It does have an average weight of 110 pounds, and they range from 75 to 200 pounds. [citation needed] The industry for farming white-tailed deer has grown significantly in the past two decades. Deer size will vary by population. Mattfeld, George F. (1984). Lets not mess around any longer, Here are the 5- Heaviest whitetail Deer Ever Killed On record! Including all races, the average summer weight of adult males is 68 kg (150 lb) and is 45.3 kg (100 lb) in adult females. [4][5] In the Americas, it is the most widely distributed wild ungulate. [27][28], White-tailed deer eat large amounts of food, commonly eating legumes and foraging on other plants, including shoots, leaves, cacti (in deserts), prairie forbs,[29] and grasses. The first type, similar to the Central American deer, consists of savannas, dry deciduous forests, and riparian corridors that cover much of Venezuela and eastern Colombia. Often occurring in patterns known as scrape lines, scrapes are areas where a buck has used his front hooves to expose bare earth. Whole Weight. . [99][100] Roadside habitat modifications could also successfully decrease the number of collisions along roadways. If fewer males or more females are present, then the selection process will not need to be as competitive. Weight: 1.20 LBS. /*footer link color*/a.footer {color: #D1B180;}/*footer hover link color*/a.footer:hover {color: #D1C580;}. Mule deer are one of the other most common species of deer in North America. They do well in cold climates. 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T42394A22162580.en, "Establishment of the Invasive White-tailed Deer in Portland, Jamaica", "White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)", "New deer knowledge from the nation's largest deer research conference", "White-tailed Deer - Odocoileus virginianus - NatureWorks", "White-tailed deer and red brocket deer of Costa Rican Fauna", "A review of color vision in white-tailed deer". To mark areas they regularly pass through, bucks make scrapes. All Rights Reserved. But there will be competition there, too. [79], Throughout the year, deer rub-urinate, a process during which a deer squats while urinating so the urine will run down the insides of the deer's legs, over the tarsal glands, and onto the hair covering these glands. In the does, the deers bones will comprise more of its mass, at about 13%. Thats nothing compared to the population of 35 million today! A buck's inside spread can be from 3 to 25in (864cm). The largest whitetail deer live in the northern United States and Southern Canada. [119] This butterfly effect was also demonstrated in Yellowstone National Park when the rivers changed because wolves were re-introduced to the ecosystem. But, in an above average male red deer, the bones will comprise a lower percentage of body weight, at 11.7%. Of Slings and Arrows: An Historical Retrospective. Some states have much larger populations than others. Lets begin with a discussion of these environmental and seasonal factors which can impact the weight of a deer. This especially serves to warn fawns when their mother is alarmed. After you dress the deer, you collect its meat (venison). Field dressing is a necessary procedure when you hunt deer or any other kind of wild animal. They range in weight from 20 to 160 kg (50 to 350 lbs), with an average of about 60 kg (125 lbs). 64 lbs. Coat reddish in summer and brownish-gray in winter, with white on throat, belly and underside of tail. the United States, and Canada, white-tailed deer are kept as livestock, and are extensively as well as intensively farmed for their . [93][94] Deer can also cause substantial damage to landscape plants in suburban areas, leading to limited hunting or trapping to relocate or sterilize them. To make a rub, a buck uses his antlers to strip the bark off small-diameter trees, helping to mark his territory and polish his antlers. [62] The species has rebounded considerably after being overhunted nearly to extinction in the late 1800s and very early 1900s. Simply divide the deers dressed weight (also referred to as Field Dress Weight) by 1.33. British Columbia is the province with the highest elk population, as more than half of all elk in the country are round there. Some areas no longer carry deer, so assessing the genetic difference of these animals is difficult. There are also some places in the world where this species has been introduced, such as Texas, Florida, and California in the United States, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Ancient hunters ask their gods for permission to hunt, and some deer rites take place in caves. A population of white-tailed deer in New York is entirely white (except for areas like their noses and toes)not albinoin color. Its important to be familiar with these. Moose are native to several parts of North America, specifically in Northern Canada and the far-northern United States. This makes it difficult to figure out what the largest deer is. [48] However, due to the heavy urban development in much of the Eastern U.S., and fear for livestock and human lives, such ideas have ultimately been rejected by local communities and/or by government services and have not been carried through. Whitetail deer live mostly on the eastern side of the continental divide. [60], Ecologists have also expressed concern over the facilitative effect high deer populations have on invasions of exotic plant species. 