Dressed body weights age and antler measurement data should be collected every year and from every deer harvested. Weight is in pounds lbs.
Mapping Antler Expectations Qdma
Whitetail deer body measurement chart. How to use this chart. Chestgirth measure the chest just behind the front legs 2. Whitetails yet one study found deer biologists correctly aged only 72 percent of knownage whitetail jawbones marchinton et al 2010. Weight is in. Live weight live deer on the hoof 3. His antlers hardly measure up to his body mass however.
You will develop a more effective management plan if you can distinguish a bucks age by assessing it in a photo or by sight. How to use this chart. Edible meat boneless edible venison 5. Gee 1997 found a similar pattern with a majority 50 percent correctly aging 1½ and 2½year deer table 1. 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 ecuador and south america as far south as peru and bolivia. Pronghorn antelope 85 9 small deer 85 9 medium size deer 10 11 large deer 11 12 north american wild sheep 12 13 mountain goat 13 145 caribou 145 155.
With life size deer mounts antlers the head and neck the head and shoulders or the entire body are usually preserved. In the united states mule or whitetail deer mounts are common. The size of the buck and the antlers depend on the deers age nutrition and genetics. Jawbones of fawns and immature deer 1½to 2½. Antler size is one of the details we use to help determine age but only one in a long list of aspects like body size and shape muscle tone the appearance of certain features etc. Mule deer can go all the way to 24 inches.
Chestgirth measure the chest just behind the front legs. Given those external body measurements here are some estimated vital area circle diameters that roughly correspond to the approximate heartlung target area. Live weight live deer on the hoof. Field dressed body cavity cleaned out no entrails 4. Field dressed body cavity cleaned out no entrails edible meat boneless edible venison. Conditions or any other factors affecting deer.
To identify these mature deer and avoid shooting a too young buck forget the antlers and study the body. The size and bulk of this prime 35 to 45 year old buck is clear when compared to the does and fawns hes courting. It has also been introduced to new zealand cuba jamaica hispaniola puerto rico the bahamas the lesser antilles and some countries in europe such as the czech republic. The chart below will help you estimate your deers live weight field dressed weight and also edible meat weight. The size of the deer determines the size of the mount. Here are some traits to look for when aging bucks.
It depends on where you are as the size varies. Collecting partial data only occasionally during a season or every couple of years may result in land managers making uninformed decisions about deer management. A big midwestern whitetail averages 18 but can be only 14 in many eastern states. Go buy some life size deer paper targets and have her shoot at those to get familiar.
Gallery of Whitetail Deer Body Measurement Chart
