State rankings

Deer Population by State

Texas has the highest White-Tailed Deer (5,275,000), followed by Michigan (2,000,000) and Alabama (1,750,000). Utah has the lowest (1,000).

Environment50 states · 5 metricsUpdated May 12, 2025Original page
2 sources
43 of 51 states
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White-Tailed Deer

Darker means higher. Click a place to highlight it.

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All 43 ranked

Highest first.

Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →

Each dot is one state; the lines mark the median and the middle half.

Median
625,000
Middle half 131.5K – 1M
Average
767,919
43 states
Highest
5,275,000
Texas
Lowest
1,000
Utah

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

43 states · # = rank by White-Tailed Deer
#
1Texas5,275,000
2Michigan2,000,000
3Alabama1,750,000
3Mississippi1,750,000
5Wisconsin1,600,000
6Pennsylvania1,500,000
7Missouri1,400,000
8Georgia1,270,000
9New York1,200,000
10Arkansas1,100,000
11North Carolina1,000,000
11Virginia1,000,000
11Minnesota1,000,000
11Kentucky1,000,000
15Tennessee900,000
16Oklahoma747,500
17South Carolina730,000
18Ohio725,000
19Indiana680,000
20Illinois660,000
21Kansas650,000
22Florida625,000
23West Virginia550,000
24Idaho520,000
25Louisiana500,000
26Iowa445,000
27South Dakota420,000
28Nebraska300,000
29Maine295,000
30Montana213,000
31Maryland207,000
32Vermont133,000
33North Dakota130,000
34New Jersey125,000
35Connecticut101,000
36Washington100,000
36New Hampshire100,000
38Massachusetts95,000
39Oregon90,000
40Wyoming70,000
41Delaware45,000
42Rhode Island18,000
43Utah1,000

What correlates with White-Tailed Deer?

Pearson r against 2,109 other state metrics sharing at least 26 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that have a higher White-Tailed Deer tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. Executions 1976-2023Executions by State
    r = +0.89 · very strong · n = 29
    Plot
  2. Estimated Minimum PopulationCoyote Population by State
    r = +0.84 · very strong · n = 34
    Plot
  3. Female PrisonersPrison Population by State
    r = +0.83 · very strong · n = 43
    Plot
  4. Syphilis Congenital CasesSTD Rates by State
    r = +0.83 · very strong · n = 41
    Plot
  5. # of FarmsFarm Count by State
    r = +0.82 · very strong · n = 43
    Plot
  6. Gas Stations with Convenience StoresNumber of Gas Stations by State
    r = +0.82 · very strong · n = 43
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that have a higher White-Tailed Deer tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. Off Grid Via Kuhl Safety ScoreOff-Grid Living Legal States
    r = −0.67 · strong · n = 43
    Plot
  2. InterestTax Deed States
    r = −0.55 · strong · n = 27
    Plot
  3. Health and SafetyBest States to Raise a FamilyA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.51 · strong · n = 43
    Plot
  4. FTE Convictions RankMost Corrupt StatesA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = −0.51 · strong · n = 43
    Plot
  5. Health Care RankBest States to RetireA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.50 · strong · n = 43
    Plot
  6. Most & Least Intelligent States Index (Guru99)Dumbest States in the United States
    r = −0.50 · strong · n = 26
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state has the highest White-Tailed Deer?
Texas has the highest White-Tailed Deer, at 5,275,000, followed by Michigan (2,000,000) and Alabama (1,750,000).
Which state has the lowest White-Tailed Deer?
Utah has the lowest White-Tailed Deer, at 1,000.
What is the median White-Tailed Deer across US states?
The median is 625,000 across the 43 US states with data.
Where does this deer population by state data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Deer Population by State - Wildlife Informer; Deer Population by State: How Many Deer Are in the U.S.? - A-Z Animals.