Deer Population Increasing In Tennessee

According to a report from the state, the deer population is expected to increase across Tennessee.

The report stated the white-tail deer population is expected to increase by one to two percent in the coming years. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Deer Program Coordinator Adam Edge said the increase comes from many areas in Tennessee having increasingly urbanized landscapes where very limited hunting occurs.

“We still have a lot of agriculture in Tennessee,” Edge said. “Provides highly nutritious food out there for deer that really promotes reproduction, especially with the soybeans, and really the impact of harvest as a management tool seems to be lessening over time on a statewide level.”

Edge said increased deer population can be harmful as it can result in an uptick in damaged crops, deer-vehicle collisions, and degraded habitats. Edge said the increase can be a good or bad thing depending on which part of the state you live in.

“We do have some habitats that can sustain those higher numbers,” Edge said. “And to a deer hunter or other outdoor recreationist seeing more deer has been shown to increase their satisfaction of their experience.”

Edge said hunters are the best tool for managing the deer population but this year has seen a decline in hunting licenses.

“This is also a trend that is being seen nationwide over about the past decade,” Edge said. “So that has continued to be concerning. We have less folks contributing to deer management due to that.”

Edge said most successful hunters in the state only harvest an average of one point seven deer per year. Edge said the decline in hunters is due to people having a lack of time, insufficient freezer space, and increasing processing costs.