50 lbs. [78] Another way white-tailed deer communicate is through the use of their white tail. Although most often thought of as forest animals depending on relatively small openings and edges, white-tailed deer can equally adapt themselves to life in more open prairie, savanna woodlands, and sage communities as in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. A deers hanging weight is different from dressed weight. In addition to grunting, both does and bucks also snort, a sound that often signals an imminent threat. We also try to answer common questions about deer. Thus, its not surprising that many hunting records come from Texas. This is before the rut (breeding season) takes place. Sharpshooting can be an option when the area inhabited by the deer is unfit for public hunting. This means that usually flesh will take up slightly less than 50% of total weight. Their multi-chambered stomachs allow them to eat some foods humans cannot, such as mushrooms (even those that are toxic to humans),[clarification needed] and poison ivy. [43][44] In north-central Pennsylvania, black bears were found to be nearly as common predators of fawns as coyotes. For the first four weeks, fawns are hidden in vegetation by their mothers, who nurse them four to five times a day. Why doesnt each individual deer of a species weigh pretty much the same as its companions? The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most popular game species in Misissippi.Nationally, the white-tailed deer population likely exceeds 30 million. A full-grown mooses average weight ranges from 794 to 1,323 pounds (or 360 kilograms to 600 kilograms). The velvet is there to give the growing antlers protection from damage. Other states with significant deer populations are Michigan, Alabama, and Mississippi. 191 lbs. [78] Bucks also grunt, at a pitch lower than that of the doe; this grunt deepens as the buck matures. Where To Find Statewide. However, this industry could have great repercussions on the ecosystem the farms are placed in because overpopulation of deer causes damage to local fauna. Food: Spring/summer: grasses and forbs; fall: acorns, other mast items, and . White-tailed Deer. tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Rut (mammalian reproduction) White-tailed deer. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus. The moose is the heaviest and largest species of deer on the planet. But the variation goes further than that. Size Total length: 2-8 feet; tail length: 4-14 inches; weight: 90-311 pounds. [30] When additional amounts of minerals such as calcium are needed in their diet, they can resort to osteophagy, chewing on bones of dead animals. The shade-tolerant trees prevent the invasion of less commercial cherry and American beech, which are stronger nutrient competitors, but not as shade tolerant. Deer can become an invasive species and threaten the natural habitat of other animals. Lets learn about whitetail deer population by state. Email questions. Copyright 2022 WorldDeer.org. Another factor for the strength of rutting activity is competition. The white-tailed deer of the Llanos region of Colombia and Venezuela (O. v. apurensis and O. v. gymnotis) have antler dimensions similar to the Arizona white-tailed deer. It is among the largest deer species in North America, and the largest in South America.[16]. WorldDeer.org is reader supported and may earn a commission. In other words, theres a lot more room for deer in Texas. [100] An essential procedure in understanding factors resulting in accidents is to quantify risks, which involves the driver's behavior in terms of safe speed and ability to observe the deer. [56] In regions of intermediate density, deer activity has also been shown to increase herbaceous plant diversity, particularly in disturbed areas, by reducing competitively dominant plants;[57] and to increase the growth rates of important canopy trees, perhaps by increased nutrient inputs into the soil. Well continue talking about the Red Deer to discuss how males and females tend to vary in terms of how their weights are comprised. The Florida Key deer, O. v. clavium, and the Columbian white-tailed