Deer

Prosecutor: Man sentenced on gun charge in officer shooting

July 2, 2022 GMT

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a hunter has been sentenced to just under a decade in prison for illegal possession of a weapon used to shoot and seriously wound an Ohio Department of Natural Resources officer investigating a deer poaching complaint in 2020.

Reynolds expands deer hunting with semi-automatic rifles

June 21, 2022 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa hunters will be able to use semi-automatic weapons including AR-15 rifles to kill deer in more parts of the state during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill signed by Gov.

Mule deer population 34% above long-term average in ND

June 13, 2022 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A spring survey by state game officials shows the mule deer population in North Dakota is 13% higher than last year and 34% above the long-term average.

The Game and Fish Department has conducted the aerial survey each year since the 1950s.

Police: 2 people dead after vehicle strikes deer, trees

June 3, 2022 GMT

CHELMSFORD, Mass. (AP) — Two people died early Friday when their vehicle struck a deer followed by several trees, Massachusetts State Police said.

The SUV was heading north on Interstate 495 in Chelmsford just before 5 a.m.

Deer causes fiery crash on interstate near Forest Lake

June 2, 2022 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A deer caused a fiery crash on Interstate 35 near Forest Lake.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported the crash took place about 8 a.m.

Iowa lawmakers OK deer hunting with semi-automatic rifles

By DAVID PITTMay 24, 2022 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Deer hunters would be able to use semi-automatic rifles during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill approved by lawmakers Tuesday and sent to the governor.

Deer hunting: Early velvet season for bucks set

May 21, 2022 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Deer hunters in Mississippi will have a chance to harvest a buck in velvet during the state’s first early archery hunt in September.

The season is set for Sept. 16-18.

Russ Walsh, wildlife chief of staff for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, said those dates reach a balance between allowing bucks to reach their maximum antler growth for the year and giving hunters a chance to harvest them before they shed their velvet.

Viral disease reduces deer hunt licenses in North Dakota

May 10, 2022 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The number of licenses for this year's deer hunt in North Dakota has been reduced because of an outbreak of a viral disease last year.

The state Game and Fish Department is making 64,200 licenses available, down 8,000 from last year.

Into the wild: Animals the latest frontier in COVID fight

By LAURA UNGARMarch 30, 2022 GMT

About 330 deer culled from select areas in Meridian Township

March 28, 2022 GMT

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — About 330 deer have been shot earlier this year in one Lansing-area community.

Part of Meridian Township's Deer Management Program, the cull is intended to reduce the deer population and the number of vehicle crashes involving deer, WLNS-TV reported Monday.

Road to table: Wyoming’s got a new app for claiming roadkill

By MEAD GRUVERMarch 12, 2022 GMT

LANDER, Wyo. (AP) — The aroma of sizzling meat in melted butter wafts from a cast iron pan while Jaden Bales shows his favorite way to cook up the best steak cuts from a big game animal.

The deep red backstrap pieces, similar to filet mignon of beef, are organic and could hardly be more local.

WVa hunters kill fewer deer in 2021, Preston County tops

March 10, 2022 GMT

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The number of white-tailed deer killed in West Virginia during the recently completed hunting seasons fell slightly compared to a year ago, wildlife officials said.

Hunters killed 105,278 deer last year, a 1.5% drop from the 106,861 deer killed in 2020, the Division of Natural Resources said Wednesday in a news release.

Second case of deadly deer disease found in NW Alabama

March 8, 2022 GMT

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — A second case of a disease that's deadly to deer has been found in Lauderdale County in northwest Alabama, a state agency said, prompting stricter rules about feeding wildlife.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife holds hearings on moose, deer

March 6, 2022 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is holding public hearings this month on next fall's proposed moose hunt in the northeastern part of the state and the health status of the deer herd.

University of Michigan-Dearborn conducts deer cull

March 1, 2022 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — An ongoing deer cull is expected to reduce the deer population Detroit area from 86 to 36, officials said.

The cull that the University of Michigan-Dearborn started last weekend in the 300-acre forest near the school will continue until Sunday.

University starts deer cull on Detroit-area campus

February 27, 2022 GMT

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Sharpshooters have begun the process of culling dozens of deer in a forest on a university campus in the Detroit area in a bid to reduce health and other risks the animals pose.

