How Much Does a Deer Weigh? Discover The Size Differences Between Subspecies

Do you ever wonder how much a deer weighs? they may all look similar, deer can vary greatly in size depending on their subspecies. From petite mule deer to towering moose, this blog post will explore the different sizes and weights of these majestic animals. So grab a snack and settle in for some fascinating facts about our four-legged friends!

What is a deer?

There are over 30 subspecies of deer, which can weigh anywhere from 50 to 300 pounds! Some of the most common deer species in the US include whitetail, mule deer, and elk. While all deer share some similar characteristics, each subspecies has its own unique features that make it distinct from the others.

Whitetail deer are the most commonly seen type of deer in North America. They typically weigh between 150 and 220 pounds, and have a chest height of between 34 and 44 inches. Mule deer are also fairly common and can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds. Elk are the heaviest subspecies of deer, and can weigh between 500 and 1,000 pounds!

The Boone and Crockett Deer Subspecies

The Boone and Crockett deer subspecies are two of the most well-known deer species in North America. They both have a distinctive appearance, with the Boone deer having a longer neck and legs, and the Crockett deer having a shorter neck and legs.

However, there are some key size differences between these two subspecies. The Boone deer is typically larger than the Crockett deer, with an average weight of around 160 lbs for the Boone subspecies and 130 lbs for the Crockett subspecies. There are also some variations within these averages, so it’s important to understand what makes up a “typical” Boone or Crockett deer.

One of the biggest differences between these subspecies is their antlers. The Boone deer typically has larger antlers, which can grow up to 18 inches long and weigh up to 4 pounds. The Crockett deer’s antlers are typically smaller, measuring around 12 inches long and weighing 1-2 pounds.

There are other factors that can influence a deer’s size, including age, sex, nutrition, genetics and access to resources like food and water. But overall, size is one of the main factors that distinguishes between these two subspecies of deer.

What are the weight differences between the subspecies of deer?

There is a lot of variation in deer weights across the different subspecies. In general, bucks are typically heavier than does, but there are exceptions to this rule. For example, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the heaviest subspecies and the Antlerless white-tailed deer (O. albicollis) is the lightest.

The Blackbuck (Antilocapra americana) falls somewhere in between the two extremes, with typical weights of around 160 to 180 pounds for bucks and 120 to 140 pounds for does. There are also some very small deer species, like the Sika Deer (Cervus nippon), that weigh almost nothing at all – only 10 to 12 pounds!

Deer Body Weight Chart

Here is our list of most deer species and their average weights (in pounds and kilograms).

Weights of Different Types of Deer

Deer Species	Average Weight (pounds)	Average Weight (kilograms)
Roe Deer	22-77 lbs	10-35 kg
Moose	840-1540 lbs	380-700 kg
Mule Deer	55-150 lbs	25-68 kg
White-Tailed Deer	150 lbs	68 kg
Fallow Deer	100-175 lbs	46-80 kg
Elk	705 lbs	320 kg
Chital	80 lbs	36 kg
Red Brocket	45 lbs	20 kg
Sambar Deer	400 lbs	180 kg
South Andean Deer	155 lbs	70 kg
Eld’s Deer	210 lbs	95 kg
Reeves’s Muntjac	28 lbs	13 kg
Red Deer	440 lbs	200 kg
Sika Deer	90 lbs	42 kg
Indian Hog Deer	75 lbs	35 kg
Siberian Roe Deer	90 lbs	40 kg
Pygmy Brocket	35 lbs	16 kg
Dwarf Brocket	35 lbs	16 kg
Southern Pudu	21 lbs	9.6 kg
Indian Muntjac	40 lbs	18 kg
Pere David’s Deer	375 lbs	170 kg
Barasingha	375 lbs	170 kg
Fea’s Muntjac	45 lbs	20 kg
Hairy-Fronted Muntjac	40 lbs	18 kg
Taruca	100 lbs	45 kg
Reindeer	375 lbs	170 kg
Philippine Deer	110 lbs	49 kg
Little Red Brocket	45 lbs	20 kg
Giant Muntjac	80 lbs	36 kg
Thorold’s Deer	310 lbs	140 kg
Javan Rusa	145 lbs	65 kg
Visayan Spotted Deer	100 lbs	45 kg
Merida Brocket	35 lbs	16 kg
Calamian Deer	90 lbs	40 kg
Gongshan Muntjac	40 lbs	18 kg
Schomburghk’s Deer	240 lbs	110 kg
Brown Brocket	40 lbs	18 kg
Bornean Yellow Muntjac	40 lbs	18 kg
Northern Pudu	21 lbs	9.6 kg
Tufted Deer	50 lbs	23 kg

Fluctuations in deer weight during the season

The average deer weighs about 150 pounds at the start of the hunting season, but can weigh up to 200 pounds by the end. This weight fluctuation is largely due to variations in body mass and metabolism between the various subspecies of deer. For example, bucks typically have more muscle mass and a higher metabolic rate than does, which leads to them gaining weight faster during the hunting season.

deer weight due to seasons, breeding

In fact, they are so popular that there are many different subspecies of deer that can be hunted in different parts of the country.