deer, O. v. leucurus, are both listed as endangered under the U.S. Few wild predators can afford to be picky and any will readily consume deer as carrion. [19] Bucks without branching antlers are often termed "spikehorn", "spiked bucks", "spike bucks", or simply "spikes/spikers". Whitetail deer are the most common species of deer in North America. [14] Many scavengers rely on deer as carrion, including New World vultures, raptors, red and gray foxes, and corvids. And nowhere in this state is the whitetail deer more evident and observable than right here in the Finger Lakes. In 2017, Ohio state wildlife officers needed to determine the average venison yield from one white-tailed deer to support a case. Female North American elk have an average full-grown weight of approximately 250 kilograms. It was shot in 1897 in Alaska, and it was an Alces alces gigas (Alaskan moose). Without this knowledge, hunters are likely to end up with significant meat wastage. Males generally are larger and heavier than females. The profile of a white-tailed deer buck caps the coat of arms of Vermont and can be seen in the flag of Vermont and in stained glass at the Vermont State House. Central and South America have a complex number of white-tailed deer subspecies that range from Guatemala to as far south as Peru. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. North American male deer (also known as a buck) usually weigh 68 to 136kg (150 to 300lb),[11] but mature bucks over 180kg (400lb) have been recorded in the northernmost reaches of their native range, namely Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. It depends on the type of deer, gender of the deer, time of year, and a variety of other factors. I live in the south Carolina low country near Savannah GA. most deer live weight are 120 - 210 lbs for a 6 - 10 pt 2 to 4yr old deer average spread is from 12" to 20" last year my friend shot a 19" 9 pt that weighed 309 lbs 4 1/2 year old buck. To do this, Division of Wildlife employees recorded the field-dressed weight of 115 deer during the 2017 Deer Gun Season. Bears, which usually target fawns, often simply knock down the prey and then start eating it while it is still alive. If you dont, there will be some waste, and you will not be able to harvest as much of the deers meat. [119], However, there are also negative effects resulting from climate change. Did you know there are 47 species of deer found around the world? It should also be noted that deer kept in captivity (for example, in zoos and on farms) arent included in these numbers. Typical antlers are symmetrical and the points grow straight up off the main beam. Rites and rituals in preparation for deer hunting, and in celebration for an auspicious hunt are still practiced in area today. [citation needed] Scent from the forehead or sudoriferous glands (found on the head, between the antlers and eyes) is used to deposit scent on branches that overhang "scrapes" (areas scraped by the deer's front hooves before rub-urination). Ideal venison Weight = 113/1.35 = 84 lbs. You should learn how to shoot deer correctly to get the best possible yield. In the United States, the Virginia white-tail, O. v. virginianus, is among the most widespread subspecies. [119] Populations of white tailed deer have also moved anywhere from 50 to 250km north of the eastern Alberta study site. [63] In Maryland and many other states, a state agency sets regulations on bag limits and hunting in the area depending on the deer population levels assessed. Though almost entirely herbivorous, white-tailed deer have been known to opportunistically feed on nesting songbirds, field mice, and birds trapped in mist nets, if the need arises. In New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, white-tailed deer are kept as livestock, and are extensively as well as intensively farmed for their meat, antlers, and pelts. Hunters usually use the antlers to evaluate a bucks size. Be prepared for there to be differences in the deer that you hunt. My Account; 877-229-0351 Mon - Fri (9AM . [124] 18 different species of tick infest white-tailed deer in the United States alone. Today Ill answer the question How Much Does a Deer Weigh?, but Ill do so within the context of different species of deer and the range of environmental factors which can lead to weight fluctuations within each species. ), Erhardov-Kotrl, B. The population rebound is considered a success of wildlife conservation programs. White-tailed deer have many forms of communication involving sounds, scent, body language, and marking. They also eat acorns, fruit, and corn. Keep in mind that population measurement is not an exact science. [25] A population in the Brdy area remains stable today. Seedlings of the three invading species rose exponentially with deer density, while