Federal officials to cull up to 180 deer on NY’s Long Island

February 23, 2022 GMT

SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Federal wildlife specialists will cull Long Island's deer population by shooting up to 180 of the animals in New York state parks and other locations this year, authorities said.

SW Michigan man faces prison time after poached bucks plea

February 17, 2022 GMT

PAW PAW, Mich. (AP) — A southwestern Michigan man faces prison time and can no longer hunt in the state after pleading guilty to charges stemming from illegal deer poaching, authorities said.

Not just humans: Study finds NYC omicron spike hit deer too

By KAREN MATTHEWSFebruary 8, 2022 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — When New York City’s COVID-19 rates spiked last December due to the emerging omicron variant, humans weren't the only mammals affected.

SC offers lifetime hunting license for killing tagged coyote

February 6, 2022 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina wildlife officials have released 16 more coyotes with a special tag and if hunters kill them, they can get a free hunting license for life.

The Department of Natural Resources has been releasing the tagged coyotes since 2016, when the lawmakers created the program to help limit the population of the animals.

First Louisiana case of deadly deer disease found in Tensas

February 6, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Authorities say Louisiana’s first case of a slowly developing but always lethal deer disease has been confirmed in a deer killed in Tensas Parish.

Deer on Maui airport runway prompts additional fencing

January 24, 2022 GMT

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — A reinforced fence has been installed around a Maui airport after a deer blocked a runway earlier this month.

Vinyl fencing now overlaps an existing wood fence surrounding Kahului Airport to prevent deer from squeezing through, Maui District Airports Manager Marvin Moniz told The Maui News.

Teen driver crashes into deer, then watches as vehicle burns

January 23, 2022 GMT

ORWELL, Vt. (AP) — A teenager survived after his car crashed into a deer and caught on fire in Orwell, Vermont.

The crash happened Saturday evening on Route 22A when the deer ran into the path of the vehicle, state police said.

Fire department rescues deer trapped on Lake Champlain

January 18, 2022 GMT

NORTH HERO, Vt. (AP) — Four deer trapped on Lake Champlain have been brought to shore, the North Hero Volunteer Fire Department said.

The deer had been trapped on the ice since Sunday afternoon, the department said on its Facebook page.

Wasting disease confirmed in Alabama deer for first time

January 7, 2022 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A deer killed in northwest Alabama was infected with chronic wasting disease in the first confirmed case of the illness in the state, game officials said Friday.

Live deer found in car’s hatchback during traffic stop

January 7, 2022 GMT

NEWBERRYTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Police who pulled over a suspected drunken or drugged driver in Pennsylvania discovered a live deer that had apparently been hit and then placed in the hatchback area of her car.

Deer tested in 2 N Louisiana parishes free of fatal disease

January 7, 2022 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — More than 300 deer tested in two parishes near Arkansas were all free of a deadly brain disease, so hunters in those parishes may resume baiting, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Friday.

Chronic wasting disease found in four more Arkansas counties

January 1, 2022 GMT

DALTON, Ark. (AP) — Chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in deer in four more Arkansas counties, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Deer harvested in Randolph, Crawford, Franklin and Van Buren counties have been confirmed with the disease, the commission said Friday.

Buck found in Mississippi tests positive for CWD

December 30, 2021 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A buck found near Vicksburg has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks said Thursday.

The department said the mature buck was reported in mid-December as potentially diseased given its drastically emaciated and lethargic condition.

Preliminary numbers show drop in Vermont deer hunt harvest

December 30, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Hunters in Vermont took more than 15,000 deer in this year's seasons, several thousand less than in 2020, based on preliminary reports, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Meridian Township cull aims to reduce deer-vehicle crashes

December 29, 2021 GMT

MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — About 200 deer are expected to be culled as part of a deer management program in a Lansing-area community.

The cull in Meridian Township was expected to start Saturday and run to Feb.

So far, no chronic wasting disease found in Louisiana

December 26, 2021 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Intensified testing in two Louisiana parishes next to Arkansas has not found any deer with a lethal, slow and highly infectious brain disease, The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says.

Teen mistakes brother for deer, shoots him: deputies

December 14, 2021 GMT

SOLON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A teenager mistook his 12-year-old brother for a deer and shot him with a rifle, authorities said.

The younger boy had gone to call his 17-year-old brother in for dinner Monday evening when the shooting occurred in Solon Township, north of Grand Rapids, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office said.

