I'm kind of curious on how deer size/rack size ratios vary from state to state. In Ontario Canada (from my experience at least) we usually have large bodied bucks with smaller racks in proportion. So much so that I haven't even heard of "rack score" until a couple years ago since we always weighed our deer. A few examples. My dad got a 280-290lb typical 8 15 years ago, but only scored 125". My largest buck was a 115" 230lb nontypical 11. Our 6 pointers usually range from 150-170lbs and our forkies are usually no lighter than 140lbs averaging out at around 155lbs (all of these weights are total and not dressed of course). a 140" buck would essentially be a once in a lifetime buck in Ontario. The way buck genetics noticeably vary so much from even a county over has always interested me.
How much do your deer weigh?
MihajloSimsic
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This guy was 198 dressed and minus tenderloins on a scale that weighed me at 247. At the doctor I weigh in at around 244 without boots on...so it's pretty damn close. He also hung for a full day dressed before being weighed...so I'm guessing he lost a few pounds of moisture.
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Scorpyd Aculeus, 40lb black hunter recurve, 47lb black hunter longbow, 65lb phantom recurve
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Jesus what a monster. I really hope you at least had a sled to drag him out lol. What did his rack score?
Here in Georgia the heaviest doe I’ve ever seen weighed (whole) was around 115lbs. That was a mature doe. On average they are around 100lbs or so. I always get a chuckle out of the 200lb does people kill around me. In the Midwest I’d believe it but here it would have to be awfully rare.
Scorpyd Aculeus, 40lb black hunter recurve, 47lb black hunter longbow, 65lb phantom recurve
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Thanks everyone for the interesting stories, deer, and information. I feel like Bergmann's rule is the main driving factor to deer sizes. But I feel people have almost an equal influence. Deer that are raised in heavily farmed environments get away from the Bergmann rule (to a degree). The deer in Southern Ontario are generally big bodied with mature bucks averaging out at 230lbs. When you go up to Northern Ontario it's a completely different situation and you get bucks closer to the size of Michigan bucks (Bucks rarely exceeding 200lbs).
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162 4/8 he died in the field drove the truck to about 1 yard and loaded him up 😅
I live in southern Ontario and I agree. Shot a 10 point a few years back that weighed 262 live weight. That’s by far my heaviest. All others were between 190-220ish lbs. we do get some heavy does around here as well.
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I hunt mostly in Central MN and Western Wisconsin and we weigh almost all our deer to get an accurate idea of what deer really do weigh.
I find most 3 yr old bucks weigh around 180 pounds dressed in their prime (mid October).
Bucks over 200 pounds dressed are typically 4 yrs old or older. Beyond that is all genes I think. We had a buck this year dress over 270 that was probably 5-6 yrs old, but thats extremely huge and we dont see many like that. Most bucks whether 4 or 6,7,8.... are all in that 200-225 class. Above that and its just a genetically BIG deer i think.
Rack wise... i think most of our 3 yr olds are in that 125" class. Some are under 100", and some are over 150", but those are more the rarity. Ive seen several 4 yr olds score over 170.
Big does dress out over 120 lbs ill say. Ive seen a handful of 140 lb dressed does and those are big! Contest winners.
I find most 3 yr old bucks weigh around 180 pounds dressed in their prime (mid October).
Bucks over 200 pounds dressed are typically 4 yrs old or older. Beyond that is all genes I think. We had a buck this year dress over 270 that was probably 5-6 yrs old, but thats extremely huge and we dont see many like that. Most bucks whether 4 or 6,7,8.... are all in that 200-225 class. Above that and its just a genetically BIG deer i think.
Rack wise... i think most of our 3 yr olds are in that 125" class. Some are under 100", and some are over 150", but those are more the rarity. Ive seen several 4 yr olds score over 170.
Big does dress out over 120 lbs ill say. Ive seen a handful of 140 lb dressed does and those are big! Contest winners.
My biggest Florida buck was 150 pounds live weight, biggest Florida doe 105 pounds live weight
Biggest ga buck 170 pounds live weight, biggest ga doe 110 pounds live weight
Biggest Illinois buck 215 pounds dressed, biggest Illinois doe 150 pounds live weight
Biggest ga buck 170 pounds live weight, biggest ga doe 110 pounds live weight
Biggest Illinois buck 215 pounds dressed, biggest Illinois doe 150 pounds live weight
You sir qualify for the whitetail slam I think, with 3 sub-species of bucks.
Bingo! And yes, as you've already found out I'm sure, the GA deer is likely different than the FL deer. Congrats! I'm only half way there with northern woodland and southeast. Hopefully by the time the season ends I'll have a gulf coast.
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Around our area in Western PA many of the 2.5 - 3.5 yr old buck are 135-150 lbs during rifle season. A few older bucks we’ve got have weighed marginally more but only by 10-15 lbs. Prior to losing some weight during the rut a few of us in the hunting party have shot a couple 160-170 lbs.
The largest we’ve shot on our property was taken by my a few years ago with a 212 lb buck field dressed (trail cam pic) in late October of that year.
![7318519]( "7318519")
I shot my heaviest deer this year (190 lb) field dressed, but his rack didn’t match his body size. First time I’ve ever shot a deer that I can say outweighed me alive.
![7318521]( "7318521")
A few of our local Big Buck contests during rifle season are based on weight and this provides a good representation of what the deer weight. Most of the time 180-190 lb wins the contest. Again, this is rifle season and have run off some of their weight from the rut.
The heaviest doe we’ve weighed was 145 lbs. that my uncle shot a couple years ago.
The largest we’ve shot on our property was taken by my a few years ago with a 212 lb buck field dressed (trail cam pic) in late October of that year.
I shot my heaviest deer this year (190 lb) field dressed, but his rack didn’t match his body size. First time I’ve ever shot a deer that I can say outweighed me alive.
A few of our local Big Buck contests during rifle season are based on weight and this provides a good representation of what the deer weight. Most of the time 180-190 lb wins the contest. Again, this is rifle season and have run off some of their weight from the rut.
The heaviest doe we’ve weighed was 145 lbs. that my uncle shot a couple years ago.
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Helped my wife's nephew drag this 16" 10 point out Wednesday evening. Weighed 254 on my antique cotton scales. I'm not an experienced hunter so dunno much but I was surprised at this Mississippi public land deer. Plenty of ag here.
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Wow that’s a nice deer, holy smokesHelped my wife's nephew drag this 16" 10 point out Wednesday evening. Weighed 254 on my antique cotton scales. I'm not an experienced hunter so dunno much but I was surprised at this Mississippi public land deer. Plenty of ag here.
![Image]()
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I hunt driftless area of wisconsin. Good ag and great soil. Most bucks are upper 100s and does average 120 130 on mature. Pictured buck is our biggest body and he was over 200 easy shot by my brother. Doe was biggest ever and using hitch haul test was equivalent to 2.5 year old buck so I'm guessing over 150. Doe at dump was almost 80 pounds after skinning and butchering. Of course these were anomalies but show what we can get. Wish I had a scale.
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