Wildlife Resources Commision

... As part of their annual CWD surveillance effort, biologists tested more than 2,300 deer during the 2019-20 sampling season by collecting deer tissue sample across the state ... no evidence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state’s wild white-tailed deer herd..,

U.S. Forest Services approves Twelve Mile timber project in Pisgah National Forest February 15, 2020 North Carolina, MSN

... the project will help maintain a healthy and diverse forest that supports wildlife, including elk, deer, turkey and songbirds, provides a sustainable output of timber, improves water quality and aquatic habitat, and improves access to the forest, according to Jason Herron, project lead with the Forest Service...

 Deer in a wig? Bizarre creature caught on trail camera is very real January 30, 2020 North Carolina, WBTV.com

... this buck appears to be experiencing ‘antleroma,’ a condition characterized by abnormal antler growth,” ... In the worst cases, it can also be fatal as antlers grow in reverse — into the deer’s brain ...

  NC man spots rare piebald deer in neighborhood January 4, 2020 North Carolina, We Are Iowa

... Piebald deer have blotches of white on portions of their fur that are usually dark, while albino deer lack pigmentation and are completely white...

Wildlife can safely bypass busy roadways in parts of the West. Could NC follow suit? December 11, 2019 North Carolina, Charlotte Observer

... A four-lane stretch of I-40 running through Pigeon River gorge has become something of a “death trap” for creatures looking to cross, WBIR reported. So the Southeast Regional Office of the NCPA has set its sights on building wildlife corridors across roadways in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ...

Chapel Hill resident starts petition to ban bow hunting in city limits December 10, 2019 North Carolina, CBS17.com

... Currently, it is legal for people to bow hunt for deer in the city limits ... Waldron said with the homes close together in the subdivision, she doesn’t feel safe under the current ordinance.  “If a hunter misses their target, that arrow could just keep going ...

Disease impacting Madison County deer identified August 22, 2019 North Carolina, Asheville Citizen Times on MSN.com

... At least 40 deer have been reported dead, primarily in the Little Pine and Big Pine ... epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) as the likely cause...

Land acquisition will bolster I-40 wildlife corridor project August 11, 2019 North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... The property is particularly impactful for the elk population, which requires young forest — known as early successional habitat — for foraging ...  a box culvert under I-40 ... “We have a responsibility to help elk, deer, bear and other wildlife cross the interstate and other roads ...

  Lovable baby deer gets bright pink cast after being hit by car August 12, 2019 North Carolina, Fox News

...  she was separated from her mother and hit by a car that broke her right back leg below the hip bone ... “She can’t run yet but I do believe in time we will be able to release her," ...

One of largest timber sales in Pisgah National Forest now open for public comment August 5, 2019 North Carolina, Citizen-Times

...  not just a timber sale, but aims to address change in the forest needed to meet the Forest Service’s mission of sustaining the health, diversity ...  will also include permanent wildlife fields, which means removing stumps after logging so that they don’t regenerate, and seeding the fields with vegetation grouse, turkey, elk and deer like...

Inside a WNC 'fawn barn' for orphan deer July 25, 2019 North Carolina, Asheville Citizen-Times

... Edith Allen Wildlife Sanctuary ... Wildlife rehabilitation is a round-the-clock job — and one that some at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission don’t think is worth doing...

Deer chronic wasting disease spread making biologists and lawmakers wary June 14, 2019 North Carolina, northcarolinahealthnews.org

...  has not yet been detected in North Carolina ... According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, modeling shows big declines, or even localized extinction of affected animals, over a period of 50 to 200 years following the arrival of the disease...

Outer Banks boaters stunned to see a deer swimming past them in NC's Oregon Inlet June 10, 2019 North Carolina, WBTV

“...This exhausted deer made it to land. Talk about determination or was it disorientation??? It’s not uncommon to find deer swimming, but to cross our inlet with current that can kill and has, is a feat most would opt to avoid.” ...

Fawn rescued from floodwaters in Caldwell County June 9, 2019 North Carolina, WCNC

...  As the waters were rising at the Rhodhiss Dam in Caldwell County, two men risked their lives to save a deer trapped by the flooding...

2001: Elk return to Western North Carolina June 5, 2019 North Carolina, Smoky Mountain News

... there are at least 150 elk around, and probably more ... had been absent from North Carolina since the late 1700s ... 2001, when 25 elk captured from Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky and Tennessee were released Feb. 2 ... by October 2002 the elk population had grown to nearly 60 animals ..,

Activity patterns and temporal predator avoidance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the fawning season SD Higdon, CA Diggins, MJ Cherry, WM Ford - Journal of Ethology, 2019, North Carolina and Tennessee

...  We analyzed activity patterns of bucks, does, and nursery groups (i.e., groups that included fawns) relative to those of coyotes to determine the coefficient of overlap ... Because adult deer are rarely prey for coyotes, whereas fawns are common prey during summer, the shift in activity patterns of nursery groups demonstrates a behavioral shift likely aimed at avoiding coyote predation on fawns...