the most common native species fell exponentially with deer density, because deer were preferentially eating the native species. Healthy deer in some areas that are well-fed can have eight-point branching antlers as yearlings (1.5 years old). Sport hunting for whitetail deer is a way of conservation of natural habitats as well as a population management. Populations of Arizona (O. v. couesi) and Carmen Mountains (O. v. carminis) white-tailed deer inhabit montane mixed oak and pine woodland communities. Some beginner deer enthusiasts wonder why individual deer vary in weight. The species is vulnerable to diseases that are more prevalent in the summer. For an average 140-pound deer, this is roughly 18 pounds. [citation needed]. Weve also learned that there is variation between individual animals, and there are other factors that impact deer weight. Central American white-tailed deer prefer tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, seasonal mixed deciduous forests, savanna, and adjacent wetland habitats over dense tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. [26] In 1935, white-tailed deer were introduced to Finland. Although they can be seen as a nuisance species, white-tailed deer also play an important role in biodiversity. Dressed Weight. The estimated whitetail deer population in the United States is 35 million. The time of a deers reproductive and mating cycle can play a role as well. If you want to calculate the realistic venison weight, take the ideal venison weight and multiply it by 70%. Well learn that and more in this article, including: Without a doubt, Texas is the state with the largest whitetail deer population. [34] White-tailed deer can easily thrive in suburban areas, as a combination of increased safety from some predators (including human hunting), high quality and abundance of foods in home gardens, city parks, open farmland, and other factors all create landscapes with an abundance of edge habitat, The white-tailed deer is a ruminant, which means it has a four-chambered stomach. In certain parts of eastern North America, high deer densities have caused large reductions in plant biomass, including the density and heights of certain forest wildflowers, tree seedlings, and shrubs. Most common in the U.S is the use of extended hunting as population control, as well as a way to provide meat for humans. Within Texas, the area we call Hill Country is the most densely populated with whitetail deer. They are a good business venture because they have a high fertility rate and long reproductive life, can tolerate all weather, can be raised on land that is not suitable for agriculture and offer many by-products that can be sold. Edible meat refers to edible venison that is free from bones. If the deer feels extremely threatened, however, it may choose to attack, charging the person or predator posing the threat, using its antlers or, if none are present, its head to fight off its target. Genetic studies,[clarification needed] however, suggest fewer subspecies within the animal's range, as compared to the 30 to 40 subspecies that some scientists have described in the last century. Most common cartridges used include the .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Winchester Magnum and 12 gauge shot shells. They are usually weaned after 810 weeks, but cases have been seen where mothers have continued to allow nursing long after the fawns have lost their spots (for several months, or until the end of fall) as seen by rehabilitators and other studies. A deers weight will change after a hunter does field dressing. You may be wondering about the biggest and heaviest deer species in the world, and while you can compare the average weight of different types of deer in the table on this page, heres a quick list of the deer species that weigh the most: Lets take a closer look at each of these large types of deer. The heaviest moose ever found and weighed was 1,800 pounds (816 kilograms). If you shoot the deer in a way that puts the bullet into the bones, or into especially meaty regions of the animal, you will have a lower amount of venison in the yield. Despite the alarming high rate of these accidents, the effect on deer density is still quite low. Of course, male deer weigh more than female deer. There is a calculation for figuring out a deers hanging weight as well. