Whitetail Deer Animal Information
Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) - Known for its elusive nature the whitetail deer is the number one game animal in North America. Ultra keen senses, combined with abilities to run like the wind (at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour), jump wind fallen trees and fences (as high as 8 feet) make the whitetail deer a noble adversary of hunters. The whitetail gets its name from its fluffy white underside of its tail, which stands erect and waves like a flag when it senses danger. This serves as a warning to other deer in the area. A buck reaches its prime and sports its largest rack at five to six years old. After this, the buck’s antlers go down hill every year until its death. Genetics also contribute to the size of a buck’s antlers. Depending on its genetics a one and a half year old buck could be a spike or a six pointer. This is why you cannot tell the age of a deer by its horns. While most whitetails get shot during their first few years of life, they can live up to eight years and exceed weights of over 200 pounds. The largest whitetail on record was taken in Minnesota in 1926 and weighed over 500 pounds.
