Are White-tailed Deer Coming to California?

March 25, 2010

Question: Will California ever introduce white-tailed deer here? If not, why? If we did we could possibly sell more tags and have a hunt later in the season. Also, why not have a draw for special late season archery hunts in the D7 area that would run into the rut or even pass the rut or a doe hunt in this area? I know several people who have said if they were offered a doe tag or buck tag and could only get one of the two, they would take a doe tag. And wouldn’t this help with the doe to buck ratio? (Jarrod D., Fresno)

Answer: No. White-tailed deer are not native and would be competing with native deer for already-limited habitat. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Deer Program Manager Craig Stowers, if native deer are on the decline, introduced white-tailed would likely not do any better. Additionally, white-tailed deer carry diseases and parasites that native deer have no defenses against. They also would have a hugely negative impact on agriculture in this state. Given that, farmers in the Central Valley would likely not be too pleased with us for introducing that species here.

Regarding creating a late season hunt in D7, our management strategy in that zone is to maximize opportunity. Unfortunately, late season hunting is not one of the opportunities available.

While DFG generally authorizes them, antlerless hunts are often determined by county jurisdiction. For more on doe hunts, please see the August 28, 2008 California Outdoors column  (www.dfg.ca.gov/QandA/2008/20080828.asp).