Report Nr. 2898 1981 Deer Pellet Group Surveys

In 1981, the deer pellet group survey was carried out in all of Michigan's northern deer range. The average over-winter deer population in the Upper Peninsula was estimated to be 287,230 animals, while the average over-winter population in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula was estimated to be 403,250 animals. After legal kill and overwinter losses are taken into account, the two regional, corresponding spring deer population estimates, prior to fawning, were 279,834 animals and 382,389 animals.