http://www.butcher-packer.com/index.php?...products_id=331The Equation for Venison Yield
Hunters can learn more about their deer and how much venison it will yield by first obtaining an accurate field-dressed weight. This figure helps determine the deer's carcass weight - the deer's body weight minus its head, hide and innards. From there, it's easy to calculate how much venison is on the carcass.
It's important to note that this equation assumes that no part of the deer is lost to waste from tissue damage. Obviously, a deer suffering bullet - or to a lesser extent, arrow - damage to its back, hams, shoulders or neck will yield substantially less venison. Therefore, it includes calculations for "ideal" meat yield - the maximum amount of meat on a deer with nothing being lost to waste, and a "realistic" meat yield - the amount of meat a hunter can expect to receive after subtracting the pounds of meat lost to bullet/broadhead damage.
The equation does not account for meat that must be removed after being ruined by stomach contents or overexposure to warm weather.
Remember, to use the equation, first obtain an accurate field-dressed weight.
How Much Does it Weigh?
Mature white-tailed deer can be heavy, but much of their weight is distributed in non-meat areas. Here are some examples of how weight is distributed in Northern deer. (live weights in parenthesis)
Hide Factor
•Fawn: (100 pounds) 6.7 percent
•Adult doe: (140 pounds) 7.9 percent
•Adult buck (160 pounds) 8.7 percent
•Bucks: more than 160 pounds 9 percent
Bone Factor
•Fawn: (100 pounds) 13.8 percent
•Adult doe: (140 pounds) 13 percent
•Adult buck (160 pounds) 12.4 percent
•Bucks: more than 160 pounds 11.7 percent
Blood Factor
•Fawn: (100 pounds) 6 percent
•Adult doe: (140 pounds) 5 percent
•Adult buck (160 pounds) 5 percent
•Bucks: more than 160 pounds 5 percent
Using this guide as an example, a 180-pound buck would have 16.2 pounds of hide, 21.06 pounds of bones and 9 pounds of blood. Unfortunately, it's difficult to estimate the live weight of a deer if it has been field-dressed because the weight of a deer's innards varies depending on its health and diet