Discussing the size and diet of deer; explaining the location of vital areas
One of the most common misconceptions about a whitetail deer is its actual size. Over the duration of my 60 years of deer hunting, I have had the pleasure of being in many different deer camps, and it is sometimes comical to be sitting around a campfire, listening to the hunters describe the size of the whitetail deer they have seen.
Many of these hunters are beginners, but even the more experienced hunters are oftentimes confused. I have seen many deer hunters hold their hands about shoulder high when emphasizing the height of the deer and some hunters even hold their hands inches above their own head and that is just a little much.
Now I agree, many anglers and deer hunters are known to slightly exaggerate the size of their fish and the monster bucks they missed, but I think we need to clarify a slightly more accurate size estimate.
In reality, the average size of a mature whitetail deer around our area of the Midwest would be more accurate if the hunter was to hold their hand slightly above his/her waist. The average whitetail doe will stand approximately 36-40 inches tall at the top of the shoulder, and from the tip of its nose to the tail straightened out would measure less than 60 inches. A mature buck deer would be somewhat larger, but not considerably.
The "on-hoof" weight will vary, but if you were to harvest a mature doe that field dressed at 100 pounds plus, that is a nice sized deer. Depending on location, genetics, and diet, some mature bucks can field dress over 150 pounds or more.
Many deer hunters realize a whitetail deer is a "browser." They like agricultural crops, such as soybeans, corn, oats, alfalfa, carrots, just about any type of farm-grown crops, and apples. But they also like acorns, both red and especially white. I have observed deer feeding during the winter when all the crops were gone, and I have seen them eat the bark off trees.
Bear in mind, the whitetail deer around Indiana taste fantastic compared to the whitetail deer in Michigan. We hunted around the White Cloud area for years, and there were absolutely no crops compared to Indiana. The deer were “swamp” deer and fed entirely on "browse." That had a profound effect on the taste of the venison. It is hard to beat the crop-fed deer.
People often wonder, "How can a deer survive the winter?" The deer has what is referred to as “hollow hair,” and it serves as an excellent insulator. It resembles a straw if examined under a microscope, and their winter coats are extremely thick.
It is also rare that a deer dies of old age. Most will succumb to disease, parasites, or predators, such as coyotes or stray dogs. Deer kept in controlled environments and inoculated and fed by specialists have been known to survive 7-8 years.
As far as the body organs are concerned, it is advisable for the deer hunter to know exactly where the vitals are located. The heart/lung area is the largest vital spot for shot placement. The heart is approximately the size of a softball, and it is located low, behind the front foreleg. Just above the heart is the lung area.
For size comparison, the lungs are about the size of a bag of potato chips, and most deer hunters will attempt to put an arrow or bullet into the heart/lung area. If the shot goes a little high, it still hits the lungs, and if the shot hits low, it can hit the heart.
Any deer hit in the heart or lungs is a dead deer. It will not travel very far, and it should leave a very good blood trail. Just behind the lung area is the liver, and that can be a lethal hit. But the deer can travel farther before dropping.
Normally, the deer should be allowed to run off, and if it is not disturbed, it should lay down and bleed out. A liver shot can be extremely difficult to follow. Oftentimes, they can travel over a mile before expiring.
In all honesty, there are only two places a deer can be shot and dropped instantly. That is in the spine or in the head. Both locations are extremely small, and a deer struck there is mostly a lucky shot. I have seen deer hit in both locations, and they dropped right away with absolutely no tracking required. The spine shot instantly paralyzes the deer, and a second shot is needed to dispatch the animal.
The best advice I can offer the deer hunter is to practice diligently with your equipment and spend as much time in the woods as possible. You can’t and won’t harvest a deer sitting at home or lying in bed.
Find some really active deer trails and spend time silently waiting. When you have the opportunity for a shot, don’t aim at the entire deer. Pick a spot like a tuft of hair low behind the front foreleg, and concentrate on executing a good, high percentage shot.
After the shot, remain as quiet as possible. Remember the last place you saw the deer. After the deer leaves the area, wait at least 15 minutes. Then, climb down and quietly walk to the exact place the deer was standing when you took the shot. Look for visible signs of a hit, such as hair, blood, or your arrow.
If the deer was hit high, it might not leave blood instantly. You won't see blood for several yards. Once you locate blood, you can mark the blood trail by dropping pieces of toilet paper on blood spots. If you lose the trail, you can go back to the last piece of toilet paper and begin searching again.
If the deer is hit in a vital area, it won’t go far. Don’t be ashamed to seek help in tracking, and it is always great to have help dragging a deer out.