Deer revival

From extinction threat to overpopulation, the white-tailed deer dilemma continues

Almost non-existent in the early-1900s due to overhunting, the presence of the white-tailed deer in Oklahoma today could be considered both a triumph and a nuisance.

The Sooner State banned the harvest of the species in 1922, and less than 100 years later, through conservation efforts, the statewide herd count reached 750,000 in 2020. All 77 Oklahoma counties currently boast the presence of white-tailed deer, and with them come the challenges and risks associated with an abundant breed.

Mid-November is the peak of breeding season each year for these deer; though archery hunting season begins in the state on October 1. The term “rut” is an expression often used by outdoorsmen and women to refer to the activities and behaviors associated with the breeding season cycle.

Motorists can also identify this breeding peak in nature due to the movement of these animals across the state’s highways and byways. According to the Oklahoma Insurance Department, deer-related automobile accidents alone account for over $3.6 billion in damages annually. There is also the damage to gardens, landscaping and agricultural crops.

However, farmers, ranchers and homeowners have several options for addressing the issue including crop selection, crop rotation, exclusion methods like fencing, habitat modification and hunting. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation offers the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) to landowners to help reduce herd density to minimize cropland damages.

The department also reports that white-tailed deer hunting generates $600 million in revenue for the state annually making it the state’s most popular hunting season.

While the home range of a white-tailed deer can cover up to one square mile, not all deer cause damage due to their presence. Observing this species, viewers will notice the underside of the tail is conspicuously white, and most visible when the animal is alarmed. Thus, the name white-tailed deer is derived. A bred female can have one-to-three fawn each year, six months after mating; those animals can live in family groups up to two years.

The state offers an array of spaces for viewing these and other animals in state parks, wildlife management areas, refuges, and recreation areas, often at no cost.

The Oklahoma State University Extension also offers fact sheets for persons interested in attracting a deer population to their respective property.              

Moving forward, this species presence affects everyone; management of the state’s white-tailed deer population has proven to be multifaceted and multi-generational.

Nicholas A. Waters is a licensed nuisance wildlife control operator and a published author. He lives in Oklahoma with his wife and five children on a 139-year old homestead. Contact him at 405-238-1717.