Although whitetail deer can live to be older in captivity, they can also live a relatively long time in the wild. The longest living wild whitetail that I have heard about was almost 16 years old! Whitetail are primarily born in late May and early June. Therefore, when most deer are harvested in November they are either six months, 1 1/2 years, 2 1/2 years, 3 1/2 years, etc. in age. Aging deer accuratley is important for proper management.
The overall age structure of a white-tailed deer population is younger than most people think. There are some states where the average harvested deer’s age is 1 1/2 years old. It has often been thought that antler and body size can indicate a deer’s age, but physical characteristics can often be quite misleading. Continue reading What’s The Age of Your Deer?