White-tailed deer are common throughout North America, but are also native to South and Central America. It can be found as far south as Peru and Bolivia. These large, beautiful animals are popular for hunting. They don’t get into big fights, but they are quick on their feet and use their senses to hide from prey, including humans. In Arizona they are very common. White-tailed deer hunting season in Arizona is generally towards the end of the year. Join us to discover the largest white-tailed deer ever caught in Arizona.

Largest white-tailed deer ever caught in Arizona

Largest typical white-tailed deer ever caught in Arizona scored 144-1/8 pointsThis deer is also the largest white-tailed deer in the world. Ed Stockwell shot a large white-tailed deer in Pima County, Arizona in 1953 after a short chase as the deer attempted to escape into the mountains. White-tailed he scored 144-1/8 points, but not before being retested. Many people were skeptical of this giant white-tailed deer and believed it was not a ques.

About white-tailed deer

White-tailed deer are unique animals. It inhabits various environments such as mountainous areas and dense forests. There are currently 26 subspecies in North America.

size and appearance

White-tailed deer have short tails as their name suggests. White-tailed deer have red or brown fur except under the ears and belly. The coat changes color with the seasons. During autumn and winter they have a greyish-brown coat that helps them blend in with their surroundings. Old white-tailed deer have long noses. Male white-tailed deer also have antlers. One of her 10,000 females grows antlers, probably due to Freemartinism. Male deer, known as bucks, regenerate their antlers each year. Their horns branch into “spikes”. The length depends on the age of the deer.

These beautiful animals vary greatly in size and weight. Size and weight vary depending on where you live and the subspecies. For example, white-tailed deer that live farther from the equator are larger than those that live closer. Bucks weigh between 150 and 300 pounds, but can exceed 400 pounds. Large white-tailed deer live in northern ranges, including US states such as Minnesota. Females are much smaller, averaging her 88 to 198 pounds. Her one of the smallest subspecies of white-tailed deer is the Florida key deer. These tropical deer weigh about 77 to 110 pounds. However, some females are very small, weighing as little as 55 pounds.

diet

White-tailed deer are primarily herbivores. Their particular diet depends on where they live and the season. However, most white-tailed deer eat lots of legumes, shoots, cacti, leaves, and grass. Forest-dwelling white-tailed deer eat fruits and acorns. Whitetail deer stomachs are able to properly digest poisonous plants like poison ivy. Some white-tailed deer also eat mushrooms. Although rare, when white-tailed deer are out of options, they can eat field mice and vulnerable birds. The average whitetail deer eats 2,000 pounds of vegetation each year.

predator

White-tailed deer are fast and cunning. These beautiful deer have many natural predators, including coyotes, wolves, jaguars and humans. American alligators also attack small and wounded white-tailed deer. This is common when white-tailed deer are near water sources. Other predators attack young fawns such as black bears, bobcats and wolverines. Vultures and other carrion birds do not attack white-tailed deer, but do eat carrion. Although rare and unsuccessful, some experts have observed and documented American crows and common ravens pecking at the eyes of young deer fawns and preying on them.

White-tailed deer rely primarily on speed to escape predators. Upon spotting a potential predator, they breathe heavily, warning other deer in the area of ​​the approaching threat. White-tailed deer can run up to 40 miles per hour. They have been recorded consistently running at 30 mph. Less commonly, white-tailed deer will attack when they feel threatened. They charge swiftly at the predator with their horns.

distribution

White-tailed deer are most common in North, South and Central America, but these medium-sized deer have been introduced to other parts of the world, such as the Caribbean. It is found all over Mexico except southern California. Interestingly, Texas is home to over 5.3 million herds of deer, making it the largest white-tailed deer habitat in the United States and Canada. White-tailed deer live in a variety of habitats, but prefer woodland areas. This is true, but they also live in parries and fields.