The Selkirk White-tailed Deer Management Zone (WDMZ) is home to the largest population of white-tailed deer in the state and consists of seven Game Management Units (GMU; GMUs 105, 108, 111, 113, 117, 121, and 124) located in northeast Washington. Aside from the southern portion of GMU 124, dominated by the metropolitan area of Spokane, Washington, most of these GMUs have similar rural characteristics. Private landowners manage most of the Selkirk WDMZ (77 percent), primarily for commercial timber harvest. The U.S. Forest Service manages 16 percent of the land, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Natural Resources, and Bureau of Land Management manage the remaining 7 percent. White-tailed deer used in this analysis were captured on their winter range in GMUs 117 and 121, where the habitat consists of conifer forest (65 percent of the total land cover within the area) and shrub land. Grassland, pasture, and cultivated crops make up the next highest land cover types (altogether comprising nearly 21 percent of the Selkirk WDMZ). Agriculture in the valley supports high densities of deer adjacent to U.S. Highway 395, which bisects the Selkirk WDMZ from north to south. This white-tailed deer population experiences some of the highest rates of deer-vehicle collisions in the state (Myers and others 2008; G. Kalisz, Washington Department of Transportation, written commun.). Currently, there are no crossing mitigations in place along U.S. Highway 395 and State Route 20 to curtail collisions with wildlife. Other wildlife-human management challenges for this herd include mitigating crop damage complaints, maximizing hunting opportunity, and encroaching human development on the deer’s winter range. These mapping layers show the location of the migration corridors for White-Tailed Deer (odocoileus virginianus) in the Selkirk population in Washington. They were developed from 121 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 43 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 4 hours.

In 2008, the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) developed a map of white-tailed deer density with information obtained from state wildlife agencies. The map contains information from 2001 to 2005, with noticeable changes since the development of the first deer density map made by QDMA in 2001. The University of Minnesota, Forest Ecosystem Health Lab and the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service-Northern Research Station have digitized the deer density map to provide information on the status and trends of forest health across the eastern United States. The QDMA spatial map depicting deer density (deer per square mile) was digitized across the eastern United States. Estimates of deer density were: White = rare, absent, or urban area with unknown population, Green = less than 15 deer per square mile, Yellow = 15 to 30 deer per square mile, Orange = 30 to 40 deer per square mile, or Red = greater than 45 deer per square mile. These categories represent coarse deer density levels as identified in the QDMA report in 2009 and should not be used to represent current or future deer densities across the study region. Sponsorship: Quality Deer Management Association; US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service-Northern Research Station; Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station. Resources in this dataset:Resource Title: Link to DRUM catalog record. File Name: Web Page, url: https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/178246

Get information about the number of deer harvested in Massachusetts across wildlife management zones and hunting seasons.

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus are the most popular big game animal in the United States. Recreational harvest of these animals is a critical tool in population management, as well as an important financial resource for state economies and wildlife agencies. Thus, herd health evaluations can provide information to wildlife managers tasked with developing sustainable harvest practices while monitoring for emergent problems. The purpose of our study was to document causes of illness and natural mortality in New York white-tailed deer submitted for post mortem evaluation. Animals were presented by members of the public and wildlife management personnel due to abnormal behavior or unexplained death. We describe demographic and seasonal associations among gross and histologic evaluation and diagnostic testing. Post mortem examinations were performed on 735 white-tailed deer submitted for necropsy in New York from January 2011 to November 2017. Causes of euthanasia or mortality were...

In the United States, the state with the highest number of paid hunting license holders in 2024 was Texas, with over *** million. Second and third in the ranking were Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

The Area 7 mule deer population is one of the state’s largest deer herds with an estimated population of about 11,000 in 2019. This deer herd is highly important to Nevada from an economic and ecological perspective. It’s one of the longest distance deer migrations in the state of Nevada with some animals known to migrate over 120 miles during a single migration. A subset of this population, known as the “Pequop” herd, crosses a major highway (US highway 93) and an interstate (Interstate-80) twice annually during their seasonal migration. Several million dollars in wildlife crossing structures have been constructed to help these deer during their migration, yet they still face challenges to connectivity between winter and summer ranges including miles of livestock fencing and a large-scale gold mine operation in close proximity a large stop-over site near Long Canyon. Winter range for this deer herd occurs primarily along the east side of the Pequop Mountains from Sixmile Creek to Ninemile Canyon. The largest stopovers occur along the west side of Snake Mountains near Tabor Creek, Antelope Peak and Bishop Creek areas, north and south of Interstate 80 near Pequop Summit, and the Sixmile Creek to Long Canyon area in the Pequop Mountains. Summer range for this herd primarily occurs between the Owyhee and Bruneau Rivers east of Wildhorse Reservoir. These data provide the location of winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Pequop Mountains, Nevada. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models (Sawyer et al. 2009) using 193 winter sequences collected from a sample size of 86 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 1-25 hours.

NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) has created this grid data to represent Deer Management Units (DMU) in New Jersey. Each numbered grid is a 14.288 square mile projection. DMU's used in conjunction with Deer Management Zones (DMZ) by hunters identifying their location in the DMZ. The DMU is the most smallest and most detailed spatial reference used in deer management, i.e. monitoring disease outbreaks. Please note that initial data generation and creation procedures produced various missing grid numbers (222, 231, 244, 414, 550-559) and some grid order issues. Because of pre-existing use of that data in hunting and for data continuity, these have not been corrected. New Jersey's deer herd is a major component of the landscape throughout all but the most urbanized areas of the state. Deer affect our forests, farms, gardens, backyards and roadways. From a population reduced to a handful of deer in the early 1900s they rebounded during the 20th Century to a thriving herd today. A healthy deer herd, managed at levels that are compatible with current land use practices and the human population, has great value to the people of the state. Deer are photographed, watched and hunted by many in New Jersey and visitors from elsewhere. Deer hunters spend more than 100 million dollars each year as they enjoy approximately 1.5 million recreation-days hunting deer. Money spent in the course of deer hunting benefits a wide variety of New Jersey businesses. Please visit https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ for more information and detailed instructions pertaining to permit/license issues.

The Area 10 mule deer population is one of the largest deer herds in the state, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the statewide mule deer population. The Area 10 herd is comprised of several sub populations that occupy the majority of the Ruby Mountains, are highly migratory,and exhibit long distance migrations from summer to winter ranges. Several key stopovers occur within the migration corridor for the Area 10 deer migration. The largest stopovers are located along the Harrison Pass Road on both sides of Toyn Creek,the west side of Pearl Peak and Sherman Mountain, Little and Big Bald Mountains near the Bald Mountain Mine complex, and Bourne to Orchard Canyons west of Warm Spring Ranch. The winter range encompasses a very large area and is distributed along the lower elevations of the Ruby Mountains from Interstate 80 to US Highway 50, a span of approximately 120 miles. Some extended migrations have occurred even farther to the south near Highway 6 in extreme winter years. S ...

The Area 7 mule deer population is one of the state’s largest deer herds with an estimated population of about 11,000 in 2019. This deer herd is highly important to Nevada from an economic and ecological perspective. It’s one of the longest distance deer migrations in the state of Nevada with some animals known to migrate over 120 miles during a single migration. A subset of this population, known as the “Pequop” herd, crosses a major highway (US highway 93) and an interstate (Interstate-80) twice annually during their seasonal migration. Several million dollars in wildlife crossing structures have been constructed to help these deer during their migration, yet they still face challenges to connectivity between winter and summer ranges including miles of livestock fencing and a large-scale gold mine operation in close proximity a large stop-over site near Long Canyon. Winter range for this deer herd occurs primarily along the east side of the Pequop Mountains from Sixmile Creek ...

The Area 10 mule deer population is one of the largest deer herds in the state, accounting for roughly 20 percent of the statewide mule deer population. The Area 10 herd is comprised of several sub populations that occupy the majority of the Ruby Mountains, are highly migratory,and exhibit long distance migrations from summer to winter ranges. Several key stopovers occur within the migration corridor for the Area 10 deer migration. The largest stopovers are located along the Harrison Pass Road on both sides of Toyn Creek,the west side of Pearl Peak and Sherman Mountain, Little and Big Bald Mountains near the Bald Mountain Mine complex, and Bourne to Orchard Canyons west of Warm Spring Ranch. The winter range encompasses a very large area and is distributed along the lower elevations of the Ruby Mountains from Interstate 80 to US Highway 50, a span of approximately 120 miles. Some extended migrations have occurred even farther to the south near Highway 6 in extreme winter years. Several migratory pathways in Area 10 face challenges to permeability including livestock fences, impediments to the migration path from mineral extraction, competition from wild horses, and increasing highway traffic in some portions of the range. These data provide migration routes for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Ruby Mountains, Elko County, Nevada. They were created using 333 migratoin sequences collected from a sample size of 155 individuals comprising GPS locations collected every 1-25 hours.