Deer Harvest for 2018-19 Season Down 9 Percent from Previous Three Year Average May 10, 2019 North Carolina, Caldwell Journal

... ... deer hunt data ... The Commission implemented rule changes in 2018-2019 to intentionally reduce harvest with the goal of stabilizing deer numbers and improving the sex ratio and age-structure of the herd.  Additionally, in the Western Zone, the timing of doe harvest was shifted toward the opening of the season, which has numerous biological benefits for the herd...,

Elk-in store for big surprise one day May 1, 2019 North Carolina, Elkin Jonesville Tribune

...  They had been extinct here since the 1790s.  Then in 2001 the National Park Service and partners brought in 25 elk and set them down in Great Smoky Mountains National Park..  has pushed past 200 now ..,

No traces of Chronic Wasting Disease found among NC deer, elk herds sampled April 14, 2019 North Carolina, SCNow

... 1999, the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission began testing for Chronic Wasting Disease ... has tested over 10,000 deer ... For the 2018-19 hunting season, North Carolina tested more than 3,000 white-tailed deer ... 

More controlled burns will save lives, property April 11, 2019  North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... The burn, funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, aimed to enrich the soil and allow for more young plants to sprout up, which provides the growing herds with more nutrient-rich food... numerous news outlets reported on how a decrease in prescribed burns made the fires far more catastrophic...

No Signs Of Deadly Deer Disease In North Carolina April 8, 2019 North Carolina, WUNC

... The agency does annual tests for what's called chronic wasting disease... did not find the protein in tests of more than 3,000 deer carcasses ...

The recent spread of coyotes across North America did not doom deer populations March 20, 2019 North Carolina, Phys.org

... A new study of deer numbers across the eastern United States has found that the arrival and establishment of coyote predators has not caused the number of deer harvested by hunters to decline... Previous studies of how coyotes might be affecting deer populations have produced inconsistent results...

Effects of Hunting Activities on Deer Vehicle Collisions February 2019, Yunhe Ma, North Carolina

... an econometric analysis of the relationship between hunting activities and deer-related vehicle crashes during hunting season from year 2009 to 2016. Increases in the deer harvest increases the frequency of DVCs during hunting season. The buck population has a bigger impact on DVCs than the doe population. Harvesting deer on private lands has a smaller effect on DVC than harvesting on public hunting lands...

Bald Head council approves deer management plan December 28, 2018 North Carolina, State Port Pilot

... Technicians using anesthetic darts and an immunocontraceptive have been treating does on the island for five years, with the goal to maintain the herd at about 200 individuals... require successive doses of the contraceptive for two years ... recent surveys suggest the number of fawns is lower than might be expected...

North Carolina wildlife officials warn of deer disease December 25, 2018 WRAL.com

... "The cervid importation ban is to try to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease and hopefully prevent, or at least delay, its arrival in North Carolina," ... Unfortunately, it's inevitable that it will get here ...

Gun season for deer underway November 19, 2018 North Carolina, Wilkes Journal-Patriot

... the deer harvest was down about 20 percent in District 7 during this year’s bow and blackpowder deer seasons, mostly due to excessive rain keeping hunters out of the woods... this year’s poor acorn crop should also contribute to hunter success ...

The WNC Deer Population is Up ... November 20, 2018 North Carolina, WHKP 

... Our deer population has been increasing in recent years ... the deer population on national forest land is not growing as rapidly as on private land  because of the lack of management in the national forests. Deer like to have open areas, he tells WHKP News, and in recent years the U.S. Forest Service has not done much timber cutting ..,

North Carolina voters add right to hunt, fish to state constitution November 9, 2018 Guns.com

... The constitutional amendment was approved by more than 57 percent of voters on Tuesday ... adds language protecting the right to hunt and fish to the North Carolina Constitution while establishing public harvest by sportsmen using “traditional methods” as the preferred method of wildlife management...

The WNC Deer Population Is Up and Hunting Season (with guns) Starts on November 19  November 5, 2018 North Carolina, WHKP

...  the deer population on national forest land is now growing rapidly because of the lack of management in the national forests. Deer like to have open areas ... and in recent years the U.S. Forest Service has not done much timber cutting. So there is simply not as much open space ..,

2018 North Carolina Deer Forecast October 31, 2018 Game & Fish 

... Despite an 8 percent harvest increase during the 2017-18 season and a herd estimated at one million, biologists were looking to the future when they proposed tightening regulations ... Deer populations are still rebounding from severe outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease in 2012 and 2014..,

2018–2019 Rules for Importation of Deer Carcasses and Carcass Parts October, 2018 North Carolina, NCWildlife.org

...Importation of whole carcasses from any member of the family Cervidae (e.g., deer, elk, moose, or reindeer/caribou) from any state, Canadian province, or foreign country outside of North Carolina is prohibited. Anyone transporting cervid carcass parts lnto North Carolina must follow processing and packaging regulations ...

Pender County, Deer numbers slim after Hurricane Florence October 18, 2018 North Carolina, StarNewsOnline.com

... “People have been talking about seeing lots of drowned deer in the Northeast Cape Fear River,” ... “I have been here 20 years. It’s the slowest I’ve seen it on opening day.” ... “I saw a tiny button buck that looked like he was starving,” ..,

Animal Collisions Dramatically Increase as Temperatures Cool Down October 15, 2018 North Carolina, Southern Pines Pilot

... The reported number of animal-vehicle collisions in North Carolina in 2017 was 18,540 [mostly deer], which was 629 more than the year before...

