White-tailed deer managed by state’s hunters, farmers

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Deer bring Mississippi hunters and farmers together in what is sometimes a complicated relationship.

Jacob Dykes, wildlife specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service and co-director of the MSU Deer Lab, said MSU conducted a survey in 2025 that found 17,830 acres of corn, cotton and soybeans were damaged at a $4.6 million economic impact. Brian Mills, Extension agricultural economist, and others conducted the survey. Respondents said the true value of that loss is actually much higher.

“There are a few things that cause these issues. The No. 1 problem we’re dealing with is an overabundance of deer in many areas. The state has a deer population estimated at 1.75 million, and that population has just exploded in recent years,” Dykes said.

“We’re seeing hunters harvest about half the deer they used to harvest. In many areas of the state, we need to harvest significantly more deer each year in the state, and that is just not happening,” he said.

With more deer than ever before, simple deer ecology means they are turning to crops for food.

“Nutritional requirements are through the roof in the summer with fawning and antler development, and deer find an excellent source of nutrition in row crops,” Dykes said.

Dykes said there is a human dimension to the deer population where hunters and farmers can work together.

“Agriculture is often driving the antler growth that hunters appreciate so much. The little food plot you put in just gets the deer to show up,” he said. “Hunters can help prevent deer depredation of row crops by keeping deer densities at a healthy level.”

MSU Extension supports both row crop farmers and landowners and deer hunters through research and educational efforts. Dykes outlined studies MSU is conducting or trying to pursue to discourage deer from browsing in row crops.

One MSU study assessed the cost-effectiveness of commercial chemical repellants.

“We planted small plots with each of the commercially available repellants applied to a different area,” Dykes said. “When the deer walks in the field, they have to decide which plot they’re going to eat.”

By looking at where the deer browse, researchers can determine which repellants are most effective. Another study is trying to determine where most damage occurs in a field and at what growth stage a crop is most desirable to deer.

“We know deer tend to damage the border, so maybe we don’t need to protect the whole field or the entire field the whole growing season,” he said.

Dykes said he and colleagues are exploring the idea of using UAV swarm systems and AI to reduce deer depredation of row crops.

“The operating premise is that when deer are detected, the drones swarm out and run them off,” he said.

Each year, MSU hosts regional deer seminars across the state that bring in hundreds of deer hunters and landowners to learn about various aspects of deer health and deer management.

Eric Michel, assistant professor in the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center and co-director of the MSU Deer Lab, said this captive deer facility has been maintained since 1979 just outside campus.

“The facility allows researchers to control certain factors that would be impossible to control in the wild,” said Michel, who is also coordinator of the Taylor Chair in Applied Big Game Research and Instruction. “This is important because it enables researchers to thoroughly evaluate ideas before conducting fieldwork while also conducting controlled studies to help establish limitations for deer management.”

Find information on deer hunting and management at https://extension.msstate.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/white-tailed-d… or the Deer University podcast available at https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/deer-university.