Data from: When dogma meets reality: perspectives of New York State residents to deer management, hunting, and predator reintroductions

https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2280gb60s

The spreadsheet contains data from 1,206 respondents (recruited by Qualtrics LLC) to our survey regarding public perceptions of deer management and deer welfare in New York State. We stratified our sample to approximate the population of New York State in terms of age, ethnicity, and gender identity according to the most recent American Community Survey statistics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). We oversampled from rural areas to permit more powerful rural-urban comparisons. All respondents provided informed consent and completed a block of demographic questions to ensure they met sample quotas before answering survey questions. Each row of the spreadsheet contains responses from an individual respondent, with columns referring to their demographic information and answers...

1. Ungulates place immense consumptive pressure on forest vegetation globally, leaving legacies of reduced biodiversity and simplified vegetative structure. However, what remains unresolved is whether browse-induced changes occurring early in succession ultimately manifest themselves in the developed forest canopy. Understanding the development and persistence of these legacies is critical as canopy structure is an important determinant of forest ecosystem functions like carbon sequestration and wildlife habitat.
2. We measured how white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browse during stand initiation affected canopy structure, tree species richness, diversity, stem density, and basal area on Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Plateau using a portable canopy LiDAR system. We capitalized on an historic deer enclosure experiment where forests were subjected to four deer densities (4, 8, 15, and 25 deer/km2) for ten years following stand initiation.
3. Deer browsing impacts on the forest canopy are apparent nearly four decades since stand initiation. The highest deer density treatment experienced a significant reduction in tree species diversity, density, and basal area with stands becoming dominated by black cherry (Prunus serotina). Reductions in overstory diversity and tree density resulted in a more open canopy with low leaf area and high horizontal leaf variability. Canopies were tallest at the lowest and highest deer densities.
4. Synthesis and Applications: Using a portable canopy LiDAR system and a former deer enclosure experiment, we show that high deer browsing pressure during stand initiation can have a decades-long impact on stand and canopy structure. High deer densities led to stands with lower species diversity and tree density, which resulted in canopies that were taller and less dense. Managers should consider the lasting legacy of ungulate herbivory on canopy structure, as canopy structure influences several important management goals, such as forest carbon sequestration, maintenance of diverse understory communities, and creation of wildlife habitat. Methods All data was collected in 2016 within the formerly clearcut locations of a replicated deer enclosure experiment. Deer populations were maintained from 1979 to 1990 at four distant sites, each of which was partitioned by deer densities of 4, 8, 15, and 25 deer/km2, in Elk County (710 m elevation; 41°34’22” N, 78°28’30” W), Warren County (550 m elevation; 41°38’48” N, 79°08’11” W), Forest County (550 m elevation; 41°34’40” N, 79°06’19” W), and McKean County (670 m elevation; 41°38’21” N, 78°19’33” W). More information regarding experimental design can be found in the corresponding paper (Reed et al. 2022). We placed three parallel 30 x 5 m belt transects in each clearcut treatment, all separated by a minimum of 30 m from one another. All trees >5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were identified to species and measured for DBH. Canopy structural complexity was measured along each transect using a portable canopy LiDAR system. Canopy structural data were processed using the "FORESTR" R package (Atkins et al. 2018b). We have uploaded all raw species and DBH values collected, along with basal area and predicted live biomass calculated from Chojnacky et al. (2014). Further, we have uploaded the full suite of canopy structural data as generated by FORESTR. Although our paper only uses a few well-established canopy structural metrics calculated from the package, other metrics we have included in this dataset may prove ecologically valuable as more canopy research is published.