Is chronic wasting disease the end of deer hunting? October 11, 2018 North Carolina, StarNewsOnline.com

...  deer biologist Jon Shaw ... said Wyoming modeled its deer herd to zero in places because of CWD. The prion infests soil and may be ingested by deer eating plants. It spreads through contact and feces, perhaps urine and other fluids. The prion does not live or die ...

Wild suburbia October 2, 2018 North Carolina, EurekAlert! 

... a large-scale study using camera trap images ... "We found there wasn't a significant difference in mammal populations between the suburban areas and the wild areas in terms of how many species used them and the intensity with which they used those areas, which was very surprising to us," Parsons says [Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University] ...  deer, raccoons, gray squirrels, opossums ...

Wildlife Commission Asks Deer Hunters to Participate in Jawbone Submission Program September 20, 2018 North Carolina, Caldwell Journal

... Jawbones should be submitted from does and bucks of all ages, not just large deer. Biologists use the information from this program to estimate the age structure of the harvest...

Wildlife Commission requests deer hunters help to report wildlife observations September 7, 2018 North Carolina, MountainXpress

... For the first time this season, participants can now enter their observations online in the field from any smart phone or small-screen device by using the survey link ...

How many coyotes are in NC? September 6, 2018 North Carolina, News & Observer

... Until 1988, they didn’t exist in the state ... Between 2016 and 2017, that total reached an estimated 51,905 animals — a 29 percent increase over 2010-11, when the state began keeping track, according to the state’s 2018 Coyote Management Plan...

A genetic condition wasn't the only unusual thing about this deer spotted in NC September 5, 2018 North Carolina, MSN.com

... irregular brown and white markings ... a red collar around its neck ... Putting a collar on a deer is technically legal in North Carolina, but doing so and treating them as pets is "strongly discouraged" ...

Elk get more room for growing population with new Maggie Valley state game land August 22, 2018 North Carolina, Asheville Citizen-Times

... Experimental elk herds were introduced to the Cataloochee area of the Smokies in 2001 and 2002 after an absence of elk of some 200 years due to over-hunting and habitat loss.  The herd has steadily grown to an estimated at 150 animals ..,

  Beaufort family didn’t have much luck with the fish. Then a deer ended up in the boat July 27, 2018 North Carolina, The Island Packet 

  ...  fawn following its mother into the water ... the little one started swimming over to the boat ... the Miles family took the fawn over to the bank, and watched as mother and baby headed back into the forest...

Deer tests positive for rabies in Buncombe Co. July 6, 2018 North Carolina, WSPA

... Buncombe County Health and Human Service officials said a deer found off of Newfound Road in Leicester has been confirmed to have rabies...

North Carolina voters face constitutional right to hunt and fish ballot question June 26, 2018 Guns.com

... passed the legislature as SB 677 by a wide margin on Monday, would open up the bedrock document and install the amendment protecting the right to hunt and fish while establishing public harvest by sportsmen as the preferred method of wildlife management...

'Tis the season doe hide their fawns near people June 5, 2018 North Carolina, Stanly News & Press

... It’s not uncommon for deer to place their fawns at locations safe from predators ...  does and fawns do not bond like most animals. Instead, they bond over time through nursing and grooming sessions, Saintsing said.  “So a fawn may run off with another doe or a doe may steal another fawn,” ...

Wildlife crossings provide safe passage for Brunswick's critters May 11, 2018 North Carolina, StarNewsOnline.com

... “As habitat decreases and becomes more fragmented, maintaining wildlife corridors and wildlife crossings will help to maintain healthy wildlife populations while reducing animal-vehicle collisions,” ...

A Raleigh family kept a deer as a pet and named it Bambi May 10, 2018 North Carolina, The News & Observe

... injured white-tailed deer entered a Raleigh family's property, they reportedly bandaged its leg  ... at that point the deer was not in captivity, but had been in captivity ... "It answered to the name of Bambi," ... wildlife authorities ... decided to euthanize it...

Paula Gillikin Keeps Watch Over Wild Horses April 30, 2018 North Carolina, Coastal Review Online

... The [horse] herd population, currently around 30, has had some ups and downs in the decades since but is stable now because of Gillikin and a birth-control method called immunocontraception... While working on a white-tailed deer immunocontraception project in South Carolina with her adviser, Dr. Allen Rutberg from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University near Boston, where Gillikin earned her master’s in animals and public policy ...

North Carolina Cotton: Evaluating, Managing Deer-Damaged Fields April 12, 2018 

AgFax

... The number of deer feeding complaints in cotton has risen sharply in the last five years; however, these cases are relatively isolated to fields that regularly encounter noticeably high numbers of deer and fields in close proximity to preferred bedding habitat...

Deer Harvest Results for 2017 – 2018 April 11, 2018 North Carolina, The Tribune Papers

... The total number of deer reported taken on the Pisgah National Forest was 496. That number on the Nantahala was 554. That’s 1050 deer, or one deer per one thousand acres. It should be a red flag to both the National Forest and WRC leadership that habitat on those Forests are not meeting the needs of wildlife. With a 60% rise of harvest District wide, and low harvest on public lands, this indicates deer are moving off poor habitat National Forests onto private lands...

  Randolph County woman is the ‘Deer Whisperer’ April 11, 2018 North Carolina, WGHP

... Affectionately called "Baby Girl" the favorite deer has been visiting Allen's home ever since it was an orphan fawn...

