Like many hunters in the United States, whitetails were the first big game species I hunted growing up. Afterall, they are the most popular game species in North America. While I’ve had the opportunity to hunt deer for over 20 years now, one thing that continues to fascinate me is just how much deer size and weight can vary. To appease my curiosity on the subject I did some digging. This article will cover my findings, covering average deer weights by region and sex, factors affecting weight, and also how to estimate a deer’s weight while your in the field.
Overview Of Whitetail Deer Size
|
Region |
Avg. Buck |
Avg. Doe |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Northeast |
203 lb. |
155 lb. |
Northern deer benefit from better forage and must store more fat to survive harsh winters. |
|
Midwest |
175 lb. |
120 lb. |
Good habitat produces larger deer; fawns double weight within two weeks |
|
Southeast |
140 lb. |
100lb. |
Weights vary widely depending on soil fertility and habitat quality. |
|
Southern Coastal |
115 lb. |
90 lb. |
General regional estimate. |
|
Southern Atlantic |
125 lb. |
90 lb. |
General regional estimate. |
So, how much does a deer weigh? On average, whitetails in North America weigh in at 150 pounds for bucks (adult males) and 100 pounds for does (adult females). It’s important to note that these numbers are a broad generalization, averaging the weights of both larger deer located in the north and smaller southern deer.
What about the average body sizes of whitetails? Most adult males, or bucks, have an average length (nose to tail) of 5.5 to 7 feet and an average height of 36 to 40 inches from the ground to shoulder. Adult females, or does, on the other hand have an average length of 4.5 to 6.5 feet and average height of 30 to 36 inches.
One thing that I noticed while researching for this article is just how accurate Bergmann’s Rule is for deer. If you are not familiar with Bergmann’s Rule it states that animals in colder climates generally grow larger than those found in warmer climates.
Factors Affecting Deer Weight
Latitude isn’t the only factor that plays a role in the weight and size of a whitetail. Other biological and environmental factors like age, sex, nutrition, and genetics also play a role.
Age is one of the most significant factors affecting the body weight and size of deer. Newborn fawns weigh anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds but will almost double their weight a couple weeks after birth. A whitetail buck will continue to put on weight and size until the age of 5, which is considered the prime age for body and antler size.
Sex also plays a role, with bucks being naturally larger and having more musculature than does who typically have a much slimmer build. Bucks need the increased size and muscle for traveling greater distances and sparring with other bucks during the breeding season.
Finally, the factors that set the upper and lower limits of a whitetails size are nutrition and genetics. Areas with poor food sources and minimal areas good for deer browsing can stunt growth. In areas like this, with minimal resources, the deer population can quickly burn through the little resources that are available. Genetics also play a role. Some deer populations simply have DNA to grow larger bodies and antlers as long their home range has adequate food sources and the time to become mature deer.