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia, where it predominately inhabits high mountain terrains of the Andes. Each year, more than 500,000 deer hunters contribute nearly $1.5 billion to New York State's economy through hunting . Sinclair, A. R. E. (1997). If the microbes necessary for digestion of a particular food (e.g., hay) are absent, it will not be digested. Several local deer populations, especially in the Southern United States, are descended from white-tailed deer transplanted from various localities east of the Continental Divide. Another study by Kennedy-Slaney, Bowman, Walpole, and Pond found that if our CO2 emissions remained the same, global warming resulting from the increased greenhouse gases in our atmosphere will allow white-tailed deer to survive further and further north by 2100. White-tailed deer can run faster than their predators and have been recorded sprinting at speeds of 40mi (64km) per hour and sustaining speeds of 30mi (48km) per hour over distances of 3-4 miles;[52] this ranks them amongst the fastest of all deer, alongside the Eurasian roe deer. Whitetails are one of the most popular species for hunting. Field-dressed white-tailed deer are those that Gray wolves, the leading cause of deer mortality where they overlap, co-occur with whitetails in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and most of Canada. The White-tailed Deer has been extremely important in Ohio's history. [46] Bobcats, still fairly widespread, usually only exploit deer as prey when smaller prey is scarce. About 22% of a deers weight when its alive will be comprised of its organs. However, it is difficult to accurately measure the population of deer. [citation needed]. Rack growth tends to be very important from late spring until about a month before velvet sheds. In red deer bucks, it comprises 8.7% of total body mass. White-tailed deer are generalists and can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. [22] The largest deer occur in the temperate regions of North America. There are two kinds of meat weight. Bucks are generally sexually mature at 1.5 years old and begin to breed even in populations stacked with older bucks. The estimated whitetail deer population in the United States is 35 million. In a study of eastern hemlock forests, browsing by white-tailed deer caused populations of three exotic plants to rise faster than they do in the areas which are absent of deer. The scent from the interdigital glands, which are located between the hooves of each foot, emit a yellow waxy substance with an offensive odor. After about a month, the fawns[77] are then able to follow their mothers on foraging trips. As there has been worry and concern about North American elk populations, be extra careful to learn about the laws and regulations in your region if you plan to hunt them. This strategy keeps scent levels low to avoid predators. Antlers begin to grow in late spring, covered with a highly vascularised tissue known as velvet. 64 lbs. [88] Conservation practices have proved so successful, in parts of their range, the white-tailed deer populations currently far exceed their cultural carrying capacity and the animal may be considered a nuisance. [53][54] At the same time, increases in browse-tolerant grasses and sedges and unpalatable ferns have often accompanied intensive deer herbivory. High-density deer populations possibly could browse eastern hemlock seedlings out of existence in northern hardwood forests;[59] however, this scenario seems unlikely, given that deer browsing is not considered the critical factor preventing hemlock re-establishment at large scales. Females enter estrus, colloquially called the rut, in the autumn, normally in late October or early November, triggered mainly by the declining photoperiod. Bucks shed their antlers when all females have been bred, from late December to February. They are predominantly found east of the Rocky Mountains. The average buck in the Finger Lakes area stands around 38 to 40 inches at the shoulder, and will weigh around 175 pounds. Fish and Wildlife Service - Gray Wolf", "Big Cat Tales - NYS Dept. This puts the average bone weight of a buck at around 19-20 pounds. They can be found in almost all of the 50 states. #5. [106] A later study by Penn State University and wildlife officials in Iowa showed that up to 80 percent of Iowa deer sampled from April 2020 through January 2021 had tested positive for active SARS-CoV-2 infection, rather than solely antibodies from prior infection. The antlers have a velvet-covering in the summer months. In red deer bucks, the bones will on average comprise about 12.4% of body weight. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), Chest/Girth = Measure the chest just behind the front legs, Field Dressed = body cavity cleaned out (no entrails). The westernmost population of the species, known as the Columbian white-tailed deer, was once widespread in the mixed forests along the Willamette and Cowlitz River valleys of western Oregon and southwestern Washington, but current numbers are considerably reduced, and it is classified as near-threatened. [39] Occasionally, both golden and bald eagles may capture deer fawns with their talons. They can have bony protrusions up to a half inch in length, but that is very rare, and they are not the same as spikes. Ticks are parasitic to white-tailed deer transmit diseases causing irritation, anemia, and infections. The Texas white-tailed deer (O. v. texanus), of the prairies and oak savannas of Texas and parts of Mexico, are the largest savanna-adapted deer in the Southwest, with impressive antlers that might rival deer found in Canada and the northern United States. Shipped with Expedited Shipping.