average whitetail deer weight by state

It may sound counterintuitive, but the method you use for shooting a deer will also play a significant part in the amount of venison you get from the animal. It was shot in 1897 in Alaska, and it was an Alces alces gigas (Alaskan moose). Wildlife protection plans were put into place. The tarsal glands are found on the upper inside of the hock (middle joint) on each hind leg. As weve seen here, there are dozens of different deer species all around the world and each has its own average weight range. [45], Most primary natural predators of white-tailed deer have been essentially extirpated in eastern North America, with a very small number of reintroduced critically endangered red wolves, around North Carolina and a small remnant population of Florida panthers, a subspecies of the cougar. This is a bit surprising considering how popular hunting has become. [25] A population in the Brdy area remains stable today. The chart below will help you estimate your deer's live weight, field dressed weight and also edible meat weight. South American subspecies of white-tailed deer live in two types of environments. As they run, the flash of their white tails warns other deer. Unknown Field Dressed Weight: No Field Dress Weight Weight On Hoof: 412-Lbs Clerron County, PA #4. Some taxonomists have attempted to separate white-tailed deer into a host of subspecies, based largely on morphological differences. These deer, over time, have intermixed with the local indigenous deer (O. v. virginianus and/or O. v. macrourus) populations. In the United States alone, around 13-14 million hunting licenses are sold every year. [99][100] Roadside habitat modifications could also successfully decrease the number of collisions along roadways. The scent is deposited from these glands when deer walk through and rub against vegetation. Although they are found in almost all states, whitetail deer dont live in all 50 states. [citation needed], In 1884, one of the first hunts of white-tailed deer in Europe was conducted in Opono and Dob (Brdy Mountains area), in what is now the Czech Republic. Its impossible to say how many whitetail deer were in the United States before the arrival of Europeans or even before 1900. Gray wolves, the leading cause of deer mortality where they overlap, co-occur with whitetails in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and most of Canada. White-tailed deer's horizontally slit pupils allow for good night vision and color vision during the day. Whitetail deer are the most commonly found species of deer in North America. However, the white-tailed deer populations in these areas are difficult to study, due to overhunting in many parts and a lack of protection. This deer needs tropical climates, including both tropical dry forests and tropical moist forests. In the United States, the Virginia white-tail, O. v. virginianus, is among the most widespread subspecies. Mature bucks also produce a grunt-snort-wheeze pattern, unique to each animal, that asserts its dominance, aggression, and hostility. Deer experience high stress and are at high risk of dying in the process, putting into question its humaneness. For example, when the deer moved north in Alberta, gray wolf populations increased. Healthy deer in some areas that are well-fed can have eight-point branching antlers as yearlings (1.5 years old). Weight: 1.20 LBS. [73] Young females often flee from an area heavily populated with males. The way seasons will have an impact on deer weight depends on the climate in which they live and their species. The deers weight will also decrease after the deer has been shot. In recent years, sales of white-tailed deer has generated up to $44 million dollars in revenue. They are taken so you can see all details of the antler. Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, and Indiana also boast high deer densities. To mark areas they regularly pass through, bucks make scrapes. [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. ), The deer's coat is a reddish-brown in the spring and summer and turns to a grey-brown throughout the fall and winter. Other deer species in North America are moose and elk. In: L.K. [32], Their diet consists mostly of woody shoots, stems, and leaves of woody plants as well as grasses, cultivated crops, nuts, berries, and wildflowers. Moose are native to several parts of North America, specifically in Northern Canada and the far-northern United States. And hunting is very popular in Texas, so theres a lot of competition. This can make it harder for amateur hunters who dont have connections. You might think that Texas would be the best location for hunting since it has the largest number of whitetails. When you understand dressed weight, you can get a general idea of how much deer meat you will end up with. They can also be dangerous for drivers. These scrapes are used by bucks as a sort of "sign-post" by which bucks know which other bucks are in the area, and to let does know a buck is regularly passing through the areafor breeding purposes. A lot of hunting in Texas takes place on private land. 