2025 Southeast Deer Study Group

For 47 years, the nation’s first Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) has been providing cooperative guidance by professional wildlife biologists to hunters in Mississippi in efforts to better manage lands for healthier deer herds. In this study, DMAP deer harvest data was analyzed from the past four decades to describe the different changes in the deer herds over time when participating in the program compared to the first year a property is enrolled. Within the first five years, on average, doe harvest increased 44% and doe lactation went up 8%. Buck harvest also increased on average by 26%. Within the first 10 years, buck antler score potential at maturity increased on average by 14 inches and buck age increased by 40%. There was also variation in these changes over time depending on the decade the properties first enrolled in DMAP, the soil region of the state they were located, and depending on what percentage of the doe harvest recommendations from the biologist were met. Overall, this data shows significant beneficial changes over time in deer herds for properties enrolled in DMAP compared to their first year. This information will support efforts to educate the public on the benefits of DMAP, while helping in marketing for DMAP enrollment.