Captive Deer and Elk Inventory and Value
The Michigan Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Michigan Agricultural Statistics Service conducted a survey of Michigan operations raising deer and elk in captivity for the first time in early February 1998. Producers were asked for an inventory and value of their animals by age and type. Deer information was collected for mature bucks, young bucks, breeding does, cull does, buck fawns, and doe fawns. Elk data were collected for breeding bulls, young bulls, breeding cows, bull calves, and heifer calves.

The survey placed the Michigan captive deer inventory at 16,800 head and the number of elk at 2,000 head. Total value for the State's captive deer and elk population was estimated at $29.4 million. Deer and elk values were $18.4 million and $11.0 million, respectively. Inventories, average prices, and total values are shown in the table below.

The survey was designed to account for all captive deer and elk herds in Michigan. Fencing contains these captive deer and elk. Each operation must register with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The registration list was used as the sampling frame. All large operations were included in the survey; random samples of medium and small herds were taken. Survey participation was excellent, reaching nearly 90 percent.

Table 12.1Captive Deer Inventory and Value
Item Inventory Mean value Total value
Number Dollars per head Dollars
Mature bucks 5 years+
 750 3,500 2,625,000
Mature bucks 3-4 years
 2,000 2,600 5,200,000
Young bucks 1-2 years
 3,600 1,400 5,040,000
Breeding does
 5,100 650 3,315,000
Cull does
 550 300 165,000
Buck fawns
 2,400 500 1,200,000
Doe fawns
 2,400 350 840,000
Total Deer
 16,800 1,095 18,385,000

Table 12.2Captive Elk Inventory and Value
Item Inventory Mean value Total value
Number Dollars per head Dollars
Breeding bulls
 180 8,500 1,530,000
Trophy bulls
 120 3,600 432,000
Velvet bulls
 390 3,400 1,326,000
Breeding cows
 880 7,100 6,248,000
Bull calves
 210 2,100 441,000
Heifer calves
 220 4,800 1,056,000
Total Elk
 		2,000 5,520 11,033,000