Report Nr. 3120 Deer Checking Station Data - 1989

The Wildlife Division has been collecting and tabulating measurements from hunter killed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for the last 29 years, including data on antler beam diameters and the number of antler points in yearling bucks. These measurements are believed to reflect, in part, the physical condition of the deer herd. This report contains summaries of the deer physical data collected during 1989 and is intended to encourage comparison with similar data from past years. Some of the data presented in this report were collected at three roadside check stations set up along major north-south highways across the state. A large number of deer were also checked at field stations throughout the state. Records on approximately 30,000 deer were submitted. However, some of the records contained incomplete or inaccurate information, so analyses were conducted on 29,000 records.