How Much Meat Will Your Deer Yield? All You Need To Know 2023

Some days as a hunter, you may have expected more venison than the amount of venison you received. But how is it possible? The deer was so big, yet it yielded so little meat. So did the butcher not give you the whole meat and keep it to himself? You must have thought.

Hunters who process the meat after the hunt themselves know how much meat is received from a deer, but the question remains for exact estimation.

Measuring criteria for the quantity of meat received from a deer depends on how much the deer weigh. And partially on how meatier the animal is because even the heaviest deer may have a lot of non-edible parts and waste.

So, by considering the average weight of a doe or buck, we can assume the average meat obtained from them. Also, you will get a benchmark for how much meat to expect from a deer. We will look at each factor affecting how much meat a deer yields in detail and, in the end, determine the average meat obtained from a deer.

How Much Meat From A Deer – Factors Affecting It

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While expecting a good amount of meat from a deer, consider the following factors as they matter a lot. Still, with these factors, the physical conditions of each deer vary. So you cannot find the exact amount of meat expected from a deer.

1- Weight

The most important factor affecting how much meat will be yielded from a deer is its weight. Deer of the same species also have different weights depending on their height, sex, age, and physical aspects.

However, the average weight of an adult male deer (buck) is 120 to 180 pounds, while the average weight of female deer (doe) is 80 to 120 pounds. So ranging from 80 to 180 pounds, A deer may yield less or more meat comparatively.

2- Non-meat areas

Besides weight, it depends on whether the animal is meatier or not. How much non-meat area does it have? Because the more a deer has a non-meat area, the less meaty it will be, even if it is heavier in weight and is heightened.
As you cannot eat these parts of a deer, they go to waste. These parts include

• The hide: The skin adds considerably to the overall weight of a deer. The weight also decreases when the skin is removed in the skinning process. This means that the venison is also less than the expected amount with the total weight of the deer. If you want to estimate, an adult buck’s 9% weight is due to its skin.
• Blood: Imagine how much blood a tall, heavy deer, elk, or moose may have. This blood also adds up to the weight of a deer. 5 % of the total weight of an average-sized adult buck is due to its blood.
• Bones: The bones also constitute the non-meat area of a deer. The strong bones of this animal weigh 13.8% to 14% of the total weight. However, they do not go to waste altogether. They only decrease the amount of boneless meat.
• Waste content: Other than the hide, blood, and bones, the non-edible parts of a deer go into the waste. Depending on the quantity of waste content, the weight of a deer is affected. Check the animal’s weight after removing waste to find the exact weight of the meat after processing.

Different Species of Deer

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There are various species of deer worldwide, including whitetail deer, blacktail deer, elk, moose, mule, and many more. All the species differ in weight and height, along with the difference in average lifespan and physical conditions. Therefore, the meat obtained from these species also varies in quantity.

Weight of Different Species of Deer

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Species	Average Weight
Whitetail deer	150 lbs
Blacktail deer	150 to 200 lbs
Elk	700 lbs
mule	50 – 150 lbs
moose	850 – 1550 lbs
South Andean deer	150 lbs
Red deer	440 lbs
Siberian deer	90 to 100 lbs
Calamian deer	90 lbs
Barasingha	370 to 380 lbs
Indian hog deer	70 to 80 lbs
Reindeer	370 to 375 lbs
Roe deer	24 to 75 lbs
Fallow deer	100 to 170 lbs
Sambar deer	400 lbs
Chital	80 lbs

With an idea about the weight of any species of deer, you can estimate the average meat obtained from that particular species to some extent. For a more accurate estimation, remember all the factors that can affect the amount of meat obtained.

Size and Age of Deer

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While hunting, you aim to find a bigger, bulkier, and heavier animal. It’s because you can expect more meat from a bigger animal. As the size and height of a deer determine its weight, it ultimately determines the amount of meat obtained from the deer.

Estimating the amount of venison obtained from deer by its size can go wrong. It’s because a deer’s legs do not have much meat. Therefore, a heightened deer may not always bring more meat to your table. It’s always been a misconception that can lead to disappointment.

These factors affect the meat quantity yielded from a deer and let you make a correct guess about it with simple calculations.

The Calculation for Estimating Meat Quantity

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To estimate a deer’s meat part quantity, we can subtract the weight of all its parts from the total weight. The remaining will be the weight of the meat.
Another way to estimate is to find 40% to 45% of the deer’s weight as it will be the weight of venison.

