Plodder I agree most people either exagerate or do not have a clue in how to estmate dressed weight of a deer. I took a buck in 74 that dressed at 175 on a scale, that was a big buck in Va., my cousin killed one in 75 that dressed at 210 and was probably the biggest buck killed in our area. In Va. there is a large variance in the average size of deer depending upon whether they are farm deer or mountain deer. I have never hunted the mountains in Va., but I hear that a BIG buck dresses at about 120 and a doe at about 90. The average mature buck in farm country is about 140-150 and the does run 110-120. Now that being said there are other variables that effect deer size here, there are areas in the flatlands of Va. that are heavily wooded with very little farming, these deer do tend to be about the size of mountian deer.

I will be honest and say I am far from being great at estimating dressed weight myself, but having the knowledge of knowing exactly what one that dressed at 175 looks like, I know what is smaller and what is larger, if a deer appeared close to or over the size of that deer I would get it weighed just to see.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club