U.S. deer hunters gave the antlerless deer harvest a much-needed boost in the 2024-25 season, putting the total back above 3 million for only the third time in 11 years and ahead of the antlered buck harvest. The National Deer Association’s Deer Report, released on January 15, also found deer hunters took the highest percentage of 3½-year-old and older bucks ever recorded.
Most eastern states should be harvesting more antlerless deer than antlered bucks to keep whitetail populations in balance with their habitat and in good health. However, except for a surge in antlerless harvest during the COVID pandemic of 2020, doe harvest has barely kept pace with buck harvest for the last decade.
“Nationally, the buck harvest has been on an upward trend for 10 years and still sits near record highs, but the doe harvest has been struggling to stay ahead of it,” said Kip Adams, NDA’s Chief Conservation Officer. “The last two years, NDA has put increased effort into encouraging hunters to take does, so it was good to see this 2024 season data.”
NDA’s new Deer Report covers data for the 2024-25 hunting season, the most recent season with complete harvest data available from all major deer states. NDA’s 2026 Deer Report is available for free download by clicking here.
The total of 3,146,918 antlerless deer in the 2024-25 season is the highest antlerless harvest since the COVID pandemic peak of 2020 (which jumped 12% to 3,207,817), and the second highest since the 2013 season 11 years before. This was also only the third time in the last 11 seasons that the antlerless harvest has surpassed 3 million deer. Prior to that, the antlerless harvest remained above 3 million deer for 15 consecutive seasons, 1999-2013 (see the chart below).
Regionally, the Northeast had the highest increase in the antlerless harvest in 2024, with a 12% jump. The Southeast increased its antlerless harvest by 7%, while the Midwest antlerless harvest declined by 1%. A complete state-by-state breakdown is available in the full Deer Report.
More Mature Bucks
Though the national antlered buck harvest declined by 1% to 3,047,741, it remains in record territory. This is only the fourth season on record with a buck harvest over 3 million. However, the average national percentage of that harvest estimated to be 3½ years old or older jumped again, significantly, to a new high point. Among 21 states that provided data for mature buck harvest, an average of 46% of bucks fell in the oldest age category. That’s up from 43% only the season before. Oklahoma, a state that does not regulate buck harvest with antler restrictions, had the highest estimated harvest of mature bucks at 81%.
For the oldest age category of bucks to climb, harvest of the youngest – 1½-year-olds – must fall. In the 2024 season, the yearling-buck harvest percentage dropped to a new all-time low of 23%. Regionally, the Southeast averaged the fewest yearlings (14%), followed by the Midwest (28%) and Northeast (31%). A state-by-state breakdown of the buck harvest age structure is available in the full Deer Report.
“It’s amazing to realize that nearly half of the antlered bucks shot in the United States are at least 3½ years old,” said Kip Adams. “This is a testament to how far we’ve come as hunters and deer managers. Hunters are clearly reaping the benefits of more naturally balanced age structures in herds across the whitetail’s range.”
Total Deer Harvest
The total deer harvest of 6,194,659 deer is the fifth highest in modern records and the highest since the 2020 season. Prior to that year, the highest total deer harvest was 6,230,500 in 2011. The modern deer harvest record was set in 2003 at 6,522,400.
Much More in the Full Report
Complete state-by-state estimates of total buck harvest, buck age structure, harvest by weapon type, and many other harvest parameters are available in the full Deer Report, which also includes a look at numerous other critical issues for deer hunting. This year’s report investigated bag limits, season lengths, shed antler regulations, and more.
The Deer Report also includes information on black-tailed, Coues, Key, and mule deer, in addition to whitetails. NDA is in a unique position to gather data from state and provincial wildlife agencies, the nation’s leading deer researchers, and other sources to provide a true “State of the Deer” address for hunters, landowners, natural resource professionals and the media.
For the second year, NDA is also providing an interactive Deer Report page that allows you to visualize state-by-state deer harvest, long-term harvest trends, the age structure of the harvest, and more. Data from the newest report has already been added to the interactive page, so check out the new interactive site now.