WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Wildlife Resources Division

Range

Most of North and Central America

Northern Parts of South America

Deer FamilyUngulate (hoofed)

Cloven (two-piece hoof)

Weight 70 to 250 lbs.

Reddish brown and white coat during summer months

Grayish brown and white coat during winter months

Fawns are spotted

Appearance

Bucks are larger in size

Bucks have antlers Antlers are shed and

re-grown annually

Reproduction

Breeding season October to January

Gestation period 200 days

Fawns born between May and August

Habits

Home range is approximately 1-square mile

Deer are most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular)

Deer prefer a habitat where there are lots of different kinds of plants to eat.

GA PHYS REGIONS

Farm crops are a major source of deer food

American History

Used extensively by native Americans and early settlers for both food and clothing

American History

It is estimated that by the early l900s there were only 500,000 deer left in all the United States

Less than 1,000 deer could be found in Georgia atthis time

1928 First Deer Stocked In Ga. 1927 Arthur Woody

buys 5 fawns from Pisgah Game Preserve in NC

1928 Nimble, Billy, Nancy, Bessie & Bunnie Girl released

1929 two dozen more fawns bought, held in pen, then released

Blue Ridge WMA…1940

In 1953,

33,000 deer were estimated living in Georgia

In 1965,

125,000 deer were estimated living in Georgia!

Statewide Pop Estimates

S t a t e w i d e P r e h u n t M i n i m u m P o p u l a t i o n E s t i m a t e s

1 9 7 8 – 2 0 0 4

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002

Numb

er of

Dee

r

0

10

20

30

40

50

Deer

/SqM

i

Adult Male Adult Female Fawn Deer/SqMi

Georgia Deer Management

Land acquisition to preserve habitat

Deer Management = Habitat Management

Thinning Prescribed Fire

Retain Mast Producing Trees

Irregular Cuts

Georgia Deer Management

Wildlife Openings or

Food plots

Georgia Deer Management

Hunting

Georgia Deer Management

Law enforcement to protect management efforts

Future Deer Management Challenges

High Protein, Low Fat Meat

Family Tradition

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Wildlife Resources Division

www.georgiawildlife.com