Depending on the region, deer can weigh anywhere from 50 to 300 pounds. However, the average deer weighs around 150 pounds. This means that a buck will typically weigh more than a doe, and a large bull will weigh more than either a buck or a doe.

One major factor that affects how much deer weigh is their age and breeding status. Bucks and Does that are younger (1-2 years old) typically weigh less than bucks and does that are older (5-6 years old). And does that are pregnant or have young kids usually weigh more than does without kids. Finally, bucks that have had a lot of growth spurts (4-6 months) will usually weight more than bucks that haven’t had as much growth spurts (0-3 months).

Individual deer differ in weight for a variety of reasons

Deer vary in weight for a variety of reasons. For instance, the hindquarters and antlers of some deer species are more heavily muscled than others, which means they can weigh more. In addition, male red deer may weigh more than female red deer because they have larger testes that produce more testosterone. And finally, there are variations in body size and muscle mass among individual deer due to genetic variation.

Weight Components Variation

Deer weights can vary greatly between subspecies. For example, the whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) weighs an average of 150 to 180 pounds, while the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) averages around 220 pounds. The blacktail deer (Odocoileus bicolor) is much smaller, averaging only 60 to 80 pounds.

Chest (Girth) Measurement of Deer Weight

Here is a chart with information that will assist you with estimating the weight of a deer based on chest and girth measurements.

Measuring a deer’s chest is easy if you measure it immediately behind its front legs. Edible meat refers to venison without bones.

Deer Chest Measurement	Live Weight of Deer	Deer Weight (after field dressing)	Weight of Edible Meat (estimate)
22 inches	45 pounds	32 pounds	22 pounds
44 inches	244 pounds	198 pounds	110 pounds
43 inches	228 pounds	182 pounds	103 pounds
47 inches	310 pounds	251 pounds	139 pounds
20 inches	37 pounds	26 pounds	18 pounds
42 inches	210 pounds	170 pounds	94 pounds
41 inches	195 pounds	156 pounds	88 pounds
40 inches	182 pounds	144 pounds	80 pounds
48 inches	340 pounds	272 pounds	153 pounds
39 inches	169 pounds	135 pounds	74 pounds
38 inches	157 pounds	126 pounds	71 pounds
37 inches	146 pounds	115 pounds	66 pounds
45 inches	267 pounds	214 pounds	120 pounds
36 inches	135 pounds	104 pounds	61 pounds
46 inches	290 pounds	233 pounds	130 pounds
35 inches	126 pounds	99 pounds	57 pounds
33 inches	110 pounds	87 pounds	50 pounds
32 inches	102 pounds	80 pounds	45 pounds
31 inches	98 pounds	74 pounds	42 pounds
30 inches	90 pounds	70 pounds	39 pounds
34 inches	118 pounds	91 pounds	54 pounds
29 inches	82 pounds	64 pounds	36 pounds
28 inches	77 pounds	59 pounds	34 pounds
26 inches	66 pounds	49 pounds	30 pounds
25 inches	61 pounds	43 pounds	29 pounds
24 inches	55 pounds	38 pounds	27 pounds
23 inches	50 pounds	35 pounds	24 pounds
27 inches	71 pounds	53 pounds	31 pounds
21 inches	41 pounds	29 pounds	20 pounds

How much does a deer’s hanging weight weigh?

Deer weights vary depending on their subspecies. Not all deer are the same size, so knowing their weight can be very helpful in gauging how much to harvest. Here is a breakdown of the average hanging weights for six different deer subspecies:

What Is the Yield of Edible Venison from a Deer?

Edible venison from deer varies depending on the subspecies. Generally, the larger the deer, the more meat there will be on its carcass. For example, a whitetail deer will have more meat on its hindquarters than a doe or buck. The yield of edible venison from a deer also depends on how old and healthy the animal is when it’s harvested. A young, healthy deer will yield more meat than an old, sick deer.

One hundred pounds of fresh venison from an 8-point buck will generally contain around 160 pounds of usable meat (lean muscle tissue and fat). That same 100-pound buck would only contain around 48 pounds of usable meat if it were a doe or 40 pounds if it were a 2-point buck.

Conclusion

Deer are fascinating creatures, and knowing the size differences between subspecies can only make them that much more interesting. In this article, we will explore the different sizes of deer and provide you with a little bit of insight into why these variations exist. We hope that reading about deer size will help you appreciate them even more and that by learning about their individual dimensions, you can better identify them when you see them.