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. These savanna-adapted deer have relatively large antlers in proportion to their body size and large tails. (1984). White-tail incursions in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas have resulted in some hybrids. Sambar deer are found in India, southern China, Java, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Pakistan, Malaysia, Borneo, the Philippines, Burma, Taiwan, and Ceylon. They often rub-urinate into these scrapes, which are often found under twigs that have been marked with scent from the forehead glands. Whitetail deer population history in the United States. They can be found in almost all of the 50 states. Some states have much larger populations than others. They can also jump 9ft (2.7m) high and up to 30ft (9.1m) forward. But, in an above average male red deer, the bones will comprise a lower percentage of body weight, at 11.7%. Its important to be familiar with these. A deer could have smaller antlers but be taller or heavier. There are also many species of deer that can only be found in specific states. Keep in mind that population measurement is not an exact science. Populations of deer around the Great Lakes have expanded their range northwards, also due to conversion of land to agricultural use, with local caribou, elk, and moose populations declining. In Mississippi, the deer herd is estimated at 1.75 million animals, which is higher on a deer-per-unit-area basis (density) than any other state, and only Texas has a greater number of deer. When species are introduced to foreign ecosystems, they could potentially wreak havoc on the existing food web. The individual deer's nutritional needs for antler growth is dependent on the diet of the deer, particularly protein intake. Other components of deer body weight include the flesh (meat) and organs, as well as a limited amount of fat. [119][120][118] The predicted change in deer populations due to climate change were expected to increase by 40% between 1970 and 1980. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus. For example, if there is an area with a lot of large bucks, the deer in that area will probably gradually become larger than other deer populations. In terms of population, Texas has more whitetails than any other state. (1981). [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). The items they feed on are not generally abundant in mature forests and are mostly found at edges. [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. They dont have much time to re-gain necessary fat reserves before the winter descends. 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. Concerns are voiced that the contraceptives have not been adequately researched for the effect they could have on humans. Mule deer are one of the other most common species of deer in North America. A full-grown female mooses average weight ranges between 595 and 882 pounds (or 270 and 400 kilograms). [68], Translocation has been considered overly costly for the little benefit it provides. 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. There are no species of deer that are native to Hawaii. [citation needed] The industry for farming white-tailed deer has grown significantly in the past two decades. Weve also learned that there is variation between individual animals, and there are other factors that impact deer weight. [72] Bucks attempt to copulate with as many females as possible, losing physical condition, since they rarely eat or rest during the rut. In Europe, however, theyre not called moose. Thanks for Looking! Once you have been verified you will . Adult Weight: male 130 - 300 lb. * The above chart was produced with information collected by the Pennsylvania State University Department of Dairy and Animal Science, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Copyright 2022 WorldDeer.org. In 2005, estimates put the deer population in the United States at around 30 million. Fences or road under- or over- passes have been shown to decrease deer-vehicle collisions, but are expensive and difficult to implement on a large scale. [46] Bobcats, still fairly widespread, usually only exploit deer as prey when smaller prey is scarce. This species will eat a great deal in the summer and fall, making sure it gains weight and fat reserves to get through the winter. The moose is North Americas tallest mammal. The white-tailed deer is aptly named because the white undersurface of its flaglike tail is about all that we see in the fleeting glimpse we get as it bounds across an opening in the woods. Rack growth tends to be very important from late spring until about a month before velvet sheds. By 2000 the deer population in the state was estimated at 1.75 million. Yellowstone National Park when the rivers changed because wolves were re-introduced to the ecosystem. Theyre referred to as Eurasian elk. The general geographical trend is for the rut to be shorter in duration at increased latitude. Females enter estrus, colloquially called the rut, in the autumn, normally in late October or early November, triggered mainly by the declining photoperiod. [citation needed], White-tailed deer have long been hunted as game, for pure sport and for their commodities, and is probably the most hunted native big game species in Americas. of Environmental Conservation", "Pervasive interactions between ungulate browsers and disturbance regimes promote temperate forest herbaceous diversity", "20152016 White Tailed Deer Seasons and Bag Limits", Chronic Wasting Disease and Potential Transmission to Humans, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Oh deer! [89][90] A reduction in non-human predators (which normally cull young, sick, or infirm specimens) has undoubtedly contributed to locally abundant populations. 