Urban deer hunting worries local homeowners March 19, 2018 North Carolina, WCNC

...  Besides the deer stand, blinders and spotlight, he 's also found two arrows while walking his dog... actively investigating several illegal hunting incidents ...

Deer harvest for 2017-18 season sees eight percent increase March 16, 2018 North Carolina, Mountain Xpress (blog)

... increasing trends in deer harvest in western North Carolina, likely due to an emerging deer herd and improved deer habitat on private lands,” said Jon Shaw, the Commission’s deer biologist.  “In some areas we have relatively stable harvest trends, while in large portions of Eastern North Carolina, we are observing declining trends in harvest and deer numbers.” ..,

Antlered deer harvest in Western North Carolina hits record high March 15, 2018 Asheville Citizen-Times

...  hunters reported a total 161,854 white-tailed deer (antlered, button bucks and does) killed, or harvested, across the state during the 2017-2018 hunting season, an increase of 8 percent from the 2016-2017 season... overall emerging herd we have in WNC ..,

Wildlife Commission backs off changes to deer and bear hunting seasons March 11, 2018 North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... Deer in the mountains breed later in the fall than elsewhere, a biological adaptation to the colder climate. Later breeding in turn means calves are born later in spring, after foliage has leafed out ... The proposal called for delaying the opening day of deer gun season ... to give more deer a chance to breed before hunters took to the woods...

The problem with coyotes: Killing them is 'ineffective,' NC says March 5, 2018 North Carolina, Charlotte Observer

... A key conclusion of the plan approved last Wednesday: trying to reduce coyotes’ numbers, such as by shooting them, has “proven ineffective.” Hunters and trappers killed about 52,000 coyotes in the 2016-17 seasons ...

Wildlife Commission Adopts Modified Rules for 2018-2019 Seasons March 1, 2018 North Carolina, ncwildlife.org

... Implement a statewide bag limit of two antlered and four anterless deer.  Bonus Anterless Deer Harvest Report Card are restricted to the Urban Archery Season only.  Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) participants would retain harvest flexibility... Shift either-sex days to the beginning of the Introductory, Conservative, and Moderate Gun Either-Sex Seasons...

Proposed changes to deer, bear hunting seasons aim to better manage populations February 19, 2018 North Carolina, WLOS

... Rifle season for deer would start after Thanksgiving week, but double the current three weeks into early January ... “Now, they're opening up gun season, taking does … and what you're going to see is everything that we've worked for, trying to limit our harvest and get the deer population up, is about to be taken away,” hunter Austin Neary said...

     Hunters make their voices heard February 19, 2018 North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... "I went from seeing a small deer herd to a good deer herd, and I oppose the lengthened season. I don't think our deer herd can stand it,"  [Brent Hyatt, a retired wildlife officer] said. "It's took a good time to get what we got, and why would you want to kill that off?" ... most stood against the change in regulations ...

Can red wolves be saved again? February 5, 2018 North Carolina, Washington Post

... For nearly a century, red wolves were gunned down by order of state predator control programs and scattered as humans seized their habitat.  By the late 1970s, the population was so depleted that coyotes — which the bigger wolves naturally chased away or killed — began to settle in the same range... how in the world can 25 animals running around affect the deer population?..,

Officially extinct: North Carolina cougars are long gone January 31, 2018 Greensboro News & Record 

... N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission ... says: “Early records of North Carolina mammals indicate that the Eastern cougar’s populations declined throughout the 18th century as a result of persecution, hunting, loss of habitat and the parallel decline of its major prey species, the white-tailed deer. It is thought that by 1900, the Eastern cougar was extirpated throughout North Carolina.” ..,

Wilson area bald eagle dies from lead toxicity January 22, 2018 North Carolina, WNCN

... neurological signs that indicated lead toxicity and the level was so high the center could not get an exact reading... likely came from eating deer carcasses that had lead left from a hunter’s gunshot ...

Big shuffle underway in deer and bear hunting seasons January 12, 2018 North Carolina, The Mountaineer

... deer gun season won’t open until the week after Thanksgiving under a proposal by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission... “The biological reason for this is to shift the majority of the buck harvest until after peak breeding season, so all the does get bred,” ... “It coincides so that fawns are born after the green up in the spring,” ...

Commissioners unite against proposed deer hunting changes January 9, 2018 North Carolina, Roanoke Chowan News Herald

...  “It changes the hunting area. It puts us, the Northeastern counties, in one section. They propose to shorten deer season by two weeks, which would be nine days shorter. Hunters are upset about that...

'Dramatic' Changes Coming to NC Deer, Bear Hunting Rules January 8, 2018 North Carolina, WFMY News 2

... The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing changes to long-held hunting seasons for white-tailed deer and bear hunting in the mountains that could allow longer periods for hunting with guns in the woods and allow bear and deer hunting seasons in the mountains to overlap...

Grandfather Mountain welcomes new elk Doc, Earl and Watson December 12, 2017 North Carolina, WCYB

...The trio is about four months old ... The original plan was to have them transition from a smaller shifting paddock to the main habitat ... “They’re actually already in the main habitat,” ...

'Like a Sasquatch!' Extremely rare black fawn emerges from shadows, joined by albino December 8, 2017 North Carolina, News & Observer

... solid black white-tailed deer fawn standing off the side of U.S. 64 Business... first noticed the young fawn standing with an older white-tailed doe and an albino fawn as they were driving by ...