The Manache mule deer herd contains both California mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus) and Inyo mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus inyoensis). The herd predominantly covers the east slopes and crest of the Sierra Nevada. Elevation stretches from 3,200 ft on the Owens Valley winter range, to above 11,000 ft on the summer ranges in Sequoia National Park. The Manache herd migrates from winter ranges just west of U.S. Route 395 on the steep slopes and valleys of the Sierra Nevada near Dunmovin and Haiwee east to some of the highest elevations in the continental United States in Inyo and Sequoia National Forests. Deer numbers were very low by 1900, attributed largely to extreme overgrazing by domestic sheep and cattle, and the subsequent denuding of much of the herd’s summer range. Under the U.S. Forest Service’s jurisdiction, livestock allotments decreased and timber harvest improved range conditions with a resulting increase in deer numbers. Herd size peaked at approximately 7,000 animals in 1950. Following that peak, plant succession, more efficient fire suppression, and livestock competition contributed to a decline in herd size. The 1970s witnessed a reversal of this decline, with a dramatic increase to nearly 7,000 deer, but the current population size is unknown. These mapping layers show the location of the winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Manache population in California. They were developed from 96 sequences collected from a sample size of 42 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) manages deer herd in New Jersey through the use of deer management zones (DMZ). The Division, under authority of the Fish and Game Council designates these boundaries. Deer Management Zone boundaries are comprised of major and minor roads, waterways and geographic formations. Included for references are the county and township data. DMZs are updated on an as needed basis. New Jersey's deer herd is a major component of the landscape throughout all but the most urbanized areas of the state. Deer affect our forests, farms, gardens, backyards and roadways. From a population reduced to a handful of deer in the early 1900s they rebounded during the 20th Century to a thriving herd today. A healthy deer herd, managed at levels that are compatible with current land use practices and the human population, has great value to the people of the state. Deer are photographed, watched and hunted by many in New Jersey and visitors from elsewhere. Deer hunters spend more than 100 million dollars each year as they enjoy approximately 1.5 million recreation-days hunting deer. Money spent in the course of deer hunting benefits a wide variety of New Jersey businesses. Please visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ for more information and detailed instructions pertaining to permit/license issues.

In heterogeneous landscapes, resource selection constitutes a crucial link between landscape and population-level processes such as density. We conducted a non-invasive genetic study of white-tailed deer in southern Finland in 2016 and 2017 using fecal DNA samples to understand factors influencing white-tailed deer density and space use in late summer prior to the hunting season. We estimated deer density as a function of landcover types using a spatial capture-recapture (SCR) model with individual identities established using microsatellite markers. The study revealed second-order habitat selection with highest deer densities in fields and mixed forest, and third-order habitat selection (detection probability) for transitional woodlands (clear-cuts) and closeness to fields. Including landscape heterogeneity improved model fit and increased inferred total density compared with models assuming a homogenous landscape. Our findings underline the importance of including habitat covariates when estimating density and exemplifies that resource selection can be studied using non-invasive methods.

Automatic Deer Feeders Market Outlook

The global market size for automatic deer feeders was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow significantly, reaching around $2.3 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The key growth factor driving this market is the increasing interest in wildlife management and hunting activities, coupled with the demand for automated and efficient feeding solutions.

One of the primary growth factors for the automatic deer feeders market is the rising awareness and efforts in wildlife conservation and management. Governments and private organizations are increasingly investing in initiatives to maintain and restore wildlife habitats. Automatic deer feeders provide a reliable and consistent way to ensure the well-being of deer populations, which are often a critical part of these conservation efforts. Additionally, the technological advancements in feeder designs and functionalities, such as solar-powered units and programmable feeding schedules, are driving the adoption of these products in wildlife management practices.

An increasing number of hunting enthusiasts and professionals are also contributing to the market's growth. Hunting, which has traditionally been a popular activity in many parts of the world, requires efficient game management techniques. Automatic deer feeders help hunters by attracting deer to specific locations, thereby improving hunting success rates. This demand is further fueled by regulations in various regions that promote sustainable hunting practices, ensuring that the deer population is not adversely impacted. Moreover, hunting clubs and organizations often use these feeders to manage and monitor deer populations, enhancing the overall hunting experience for their members.

Another significant factor influencing the market is the rise in disposable incomes and changing lifestyles, leading to increased spending on outdoor recreational activities. The global trend towards outdoor and adventure sports, including hunting and wildlife observation, has gained substantial momentum. As a result, there is a growing market for high-quality, durable, and efficient automatic deer feeders. These products are becoming a staple for outdoor enthusiasts who seek to optimize their experiences in the wild, ensuring that wildlife is adequately nourished and can be observed or hunted in their natural habitats.

Regionally, North America dominates the automatic deer feeders market, largely due to the high prevalence of hunting and wildlife management activities in the United States and Canada. The region's well-established outdoor sports culture and stringent wildlife conservation laws further boost the demand for these feeders. Europe follows closely, with countries like Germany, France, and the UK showing significant interest in wildlife management and hunting. Meanwhile, emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America are witnessing rapid growth due to increasing disposable incomes and growing interest in outdoor recreational activities. The Middle East & Africa also show potential, driven by wildlife conservation efforts and tourism activities in certain parts of the region.