It will be around 70 lbs for a buck weighing 180 pounds. While an elk weighing 700 lbs can yield 280 lbs of meat. Similarly, a bull elk with 1000 lbs will yield almost 400 lbs of meat.

Processing of Deer Meat

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In addition to the other factors mentioned above, the way you butcher and process the meat also contributes to the amount of meat obtained. 40% to 50% of meat can be obtained with proper processing of deer.

You will need to learn a lot about the parts of a deer and properly to butcher the meat. With time, you can prevent any wastage of meaty parts. The proper way of processing a deer after the hunt to get the most meat out of it is:

For butchering the deer by yourself at your place, always choose a sharp knife to remove the hide of the deer. For ease, you can hang the deer upside down to the ceiling with the help of a hook, just like you would have seen in many butcher shops. Afterward, take your time to carefully do the skinning to peel the membrane without wasting any meat.

Once the skinning process is completed, you must cut the meat. When you learn properly about all the parts of a deer, you will also get to know how to cut them properly. Start with the basic parts and cut small pieces so you don’t miss any meat because it will go to waste.

This proper processing will still be unhelpful if the physical conditions of the deer are not ideal. A deer hunted with a gun or arrow will have some wasted meat that would have to be removed after the field dressing.
So a deer with the minimum damaged meaty part of the body is ideal for yielding more meat.

FAQs

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1- How much meat from a deer?

Deer can provide an average of 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of meat, but the exact amount can vary based on factors such as the size and age of the animal, as well as the specific cuts of meat that are taken.

2- How much does an elk cow weigh?

An elk cow (female elk) has an average weight of 500 to 600 pounds with a height of 4.5 feet (shoulders). That is comparatively very low from a bull elk weighing up to 1000 pounds.

3- How much do bull elk weigh?

Bull elk can weigh more than 600 to 700 pounds and up to 1000 pounds with a height of 5 feet at its shoulders.

4- How much meat do you get from a whitetail deer?

A whitetail deer can yield an average of 52 to 54 pounds of meat with a total weight of 110 pounds. Or the meat obtained will be 49 to 50% of the total weight.

Conclusion – How Much Meat From A Deer

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Even if we estimate the average meat obtained. With the differences in weight, height, sex, and physical conditions of any specie, the meat obtained from every deer can be more or less. So, the estimated average venison obtained is just a general idea.

Also, the meat obtained from deer of the same species can vary due to the factors discussed. However, you can expect half of the weight of an adult deer to be the meaty part or at least 40%. For instance, an adult deer weighing 150 lbs can yield around 60 lbs to 80 lbs of meat.

Additional Common Questions

How much meat should I expect from my deer?

While the amount of meat you will get from your deer can vary greatly, it’s realistic to anticipate a yield of approximately 58.15 pounds of meat. Do keep in mind that this yield can fluctuate marginally from deer to deer due to factors such as fat distribution or physical condition. Typically, the actual weight of meat you might obtain from a buck could be anywhere from 58 to 68 pounds. Employing the ‘realistic’ figure as your guide would be my personalized recommendation. Over the years of my hunting experience, I’ve discovered that this range provides a decent and accurate estimate. Understanding this going in can help to set your personal expectations in the right ballpark and avoid disappointment.

What amount of meat can I anticipate from a 100 pound deer?

Again, while the exact amount can somewhat vary depending on the specific deer, in general, if you’re dealing with a 100 pound deer, you may want to estimate a yield of about 25 to 30 pounds of meat. This number might fluctuate depending on how much fat the deer is carrying, its overall health, and the efficiency of your butchering. Recollecting my first experience dealing with a 100 pound deer, I was pleasantly surprised by the yield which worked great for my family. However, it’s always a good notion to be prepared for weight variations.

For how long can a deer feed a family of three?

A single deer can surprisingly go quite a long way when feeding a family of three. If you break it down, a medium-sized deer could potentially give you around 65 pounds of meat. If we’re going by the average meat consumption amount of about 4 ounces per person per meal, this could equate to about 260 individual servings of meat, which translates to around 86 meals for a family of three. Consequently, a single deer could essentially feed a family of three for nearly a month. To give you an idea, I’ve seen a deer last my family of three for a good five weeks, and this was with us occasionally inviting friends over for dinner. It indeed made for some memorable feasts!