Wildlife Commission Proposes Changes in Deer Regulations for 2018-2019 December 1, 2017 North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

... the deer herd can be improved by reducing young buck harvest, shifting the timing of harvest later in the year and adjusting doe harvest rates. Of the 33,750 hunters responding to the 2016 Deer Hunting and Management Survey, 81 percent of respondents were willing to accept changes in deer hunting seasons to improve buck age structure ...

Grandfather Mountain Welcomes Elk With New Names November 30, 2017 North Carolina, WFMY News 2

...Three male elk will be living in the non-profit’s newest habitat ... It’s been hundreds of years, but the animals used to rule the lands as shown in the names of some of the High Country towns and landmarks, like Banner Elk, Elk Park and Elk River Falls...

Carolinas Expecting Record Number of Deer Collisions This Thanksgiving

Charlotte Stories

... [North Carolina] a total of 17,901 crashes reported from colliding with a deer in 2016 – crashes in October and December accounted for 47.5% of the total ...

Gun season for deer opens in Western North Carolina November 20, 2017 Asheville Citizen-Times

... Jon Shaw, state deer biologist with the wildlife commission said there are ... about 1 million deer, most in the eastern part of the state. But the mountains are a growing deer haven.  "Overall in WNC the deer herd is healthy and we’re seeing an increasing deer population, and we expect it to continue to increase," ..,

Elk are coming to Grandfather Mountain, naming contest begins November 17, 2017 North Carolina, Stanly News & Press

...  Elk population once thrived in the High Country ... Their numbers were decimated by over-hunting and loss of habitat in the 18th and 19th centuries, and they were eventually eradicated entirely from the region... in 2001, the National Park Service began reintroducing elk into Great Smoky Mountains National Park ..,

Cooler Temperatures Mean More Deer Vehicle Collisions in NC October 16, 2017 North Carolina, Sandhills Sentinel

... The number of animal-vehicle collisions in North Carolina in 2016 was 17,901, just 136 fewer than the year before ...

Commission seeks deer hunter observation survey participants September 27, 2017 North Carolina, News & Observer

... deer hunters across the state have been recording all of the mammals they saw ... A doe harvest of 30 percent of the population, which was a traditional guideline, may no longer be sustainable.” ... while the survey is not truly scientific ... it yielded a statewide ratio of 0.6 fawns per doe – on par with other southeastern states...

2017 North Carolina Deer Forecast September 21, 2017 Game & Fish

... “We have roughly 1 million deer,” said Jon Shaw, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Deer Biologist... Hemorrhagic disease contributed to declines ...  “We are seeing bigger outbreaks occurring more frequently than they used to,” ... In areas where deer are declining, the major factors are harvest, predators, disease and habitat..,

Hemorrhagic disease,  What is killing deer in Western North Carolina ... September 19, 2017 North Carolina, Asheville Homepages Citizen Times Social Media

...  there have been 64 cases of hemorrhagic disease confirmed in Western North Carolina ... Deer that recover from an episode of hemorrhagic disease develop immunity to future outbreaks ...

Hunters to cull Duke Forest deer September 15, 2017 North Carolina, Durham Herald Sun

... the 10th year Duke has allowed hunting in the forest as part of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Deer Management Assistance Program, according to a news release...

Hemorrhagic disease reported in Southern Appalachian deer September 14, 2017 North Carolina, Mountain Xpress

... Hemorrhagic disease ...  tends to occur in North Carolina every year, although with varying degrees of severity ... last major outbreak of HD in the state was in 2014 in the Piedmont ... Other notable outbreaks occurred in 1939, 1955, 1961, 1971, 1976, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2012..,

Rabid deer confirmed in Cherokee County September 11, 2017 North Carolina, Asheville Citizen-Times

... It’s possible that it might have been eating a pile of corn and was bitten by a rabid raccoon... Of the two deer tested for rabies, only one with alopecia (loss of hair on its head), tested positive for rabies...

North Carolina hunters must now use real-time harvest reports September 5, 2017 North Carolina Sportsman

... The Commission no longer offers big game harvest reporting through Wildlife Cooperator Agents using paper record sheets... will also enable users to track the status of the harvest ...

Top North Carolina public game lands for deer September 3, 2017, North Carolina Sportsman

... N.C. hunters killed 4975 deer on public lands last season... North Carolina has over two million acres of public game land available ...

Do coal-black, white-tailed deer exist in WNC?   August 23, 2017 North Carolina, Asheville Homepages Citizen Times Social Media

...  I was running in a local park ... a big buck, and he was indeed solid black  ... the park ranger said there were actually two black deer in the park, a younger female, and the buck I had seen...

Wildlife Commission Adopts Resolution to Request Membership in Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact July 31, 2017 North Carolina, NCWRC News

... The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission adopted a resolution on July 27, 2017 to formally request membership in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (Compact), a voluntary reciprocal agreement among 47 states sharing sportsman hunting, fishing and trapping violations...

New game feeder feeds only your desired species July 16, 2017 North Carolina, North Carolina Sportsman

...  The Species Specific feeder allows you to set it up to feed whatever animals you desire ... If you only want it to open for only deer, it will open for only deer, then close within seconds of the deer disappearing from the feeder’s view...

