Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

WEIGHTS
Weights can be collected as live weights (body completely intact)
or dressed weights (guts removed). Never estimate weights. Make
sure the weight is clearly identified as live or dressed weights on the
data sheet. Data sheets should have a column for both weights, but in
most situations only one or the other is needed. Live weights are preferred
because there is only one way to get this weight. Techniques for
measuring dressed weights can vary. One hunter may consider a deer
dressed after removing the stomach and intestines only, while another
hunter may remove stomach, intestines, liver, lungs, heart, etc. For
most purposes, if dressed weights are taken, they should be taken with
all internal organs removed from the chest and abdomen. Leave all
other body parts (head, feet, etc.) intact.
The most common scale used to weigh deer is the 300-pound
spring scale commonly sold at farmers’ co-ops and forestry equipment
supply houses. Any accurate scale will work fine. To check for accuracy,
weigh something of known weight on the scales. Calibrate to the
correct weight if the scales are off. Most scales have an adjustment
screw for making corrections. Do not round weights off to the nearest
five or ten pound increment. Weights should be recorded as accurately
as possible to the nearest pound.
ANTLER MEASUREMENTS
Nearly everyone who keeps harvest records makes a note of the
total number of antler points on harvested bucks. Although useful,
several other measurements give a better impression of a rack’s true
size. In addition to the number of points, a buck’s maximum inside
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