From my article that appeared in The News Journal on October 7, 2010.
Although Delaware’s deer season officially began Sept. 1 for those who hunt with vertical bows or crossbows, October marks the month where hunters who use shotguns and muzzleloaders enter Delaware’s forests and fields. Those using shotguns can hunt antlerless deer Oct. 18, 22, 23, 25, 29 and 30. Muzzleloader users can hunt antlered or antlerless deer from Oct. 8-16.
During the 2008-09 hunting season (the last season for which deer harvest data is available), 1,246 deer were harvested during the October antlerless seasons, and 1,658 deer were harvested during the October muzzleloader season. Delaware’s stable white-tailed deer population and ample October hunting opportunities should lead to continued hunter success.
Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife Game Mammal Biologist Joe Rogerson said the state’s deer population is stable to slightly declining.
“It should be noted that the goal of the division has been to reduce the population through the liberalization of the deer seasons, so this decline is a desired result,” Rogerson said. “Once the population reaches more appropriate levels, then the division will scale back harvest rates.”
Although Delaware’s overall deer population is healthy, there have been some confirmed cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, commonly called EHD. EHD is a virus that infects white-tailed deer typically through bites from specific species of midges, gnats and mosquitoes. Infected deer exhibit various symptoms, including lethargy, internal bleeding, labored breathing, disfigured hooves, and swelling of eyelids, head, tongue and neck. Typically occurring during late summer and early fall, EHD outbreaks sometimes kill up to 90 percent of infected deer in concentrated locations, but the disease does not affect humans.
Rogerson said he has received reports of EHD mainly in Deer Management Zone 3, north of Townsend. “EHD is a virus that can have significant local impacts, but overall is relatively insignificant,” Rogerson said. “The southeastern states have dealt with EHD for decades, and their deer herds are still thriving.”
EHD, and a similar disease called bluetongue, have been discussed in the Delaware hunting community for several years, especially during times of drought. Many believe that drought draws high numbers of deer to common water sources where the diseases are easily spread. I have spoken with several landowners and hunters who have seen deer die-offs that they attribute to EHD or bluetongue. Several have questioned why Delaware deer hunters are still encouraged to harvest antlerless deer (does, mostly) during October seasons if deer could be dying from disease.
“The Delaware deer herd is extremely productive due to the abundance of food and mild winters,” Rogerson said. “It is unlikely that seasons would be adjusted due to EHD, although it is something that we monitor and would act accordingly if need be.”
Despite low incidences of EHD, Delaware hunters can experience tag- and freezer-filling success in October.