Forest management planning process moves forward July 5, 2017 North Carolina, Smoky Mountain News

... Whitmire has been an advocate of increased logging in the national forest so as to create more of the young forest habitats that game animals such as grouse and deer need to thrive, and he likes that the new management area scheme provides the possibility of timber harvest across much of the forest...

Wildlife rehabilitator taking care of 'smallest deer ever' June 28, 2017 North Carolina, WBTV

... Most newborn deer are in the six-pound range. This female fawn was less than three. Whisenant says in the week that she had had it, the fawn's prognosis has improved markedly. It was thin and full of maggots when she got it, but now the tiny deer is eating and thriving...

  Trooper's family takes in orphaned baby deer after crash June 22, 2017 North Carolina,  FOX Carolina

... a woman who struck a deer ... had given birth as she died, due to the impact...  no way he would have had any chance of survival ...  "He's like a part of the family now," ... Buckshot will have to leave them because of State Wildlife Laws...

  Davidson County high school student rescues drowning deer June 21, 2017 North Carolina, myfox8.com

... baby deer ... he was drowning ... After Pressley dried the deer off, he thought it would run into the woods. Instead the fawn remained in his lap... next day the family turned the fawn over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator ...

A Bill to Regulate the Practice of Hunting Deer with Dogs Stall ... June 7, 2017 North Carolina, The Independent Weekly

... More than eighteen thousand deer were taken across the state in the 2016–17 season by hunters using hounds... HB 648 would give the Wildlife Resource Commission the authority to regulate the hunting of deer with dogs...

Gun season for deer may be extended May 23, 2017 North Carolina, Wilkes Journal Patriot

... hunters indicated a preference for a longer gun season in the survey and biologist don’t think this would have a significant impact on the deer population... a season bag limit of four antlerless deer rather than the current six ... Shaw said ... reducing the doe harvest is by far the best management practice to increase deer numbers ...

North Carolina hunters asked to give input on deer management May 15, 2017 

northcarolinasportsman.com

... these forums [May 16 to June 1] are not public hearings, and the potential management options presented are not proposed regulation changes...

Chaotic front yard coyote attack leaves family’s dog - and a deer - dead on lawn May 10, 2017 North Carolina, Charlotte Observer

... The same pack of coyotes that killed a deer Monday morning in an Iredell County man’s front yard turned its attention next to his two dogs, killing one of them in less than a minute ...

NC deer harvest is off 7.8 percent May 2, 2017 North Carolina, North Carolina Sportsman

... last year’s reported harvest ... 11.2 percent below the 10-year average ... statistics showed that the harvest declined across all nine of the state’s wildlife districts ... 

N.C. Wildlife Commission hosts public forum series on white-tailed deer management April 29, 2017 North Carolina, Mountain Xpress

... The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct nine interactive public forums across the state to solicit input regarding white-tailed deer management, including potential changes to seasons and bag limits. [starting May 16]

North Carolina deer harvest dips this season April 25, 2017 WRAL.com

... State hunters reported 149,811 deer killed during the 2016-2017 hunting season, down 7.8 percent from the 2015-2016 season... The statewide deer estimate is around 1 million ..,  deer kill by county

     NC deer harvest up overall despite season's decrease April 24, 2017 North Carolina, Asheville Citizen-Times

... The statewide deer herd estimate is about 1 million, Shaw said, with rough estimates that it has been as high at 1.4 million over the past 30 years.  Since 2010, when a survey of deer hunters began annually, the number of deer hunters has stayed about the same, with 250,000 active deer hunters..,

Changes to reduce doe harvest possible April 25, 2017 North Carolina, Wilkes Journal Patriot

...  the commission’s deer biologist, said, “We’ve killed a lot of does and that was by design, but there may be places where the decline has gone farther than hunters wanted to see. The most effective thing is to pull back on the doe harvest in some places and that’s where we’re at now.” ...

   N.C. officer helps deer with leg stuck in fence April 24, 2017 North Carolina, KHOU

... Heavy rain and mud caused this deer to get her foot stuck in a fence. Officer Cruise was able to cut some limbs to free her!..

  'Yuki' The Albino Deer A Hit In Greensboro Neighborhood April 21, 2017 North Carolina, WFMY News 2

... "Everybody knows about her," Francis said. "We want to protect her because she's rare." ...

NC hunters seek changes to bill that could impact using dogs April 20, 2017 North Carolina, WAVY-TV

... “A person could potentially be charged with criminal trespass if their dog got in a place where it was not wanted,” ...

Legislature considers expanding Sunday hunting to include public lands, waterfowl April 10, 2016 North Carolina, North Carolina Sportsman

... H559 ... would allow Sunday hunting with firearms for any game species ... H614 ... declares that management of ... game animals — would be shared by the General Assembly ...

NCWRC sets hunting, fishing regulations for 2017-18 February 20, 2017 North Carolina, North Carolina Sportsman

... Hunters will begin reporting their big game harvest either by phone or Internet, starting with deer season this fall. This change completes the conversion of big game harvest reporting from paper to an electronic registration system ...

Plane collides with deer in Charlotte February 15, 2017 North Carolina, CBS News

... PSA Airlines flight 5320, a subsidiary of American Airlines, attempted to take off from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the collision with the deer happened ...

NC Wildlife Commission hears input on proposed changes January 17, 2017 North Carolina, WLOS

... One proposal would extend the archery season for hunting deer from mid-December until Jan. 1 ...

