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Life Span

In general, a deer living in the wild where there is limited pressure from predators and no pressure from humans will live approximately 10 to 11 years. (This number includes an average from both bucks and does) There is an authenticated record of a deer kept in captivity that lived to be nineteen years old.

NOTE: The average lifespan is somewhat higher for does and lower for bucks depending on hunt harvest patterns in the specific area. In areas where hunting pressure is high the average buck is harvested at 1 ½ years of age. If does are not are regular part of the harvested they may live more than 11 years. In areas where bucks are managed for trophy potential, bucks reach an age of 5 ½ or 6 ½ years of age before being harvested.

Does begin to decrease in fertility after they are nine years old, although most does bear at least one fawn a year till they die.