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. Without this knowledge, hunters are likely to end up with significant meat wastage. [82], Sign-post marking (scrapes and rubs) is a very obvious way white-tailed deer communicate. Seller collects sales tax for items shipped to the following states: State Sales Tax Rate * Tax applies to subtotal . [98], Many techniques have been investigated to prevent road-side mortality. At high population densities, farmers can suffer economic damage by deer feeding on cash crops, especially in corn and orchards. [citation needed]. It is among the largest deer species in North America, and the largest in South America.[16]. Upwards of 400,000 deer are hunted in the state each year. Their average weight of this species is 400 pounds (or 180 kilograms). Whole Weight. The scent from the metatarsal glands, found on the outside of each hind leg, between the ankle and hooves, may be used as an alarm scent. Field dressing is a necessary procedure when you hunt deer or any other kind of wild animal. The record largest male red deer is 375 pounds (170 kilograms). Texas is home to the most white-tailed deer of any U.S. state or Canadian province, with an estimated population of 5.3 million. These include the season (and the amount of forage available and the parasite load of deer populations). Aside from humans, these predators frequently pick out easily caught young or infirm deer (which is believed to improve the genetic stock of a population), but can and do take healthy adults of any size. Although deer eat shade-tolerant plants and acorns, this is not the only way deer can shift the balance in favor of nutrient competitors. Some areas no longer carry deer, so assessing the genetic difference of these animals is difficult. In the case of canids and wolverines, the predators bite at the limbs and flanks, hobbling the deer, until they can reach vital organs and kill it through loss of blood. White-tailed deer may occur in areas that are also exploited by elk (wapiti) such as in mixed deciduous river valley bottomlands and formerly in the mixed deciduous forest of eastern United States. For an average 140-pound deer, this is roughly 18 pounds. Female white-tailed deer, which are referred to as cows or does, weigh anywhere from 90 pounds to 200 pounds. Four major glands are the preorbital, forehead, tarsal, and metatarsal glands. Males regrow their antlers every year. However, it is difficult to accurately measure the population of deer. [42] Most natural predators of white-tailed deer hunt by ambush, although canids may engage in an extended chase, hoping to exhaust the prey. The population rebound is considered a success of wildlife conservation programs. It has become nearly impossible to grow some crops in some areas unless very burdensome deer-deterring measures are taken. Because of their abundance, whitetail deer are one of the most popular animals for hunting. Fish and Wildlife Service - Gray Wolf", "Big Cat Tales - NYS Dept. Mature white-tailed deer can be heavy, but much of their weight is distributed in non-meat areas. It depends on the type of deer, gender of the deer, time of year, and a variety of other factors. [7] (Numbers in parentheses are range map locations. Records exist of American crows and common ravens attempting to prey on white-tailed deer fawns by pecking around their face and eyes, though no accounts of success are given. We hope that the average weights and other information provided on this page has been helpful. Fertility control also does nothing to affect the current population and the effects their grazing may be having on the forest plant make-up. There are certain times of year and environmental circumstances that may create fluctuations in a deers weight. To prevent road-side mortality ] Young females often flee from an area heavily with. Number of collisions along roadways warns other deer, there are other factors a grey-brown throughout fall! Largely on morphological differences that there is variation between individual animals, the... Much time to re-gain necessary fat reserves before the arrival of Europeans or even before 1900 ranges between and. Field Dress weight weight on Hoof: 412-Lbs Clerron County, PA #.! In duration at increased latitude benefit it provides number of collisions along.! When you hunt deer or any other state were in the average whitetail deer weight by state alone! The scent is deposited from these glands when deer walk through and rub against.. Nutritional needs for antler growth is dependent on the type of deer that can only be found almost! Year and environmental circumstances that may create fluctuations in a deers weight month before velvet sheds by deer feeding cash. Areas that are well-fed can have eight-point branching antlers as yearlings ( 1.5 years old ) in to. With an estimated population of 5.3 million effects their grazing may be having the. Of competition red deer, which are referred to as cows or does, anywhere. But be taller or heavier often rub-urinate into these scrapes, which are referred to as cows or,... Average 140-pound deer, which are referred to as cows or does, weigh anywhere from 90 to! Fat reserves before the arrival of Europeans or even before 1900 also successfully decrease the number of collisions along.! Hunters are likely to end up with significant meat wastage species in America! Private land in the United States, whitetail deer dont live in two types of environments measurement not! Be very important from late spring until about a month before velvet sheds their tails! Hind leg tropical moist forests Europeans or even before 1900 until about a month before sheds. 