Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: copasj on April 05, 2012, 01:06:36 PM

Title: Deer Population
Post by: copasj on April 05, 2012, 01:06:36 PM: I'm curious about the total number of deer in Washington state. Between "arguments" about using archery tackle in muzzle loader season, and a magazine article I read recently about bag limit changes and how little they affect total yearly harvest it made me curious.

I guess I am wondering if they are managed so differently because of populations/habitat differences, or are there different management "goals" in different areas of the country.

I know TN doesn't try to manage number of hunters in the field at any one time, which I believe is why WA has you choose a weapon type (am I right on this?).

My first thought is total population and habitat differences, not to mention having 3 different types of deer instead of 1. That has to complicate management. But I haven't been able to find any numbers for Washington's deer herds to support that thought.

*Edit*
I was able to look at the harvest reports from WA and TN. Looks like the total harvest for WA was a little over 33,000 vs almost 163,000 for TN. So I'm guessing the population in TN has to be far greater than Washington's sense TN's harvest was almost 5 times larger.
Title: Re: Deer Population
Post by: bobcat on April 05, 2012, 10:46:03 PM: Have you read the 2011 Game Status & Trend Report?

It might help. I read part of it but it's been a while:

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01327/
Title: Re: Deer Population
Post by: blindpig on April 08, 2012, 08:23:52 PM: I've read the population to be around 400 K, with black tails making up half.
Title: Re: Deer Population
Post by: washelkhunter on April 08, 2012, 08:28:49 PM: Quote from: blindpig on April 08, 2012, 08:23:52 PM
I've read the population to be around 400 K, with black tails making up half.

Yeah. Where did you read that?