"Maine is home to one of the largest of the 30 recognized subspecies of white-tailed deer. After attaining maturity at age five, our bucks can reach record live weights of nearly 400 lbs. Most adult bucks, however will normally range from 200 to 300 lbs live weight, and will stand 36 to 40" at the shoulder. Does are considerably smaller; they normally weigh 120 to 175 lbs live weight. Newborn fawns begin life at 4 to 10 lbs, but grow to approximately 85 lbs live weight in their first 6 months of life."
This excerpt on the physical characteristics of the white-tailed deer was written by Gerry Lavigne, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist. To learn more about this animal including habitat, food habits and hunting tips visit Inland Fisheries and Wildlife species information page on white-tailed deer
Family Activities
Are you looking for activities for your family to use in the outdoors? Project Learning Tree has put together a collection of fun and engaging activities to help young people gain an awareness of the world around them.
Current Moon Phase
Antlers or Horns?
Rhinoceros and bighorn sheep have horns; deer and moose have antlers. What's the difference?
Horns are:
- Made of bony core covered by thin layers of keratin, the same material as your fingernails.
- Slow growing and permanent, they are not shed each year,
- Usually grown by both sexes.
Antlers are:
- Fast-growing bone, shed winter or spring each year.
- Usually grown only by males.
- Often branched (number of points does NOT signify age)
Special thanks to Lisa Kane, Natural Science Educator with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for providing this information.
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