Become a citizen scientist with Candid Critter Program December 29, 2016 North Carolina, WECT-TV6

... "You don't need to be a scientist to run a camera," Kay explained. "We can now work with citizens to have them run the camera traps, and they get the fun of seeing these pictures and learning about animals."  And best of all it's free and easy.  Just check out the kit from your local library, after taking a quick online course...

Wildlife Commission to conduct nine public hearings December 26, 2016 North Carolina, Montgomery Herald

 ... eliminate the use of paper Big Game Harvest Record sheets (H7). Hunters would report their big game harvest either by phone or Internet.  If passed, this proposal would complete the conversion of big game harvest reporting from paper to an electronic registration system, which began with turkey harvest reporting in 2003... The comment period ... February 1, 2017...

Charlotte, Deer stands in south Charlotte? November 9, 2016 North Carolina, WCNC.com

... Families are on high alert after reports of deer stands in a south Charlotte greenway ... it's against the law to hunt deer within city limits...

Elk Depredation Rules Announced October 26, 2016 North Caroliina, Thetribunepapers

... North Carolina statute allows landholders to take wildlife at any time with firearms without a permit or license while it is in the act of destroying their property.  The adopted amendment will require a landowner who takes a depredating elk without a Commission-issued depredation permit to report that take to the Commission within 24 hours of the kill...

NC 'citizen scientists' sought for wildlife camera survey October 25, 2016 North Carolina, News & Observer

... North Carolinians will soon be able to check out motion-activated cameras from their local libraries to discover what wildlife lives around them... aims to place camera traps at 20,000 to 30,000 sites ...  scientists are particularly interested in studying the distribution patterns of deer across the state, particularly in relation to the number of coyotes...

NC researchers ask for help in camera trap survey October 18, 2016 North Carolina, BlueRidgeNow.com

... recruiting schools and residents to participate in "North Carolina's Candid Critters," the largest camera trap survey ever, with a goal of 20,000 to 30,000 active sites ... Participants may borrow a camera trap ... help scientists learn more about deer reproduction ...

Some Davidson County residents concerned about illegal deer hunting at night October 14, 2016 North Carolina, FOX 8

... They are planting deer decoys in open fields at night in areas where residents have reported night hunting...

North Carolina Deer Forecast for 2016 October 11, 2016 Game & Fish

... hunters reported harvesting 162,558 deer during the 2015-16 hunting season. That is 5.8 percent higher than the lackluster harvest of 153,629 during the 2014-15 hunting season, but 3.9 percent below the 10-year average ... declines on the coast could be attributable to antlerless deer harvest, changes in habitat quality and predation...

Wildlife a Problem at Burlington Alamance Regional Airport October 5, 2016 North Carolina, TWC News

... The aircraft tried to fly to get above the deer. It did hit the deer which caused a fuel leak in the airplane. The airplane immediately landed with no incident ... A $2 million, two-year project is underway to put up a fence around the airport...

Conservationists Butt Heads With U.S. Government Over Red Wolf Repopulation Program October 6, 2016 North Carolina, Smithsonian

... while government officials set aside ranges for the wolves in the middle of North Carolina, wild animals don’t often abide by lines drawn on a map. The wolves soon began crossing onto nearby private property, harrasing livestock and scaring away deer, which angered landowners and hunters alike ...

Study sniffs out effects of dogs, humans on wildlife October 4, 2016 North Carolina, Phys

... "The bottom line of our work is that we have a ton of dogs using our parks, but most stay on-trail and don't harass wildlife much," says co-author Roland Kays, wildlife biologist with North Carolina State University ... Using camera traps, the project documented over 23,000 cases of dogs using natural areas, but 99 percent of dogs stuck to the trail and 97 percent were with their owners...

Portions of Duke Forest close for deer hunting October 1, 2016 North Carolina, News & Observer

... Duke University has been participating in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Deer Management Assistance Program for nine years ... They eat seedlings and saplings ... it will take a while to understand the larger impact on the deer population and future growth of the forest...

Disturbing trend of illegal deer carcass dumping in Davidson County September 21, 2016  North Carolina, myfox8.com

..."The hind quarters and the antlers were cut off," James said. "It is an eyesore."  James says the eyesore not only looks and smells bad but has attracted other insects and animals...  Six deer carcasses were dumped near Highway 49 and Highway 8... 

Video Below:  Elk once roamed the southern Appalachian mountains and elsewhere in the eastern United States. They were eliminated from the region by over-hunting and loss of habitat. The last elk in North Carolina was believed to have been killed in the late 1700s. In Tennessee, the last elk was killed in the mid-1800s. By 1900, the population of elk in North America dropped to the point that hunting groups and other conservation organizations became concerned the species was headed for extinction. - September 17, 2016

Deer Harvest Report Shows 5.8% Increase Over Previous Season August 31, 2016 North Carolina, NCWildlife.org

 ...coastal region harvest decreased from the previous season in all districts ... The piedmont region harvest increased in all districts ... where high levels of hemorrhagic disease activity contributed to depressed harvest during the 2014-2015 season.  The mountain region saw an increase in harvest ...