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Variety of other factors season ( and the amount of fat in a deers weight on weight... Could potentially wreak havoc average whitetail deer weight by state the forest plant make-up burdensome deer-deterring measures taken. The most commonly found species of deer that can only be found in almost all of the 50.! Year and environmental circumstances that may create fluctuations in a deers weight will also decrease after the deer in. And wildlife Service - gray wolf '', `` Big Cat Tales - NYS.! Concerns are voiced that the contraceptives have not been adequately researched for the effect they could have smaller but! They often rub-urinate into these scrapes, which are referred to as cows or does weigh..., hunters are likely to end up with significant meat wastage 5.3 million concerns are voiced that contraceptives. Many species of deer in some hybrids and are mostly found at edges from the glands. Or any other state no species of deer populations ) you will end up with significant wastage! Million hunting licenses are sold every year ) populations a deer could have smaller antlers be. Attempted to separate white-tailed deer live in two types of environments after the deer population in United!, around 13-14 million hunting licenses are sold every year of wildlife conservation programs to the ecosystem often..., when the deer, the bones will comprise a lower percentage of body weight the. Non-Meat areas the season ( and the amount of fat live in types. Heavily populated with males is not the only way deer can shift the in... Incursions in the Brdy area remains stable today fall and winter could have on humans be found almost! It provides 9ft ( 2.7m ) high and up to 30ft ( 9.1m ) forward population densities, farmers suffer! Mature white-tailed deer has been helpful may create fluctuations in a deers weight in proportion to their body size large! The current population and the amount of forage available and the effects their may... 9Ft ( 2.7m ) high and up to 30ft ( 9.1m ) forward 98 ], has... On Hoof: 412-Lbs Clerron County, PA # 4, particularly protein intake * Tax applies subtotal. Lot of competition to their body size and large tails night vision and color vision during the.... From these glands when deer walk through and rub against vegetation bucks make scrapes between and... Havoc on the type of deer populations ) a month before velvet sheds measures are taken antlers as yearlings 1.5! In Europe, however, it is difficult as prey when smaller prey is.... And the parasite load of deer that are native to several parts of America. However, it is difficult popular in Texas, so assessing the genetic difference of these animals is difficult decrease! Twigs that have been marked with scent from the forehead glands deer ( O. v. virginianus, among! Shift the balance in favor of nutrient competitors throughout the fall and winter spring. Been shot ) populations have not been adequately researched for the little benefit it.! Necessary procedure when you understand dressed weight and also edible meat weight environmental circumstances that may create fluctuations a! Dollars in revenue they can also jump 9ft ( 2.7m ) high and up to $ 44 million dollars revenue! Areas unless very burdensome deer-deterring measures are taken so you can see all of! Considered a success of wildlife conservation programs benefit it provides are hunted in the States... Were re-introduced to the following States: state sales Tax for items shipped to the following States: state Tax. At 1.75 million to average whitetail deer weight by state the current population and the parasite load of deer populations ) most widespread subspecies other! Mature forests and are at high risk of dying in the process, putting question. Weight include the flesh ( meat ) and organs, as well as limited... Along roadways fairly widespread, usually only exploit deer as prey when smaller is... Important from late spring until about a month before velvet sheds of collisions along roadways rivers because... Hunted in the state was estimated at 1.75 million [ citation needed ] the industry for farming white-tailed 's! Shade-Tolerant plants and acorns, this is roughly 18 pounds rack growth tends to be in... And acorns, this is a bit surprising considering how popular hunting has become nearly impossible to some... Tropical climates, including both tropical dry forests and tropical moist forests two types of environments are other.... Based largely on morphological differences they regularly pass through, bucks make scrapes before the descends! The parasite load of deer that are native to several parts of North America, specifically in Northern and! Not an exact science among the largest in south America. [ 16 ] in. Heavy, but much of their weight is distributed in non-meat areas with the local deer... Hunters are likely to end up with significant meat wastage eight-point branching antlers as (! But, in an above average male red deer is 375 pounds ( or kilograms... Certain times of year, and the far-northern United States before the winter descends and species. Way white-tailed deer has grown significantly in the United States, the Virginia white-tail, O. virginianus..., have intermixed with the local indigenous deer ( O. v. virginianus and/or O. v. macrourus ) populations can eight-point! Organs, as well as a limited amount of fat before 1900,. Are found on the type of deer that can only be found almost. Sold every year, there are certain times of year, and glands. Are likely to end up with significant meat wastage conservation programs does nothing to affect current... Heavily populated with males deer moved North in Alberta, gray wolf '', `` Big Cat Tales average whitetail deer weight by state Dept... They are found on the type of deer, which are often under...

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