Maine hunters kill the most deer since 1968

December 14, 2021 GMT

BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine hunters killed the most deer during the season that ended last weekend in more than 50 years, according to preliminary figures.

An online dashboard operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife indicates hunters killed 38,889 deer since September, the most since 1968, when 41,080 deer were tagged, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Tennessee IDs chronic wasting disease in deer in 13th county

December 13, 2021 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials say a 13th county has a confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in deer.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says a deer harvested in Crockett County has tested positive.

Vermont’s muzzleloader deer hunting season ends on Sunday

December 11, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's deer hunting season is coming to a close.

The muzzleloader season, which started a week ago, ends on Sunday.

Final stretch of Maine’s deer hunt ends for 2021

December 11, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The final stretch of Maine's annual deer hunt is ending for the year on Saturday.

The last two weeks of the deer hunt are reserved for people who hunt using muzzleloaders and some archers.

Deer kills during WVa gun hunting season up over 2020

December 10, 2021 GMT

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The number of antlered white-tailed deer killed in West Virginia during the two-week firearms season went up 10% compared with a year ago, wildlife officials said.

Officer accused of using a patrol car in illegal deer hunt

December 8, 2021 GMT

COUSHATTA, La. (AP) — A police officer in Louisiana is accused of using a patrol car while off duty to illegally hunt deer at night without a hunting license, authorities said Wednesday.

Javarrea Pouncy’s three companions included a convicted felon who was illegally carrying a firearm and also didn’t have a hunting license, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said in a news release.

Maine deer hunt enters final days for muzzleloaders

December 6, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's annual deer hunt is entering its final few days of the year with the season for hunters who use muzzleloaders.

Muzzleloaders are firearms that are loaded through the front end.

Tennessee IDs chronic wasting disease in deer in 12th county

December 6, 2021 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials say a 12th county has a confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in deer.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says a deer harvested in Weakley County has tested positive.

Iowa man shot and killed while deer hunting Saturday

December 5, 2021 GMT

MARION COUNTY, Iowa (AP) — A 37-year-old Iowa man was killed while deer hunting this weekend.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Nathan Allen Sharpnack of Winterset was shot Saturday afternoon while hunting with a large group of people in the Red Rock Wildlife Management Area north of Knoxville, Iowa.

Chronic wasting disease found in deer in southern Arkansas

December 2, 2021 GMT

STRONG, Ark. (AP) — Chronic wasting disease has been found in a deer in southern Arkansas, near the Louisiana state line, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reported Thursday.

DNR: Nine-day gun season deer kill drops 8% from 2020

By TODD RICHMONDNovember 30, 2021 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Hunters killed thousands fewer deer during Wisconsin's nine-day gun season this year than in 2020, according to preliminary state Department of Natural Resources data released Monday.

Maine’s fall hunting seasons ending for the year

November 28, 2021 GMT

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine's big fall hunting seasons ended for the year on Saturday.

The state's “big four” game animals are black bears, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and moose. The seasons for bears, deer and moose all ended on Saturday, and the turkey season ended earlier in the month.

Vermont’s rifle deer hunting season ends on Sunday

November 28, 2021 GMT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's 16-day rifle deer hunting season is wind downing.

The season started on Nov. 13 and ends Sunday.

Deer hunters still have other opportunities this year.

New Hampshire, Vermont asked to test deer for COVID-19

November 26, 2021 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — With hunting season underway, wildlife agencies in New Hampshire and Vermont have started testing for COVID-19 in white-tailed deer, as antibodies for the virus have been found in deer in other states, according to a government study.

Some deer ingested chemicals, shouldn’t be eaten, Maine says

November 23, 2021 GMT

FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) — Deer harvested by hunters in part of central Maine should not be consumed as food because of elevated levels of an environmental pollutant, authorities in the state said Tuesday.

Opening deer gun weekend less productive than last year

November 23, 2021 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin deer hunters bagged fewer deer on the opening weekend of the gun season than they did a year ago, wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The state Department of Natural Resources said hunters shot more than 85,800 deer, about 14,000 fewer than the traditional opener last year.

Idaho creates chronic wasting disease management zone

November 23, 2021 GMT

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has designated a chronic wasting disease management zone in north-central Idaho, allowing hunts to kill up to 1,000 deer to determine the extent of the disease.