The white‑tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most widespread deer in North America. Mature bucks weigh 200–300 lbs and stand 2.5–3 ft at the shoulder, while does weigh 90–200 lbs. Both sexes have white bellies and rumps, white rings around the eyes and muzzle, and coats that are reddish‑brown in summer and grayish‑brown in winter. When alarmed, they raise the distinctive white underside of their tail like a flag, signalling danger to other deer.
Whitetail hunts vary widely across their range but often revolve around ambush and calling strategies. Stand hunting from elevated tree stands or ground blinds near trails, food plots or acorn flats allows hunters to intercept deer moving during dawn and dusk. Still hunting and spot‑and‑stalk are used in more open habitats, while group drives push deer toward waiting hunters. Seasons typically open with archery in early autumn, followed by muzzleloader and rifle seasons during the rut when bucks respond to rattling and grunt calls. Hunters select calibres appropriate for short to moderate‑range shots and must be mindful of shot angles.
Whitetail deer numbers crashed in the 19th century due to overhunting but have since rebounded to tens of millions thanks to regulated seasons and habitat restoration. They are now considered a keystone species and are harvested for meat and trophies; nearly six million whitetails are taken annually in the United States. Management challenges include crop damage, vehicle collisions and disease. Whitetails are more selective feeders than mule deer, choosing nutrient‑rich plants and using agricultural fields for forage. Predators such as mountain lions, coyotes and bobcats focus heavily on deer and fawns.
Whitetails are semi‑gregarious; does often form small family groups while bucks form bachelor bands outside the rut. Their breeding season occurs from October to December, depending on latitude, and healthy does frequently bear twin fawns. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers annually, with growth covered in velvet through summer and the hardened antlers polished during rut. The species’ adaptability to forests, farmlands and even suburban landscapes makes it a versatile quarry for hunters and a symbol of North American wildlife.
Whitetail Deer can be found in the following location:
Whitetail Deer has the following variations:
- (Varieties to be confirmed)
