There is an abundance of deer throughout Florida's less populated areas.
Matter of fact, there are now more than twice the number of whitetails in Florida alone than were in the entire United States at the turn of the century when game biologists could account for fewer than 500,000 animals.
Disease and starvation due to overpopulation resulted in a catastrophic nationwide die-off in 1900. Because of sound game management practices, deer herds have rebounded to such an extent that today it's been estimated that we have more deer than ever in our history.
Currently, the Texas herd is said to be in excess of three million animals. Pennsylvania isn't far behind and Michigan has some two million. In Florida, the herd numbers well over one million.
Areas of excellent habitat can support 125 or more deer per square mile. A normal range will accommodate about 20 animals per square mile.
In many instances, it can be said that a deer is its own worst enemy and, conversely, that the hunter is a deer's best friend.
Under normal circumstances, a deer herd will increase its numbers by 25 to 30 percent per year, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that, at this rate, a herd will rapidly exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat.
Just as an acre of pasture will support only so many cows, an acre of forest or swampland will support only so many deer before starvation, parasite infestation, and disease drastically reduce the animal population.
Despite a tidal wave of human migration into Florida during the past three decades--with a resulting loss of good deer habitat to development--our herd continues to hold its own because of energetic management practices initiated by a dedicated Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
According to Commission biologists, the most efficient and cost-effective way to keep this valuable natural resource in balance is to allow hunters to harvest the surplus.
Experts have learned that whitetail deer, which can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour and jump as high as 10 feet, normally won't migrate long distances. Matter of fact, most will live an entire lifetime (four to eight years in the wild) within an area of one square mile from where it was born.
An average weight for a Florida whitetail--one of 30 subspecies on North America--ranges between 60 and 130 pounds. An animal scaling more than 200 pounds is unusual, especially in Florida where deer tend to be smaller than in other states.
Primarily a nocturnal feeder which lives on such browse as leaves, twigs, and buds, the shy, alert deer is blessed with a keen sense of smell, hearing, and sight. Because of these attributes, it can survive in close proximity to civilization.
Copyright (c) 1996 Herb Allen. All rights reserved.
Home | Library | Hunting | Big Game Hunting