Product Type Analysis

The product type segment of the automatic deer feeders market includes gravity feeders, trough feeders, spin-cast feeders, and others. Gravity feeders are one of the most common types due to their simplicity and ease of use. These feeders leverage gravity to dispense feed as it is consumed, making them a low-maintenance option. Their popularity is particularly high among those managing smaller deer populations or in areas where daily maintenance is not feasible. They are often made from durable materials that can withstand various environmental conditions, adding to their appeal.

Trough feeders, on the other hand, offer a more controlled feeding environment. These feeders are typically designed to hold a larger quantity of feed and are often used in areas where deer populations are dense. Trough feeders can be constructed from various materials, including metal and plastic, and their design can vary significantly. Some models include covers to protect the feed from the elements, ensuring that the deer have access to dry, uncontaminated food. This type of feeder is ideal for both wildlife management and hunting purposes, where consistent feeding is essential.

Spin-cast feeders are considered the most advanced in terms of technology and functionality. These feeders use a motor to dispense feed at timed intervals, which can be

Migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) within the San Joaquin Watershed occupy most of the watershed above Kerckhoff Reservoir, Fresno and Madera Counties, California. Human infrastructure in the watershed is widespread and includes residential, water control, hydroelectric power, and recreational use developments. Steep topography between winter and summer range limit crossing points along the San Joaquin River. Habitat conditions favoring deer declined from a peak around 1950, resulting in a reduction in the deer population. The current deer population is believed to be about 4,000. A massive wildfire burned through most of the watershed in 2020, dramatically changing habitat conditions in some areas. These data provide the location of winter ranges for mule deer in the Upper San Joaquin Watershed population in California. They were developed from 44 winter sequences collected from a sample size of 32 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-12 hours.

Migratory mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) within the San Joaquin Watershed occupy most of the watershed above Kerckhoff Reservoir, Fresno and Madera Counties, California. Human infrastructure in the watershed is widespread and includes residential, water control, hydroelectric power, and recreational use developments. Steep topography between winter and summer range limit crossing points along the San Joaquin River. Habitat conditions favoring deer declined from a peak around 1950, resulting in a reduction in the deer population. The current deer population is believed to be about 4,000. A massive wildfire burned through most of the watershed in 2020, dramatically changing habitat conditions in some areas. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer in the Upper San Joaquin Watershed population in California. They were developed from 55 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 30 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-12 hours.

The Methow mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) sub-herd is part of the larger West Okanogan herd, the largest migratory mule deer herd in Washington State. Individuals travel as far as 65 miles twice annually between lowland winter range and higher elevation summer range (fig. 27). Mule deer wintering on the shrubsteppe dominated foothills in the lower half of the Methow valley undertake a roughly 3-week trek in mid-spring to the productive subalpine and alpine meadows of the Pasayten and Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness, and surrounding high country, with some animals traveling north into British Columbia. On summer range they mingle with deer moving up from the west side of the Okanogan valley forming an estimated summering population of between 15,000–25,000 animals. Currently, migrating deer in the Methow watershed do not have to contend with any known major barriers, but their movements are somewhat constrained in the lower portion of the watershed where the topography narrows the valley considerably. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer in the Methow population in Washington. They were developed from 321 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

The Area 7 mule deer population is one of the state’s largest deer herds with an estimated population of about 11,000 in 2019. This deer herd is highly important to Nevada from an economic and ecological perspective. It’s one of the longest distance deer migrations in the state of Nevada with some animals known to migrate over 120 miles during a single migration. A subset of this population, known as the “Pequop” herd, crosses a major highway (US highway 93) and an interstate (Interstate-80) twice annually during their seasonal migration. Several million dollars in wildlife crossing structures have been constructed to help these deer during their migration, yet they still face challenges to connectivity between winter and summer ranges including miles of livestock fencing and a large-scale gold mine operation in close proximity a large stop-over site near Long Canyon. Winter range for this deer herd occurs primarily along the east side of the Pequop Mountains from Sixmile Creek to Ninemile Canyon. The largest stopovers occur along the west side of Snake Mountains near Tabor Creek, Antelope Peak and Bishop Creek areas, north and south of Interstate 80 near Pequop Summit, and the Sixmile Creek to Long Canyon area in the Pequop Mountains. Summer range for this herd primarily occurs between the Owyhee and Bruneau Rivers east of Wildhorse Reservoir. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Pequop Mountains, Nevada. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models (Sawyer et al. 2009) using 218 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 79 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 1-25 hours.