Public Hearing on Sept. 8 Will Address Proposed Elk Depredation Rule Changes August 31, 2016 North Carolina, Commission News    

     The Wildlife Commission is holding a public hearing on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m., to take comments on proposed changes to elk management regulations. The hearing will be held in the auditorium of Haywood Community College, located at 185 Freedlander Drive in Clyde. If passed, the proposed changes will require landowners who do not have a depredation permit issued by the Wildlife Commission and who kill a depredating elk to report that kill to the Commission within 24 hours of the kill. Additionally a landowner who has an elk-depredation permit and takes a depredating elk must report it on the form provided with the permit. More ...

Clemmons, Latest growing pain merits study, but it's no biggie August 17, 2016 North Carolina, Winston-Salem Journal

... council has asked staff to contact wildlife experts to gauge the deer population in the village. That’s reasonable. There’s no big problem now... “Some people have deer basically living in their backyard, and some don’t ever see a deer. I’m not sure how we determine the magnitude of the problem.” ...

Coyotes and deer fawn depredation August 15, 2016 North Carolina, North Carolina Sportsman

... habitat improvement would help. With good habitat and thick cover, more fawns would survive. Also, if we improve the (buck/doe) balance in the breeding season, does would drop fawns at the same time. Predators can take only so many (fawns) at a time. We’d flood the market, so to speak ...

Clemmons Council wants closer look at deer population August 10, 2016 North Carolina, Winston-Salem Journal

... don’t know if there is a deer problem in the village, but they want to find out.  At their meeting Monday, they asked the staff to contact wildlife experts to gauge the deer situation in Clemmons....

    Clemmons Residents Concerned About Deer Presence August 10, 2016 North Carolina, WFMYNews2.com

... "My hosta plant really was the beautiful centerpiece of the yard. I was just mad," ... he had to install a gate to keep ... deer coming into his yard...

Managing wildlife crucial in hunt areas August 4, 2016 North Carolina, The Wilson Times

... we once believed in order to manage a deer population properly, that does should not be harvested. The resulting circumstances left the state with an overabundance of does, few quality bucks, and a huge population increase. Why? Because, one buck can mate with many females...

Farm bill benefits agriculture, governor July 30, 2016 North Carolina, The News & Observer

... Sets up a voluntary assessment on deer farmers that the state would collect and remit quarterly to the N.C. Deer and Elk Farmers Association. The money would be used to promote the fledgling industry, in which deer are raised for their antlers and meat...

Statewide deer hunting survey underway July 12, 2016 North Carolina, Public Radio East

... The current study expounds on another conducted in 2006 with 10,000 hunters.  Officials hope to reach over 220,000 this time ...  distribution of white tailed deer was highest in Craven County, with 30 to 44 deer per square mile... year-and-a-half old bucks account for more than 30 percent of the antlered-buck harvest... would like to see that number less than 20 percent...

Deer-food tax on hunters ousted at N. C. legislature July 2, 2016 North Carolina, northcarolinasportsman.com

... an amendment to the 2016 Farm Bill, SB 770, that would have levied an excise tax on any supplemental deer foods and minerals purchased not only by owners of deer farms but by deer hunters, with proceeds going to the N.C. Deer and Elk Farmers Association ...

North Carolina data:   An estimated 1,165,000 deer in early 2015, about a million estimated in early 2016, 2017, and 2018.  The population remained steady in 2020 to 2021 at about 1 million.  The increased deer kill  for 2020-21 was in part s a result of the pandemic with more hunters in the field.  Hunting data indicates in increase into 2017-18, a decline in 2018, and recovery for 2019.  Changes in hunting rules contributed to the 2018 decline.  Hurricane Florence reduced deer populations in some areas in 2018.  The population trend has been lower populations in the east, higher in the west, stable in other areas.  

The 2016 hunt, down 7.8 percent from the previous year and 11.2 percent below the 10-year average, indicates a population decline.  Declines were reported across the state.  Lower populations in the east.  Deer population estimated at 1.2 to 1.35 million in 2013 through 2011 (estimate from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission).  An EHD outbreak in 2014 reduced deer populations in some areas by as much as 30 percent to about one million.  The 2014 deer hunt fell by 18.3 percent while the buck-to-doe ratio increased from 46.0 percent to 47.8 percent.  

Contributing to the hunt decline was a near record acorns crop so deer did not need to wander far to find food.  Another significant outbreak of EHD in 2012, but populations bounced back into 2013 resulting in a record harvest of 188,130 .  The EHD outbreak was worst in the southeast and midwest of the state.  Some areas lost up to 70 percent of the deer. With the 2015 deer density at less than 15 per square mile from Buncombe County west,  deer would benefit from more wildlife habitat in the Pisgah and Nantahala forests.  The previous record deer harvest was in 2008-09 at 176,297. Does were 42.7 percent of the 2012 harvest.   The number of deer hunters was steady since 2010 at about 250,000 active hunters.

A population estimate of 1,100,000 in 2009 and 650,000 in 1990.

Chronic Wasting Disease.  The state announced in March, 2022, the first deer with CWD discovered, killed in northern Yadkin County during the hung in December 2021. A second case in August, a third in October.  As of the 2020-21 season, no chronic disease had been detected in the state.  A case in Virginia, 33 miles from the state line, discovered in 2021.  More positives in 2023 with new detections in  Cumberland, Wilkes, and Johnston counties.

Hemorrhagic Disease reported in 39 counties in 2022.