A state estimate of 1.25 to 1.5 million deer in 2020 (about 1.4 million). An estimate from the state of 1.5 to 1.75 (about 1.63) million deer in 2019. An estimated 1.5 million deer in 2017, about the same as the estimated 2016 population of 1.5 to 1.7 million, trending down since 2000 because of pressure from predators, habitat change, and hunting. The significant increase in the deer kill in 2020, 145,000 up from 90,000 in 2019, was largely attributed to the increase in hunters as a result of COVID-19. Two years of good rainfall contributed to a population increase.


It takes a long time to grow an old friend.