How old is the oldest deer on record?

Answer 1

Elizabeth, believed to be the oldest whitetail doe in the world, died on January 27, 2002. She was 24 years and 7 months old when she passed away of old age at the Deer Ranch in Michigan USA. Elizabeth was owned by Harold Kriesche and his wife Sally. The Kriesches bought their deer business in 1988 which included Elizabeth, who was 11 years old at that time. Elizabeth was born on June 3, 1977. Elizabeth produced 38 fawns in her lifetime, including twins in May 2001. Elizabeth didn't have her first fawn until she was 2 years of age in 1979. She had a single fawn that year. Starting in 1980, she consistently produced twins every year through to 1990, except in 1988. Through 1989, at the age of 21, the doe had produced a total of 20 fawns. She almost doubled that figure by the time she reached 24 in 2001 with 38 fawns. Kriesche said he tried to put Elizabeth on Birth Control in 1998 when she was 21 years old, thinking he would make it easier on the old deer by reducing the drain associated with fawn reproduction. However, Harold's efforts to prevent the doe from conceiving didn't work. She gave birth to a male and female fawn on May 24, 1999 and had twins in 2000 and 2001. Wild whitetails seldom exceed 10 years of age, but a few deer of both sexes do manage to live longer than normal. Does have a better chance of reaching older age than bucks because they don't endure the stress associated with the rut. Deer without antlers are also more likely to be passed up by hunters. The oldest doe taken by a hunter in Michigan was an amazing 19.5 years old. That doe was shot during the 1967 hunting season and her age was determined from her teeth. Does that were 14.5 and 15.5 years of age have also taken by hunters. I'm sure Elizabeth will be missed at the Deer Ranch as she was a very productive member of the family. http://www.deer-digest.com/html/mar02.html#2

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