</p><br /><p>This is a nice wide set of antlers on original full skull. This can make it harder for amateur hunters who dont have connections. Brokx, P. A. Averages 36 inches at the shoulder (range 30-40 inches). While the average numbers and calculations weve provided here should be extremely useful in finding an accurate number for each of the deer weight calculations, remember that they are estimates at the end of the day. [6] High populations of white-tailed deer exist in the Edwards Plateau of central Texas and all of Pennsylvania. WorldDeer.org is reader supported and may earn a commission. Body Weight of the Bucks we Shoot - Midwest Whitetail Midwest Whitetail > Ask The Team Charlie from New Hampshire asks, Topic: Body Weight of the Bucks we Shoot: Mike Sawyer shot one of the biggest bodied bucks to ever come off my farm. [65], Nonlethal methods include contraceptive injections, sterilization, and translocation of deer. The items they feed on are not generally abundant in mature forests and are mostly found at edges. </p><br /><p>Note pictures are not size reference. Please . Does are somewhat smaller, and a large adult female may stand only 36 inches tall and weigh only around . ! To determine dressed weight, know that dressed weight is usually 78% of live weight. Young deer are known as fawns or calves . Generally speaking, a larger buck will have bigger antlers, so this isnt always the case. How to use this chart: Chest/Girth = Measure the chest just behind the front legs Live Weight = Live deer on the hoof Field Dressed = body cavity cleaned out (no entrails) Edible Meat = Boneless edible venison Weight is in pounds (lbs.) It appears on the reverse side of the Costa Rican 1,000 coln note. For example, certain kinds of deer that live in climates with cold winters have to fatten in the fall to survive that cold time of year. Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. [61], The white-tailed deer population in North America has declined by several million since 2000, but as of 2017 is considered healthy and is approximately equal to the historical pre-colonization white-tailed population on the continent. [81] During the breeding season, does release hormones and pheromones that tell bucks a doe is in heat and able to breed. These deer, over time, have intermixed with the local indigenous deer (O. v. virginianus and/or O. v. macrourus) populations. Bucks also rub trees and shrubs with their antlers and heads during the breeding season, possibly transferring scent from the forehead glands to the tree, leaving a scent other deer can detect. Deer are generally lean animals. Email questions. Here are some examples of how weight is distributed in Northern deer. The northern white-tailed deer (O. v. borealis), Dakota white-tailed deer (O. v. dacotensis), and northwest white-tailed deer (O. v. ochrourus) are some of the largest animals, with large antlers. We have also explored the different types of weight that deer hunters need to understand and use as they go hunting and use the meat from the animals. Since the second half of the 19th century, white-tailed deer have been introduced to Europe. [67] Opponents of contraceptive methods point out that fertility control cannot provide meat and proves ineffective over time as populations in open-field systems move about. An indication of a deer age is the length of the snout and the color of the coat, with older deer tending to have longer snouts and grayer coats. The second heaviest deer species in the world is the North American elk. Thats not necessarily the case. [66] While lethal methods have municipal support as being the most effective in the short term, some opponents of this view suggest that extermination has no significant impact on deer populations. The velvet eventually comes off when its rubbed off in the latest part of the summer. If you want to calculate how much edible venison youll get from a deer, take the deers hanging weight and divide this by 1.35. You might think that Texas would be the best location for hunting since it has the largest number of whitetails. A doe makes maternal grunts when searching for her bedded fawns. [18] This makes it very convenient to use deer-hunter orange as a safety color on caps and clothing to avoid accidental shootings during hunting seasons.