Article Discussion

The West Virginia deer population is much lower than when this article was originally published. The state has been on a two decade goal to reduce the deer population. Although the article has been updated with some deer harvest data, the “current” population estimate of 800,000 reflects the population close to the time of the original author’s death in 2011. When interviewed by Outdoor Life Magazine, the state reported a 2021 population of 420,000. Other estimates reported to Outdoor Life were 500,000 in 2020, 550,000 in 2017, and 800,000 to 900,000 in 2012. Source: https://www.deerfriendly.com/deer/west-virginia