Calculations: Live weight and Meat Yield

[JW]

I've never messed with the meat yield but for about 10-11 years I had to log all the weights of the deer I killed for Cave Creek WMA. We did field dressed weight but I always wanted to know live weight too. So instead of hanging, weighing, gutting, rehanging and weighing I always used the calculation. I checked it periodically over the years and it gets pretty dang close. Thought I would share for them upcoming season. There are a couple different ones for live weight. Also chest circumference in case you don't have a scale. Remember there is always a +/-

How To Calculate the Live Weight of Your Deer
By Jeff Davis, Editor

Back to Media Resources


There are a couple of different methods to estimate the live weight of a deer. The first is to calculate the live weight by multiplying the weight of the deer after it has been field dressed (or dressed and skinned, or fully processed) by a coefficient, resulting in the estimated live weight. The other popular method is to measure the girth of the chest and determine the live weight from a chart.

Either method is reliable, but remember that it is still an estimate. Poor shot placement may result in more wasted meat, and just as is in people, there may be individual variation in body types that result in one animal weighing more or less than a second animal with the same girth measurement.

Or you can do what my friend always does: do all the different calculations and then claim the one that works out the largest!

Field Dressed Weight Calculation
You can use the field dressed weight (with lungs and all viscera removed), the hanging weight (field dressed deer without head, feet and hide), or the edible meat weight (total of boned meat) to calculate the live weight. The most accurate will be the field dressed weight. The hanging weight will vary depending on exactly where the head and legs are removed, and the edible meat weight can also vary greatly depending on how much meat is spoiled and exactly how it is boned and processed. (Weigh the meat before processing into sausage, jerky, etc.)

Field dressed: Multiply field dressed weight by 1.26 to determine live weight.

Hanging weight: Multiply hanging weight by 1.33 to determine live weight.

Edible meat weight: Multiply edible meat weight by 1.35 to determine live weight.


For instance: Your deer field dressed is 150 pounds. Multiply 150 by 1.26 and the estimated live weight is 189 pounds.


Under the best conditions, and if there is a minimum of waste, you can expect to get about 1/2 of the live weight in edible meat.


Chest Girth Chart
Here's a table to estimate your deer's live weight. Measure the girth of the chest in inches just behind the front legs.


Girth (in inches) Estimated Live Weight (in pounds)
24................................55
25................................61
26................................66
27................................71
28................................77
29................................82
30................................90
31................................98
32................................102
33................................110
34................................118
35................................126
36................................135
37................................146
38................................157
39................................169
40................................182
41................................195
42................................210
43................................228
44................................244
45................................267
46................................290
47................................310
48................................340



- See more at: http://www.whitetailsunlimited.com/n...r.phtml/#.dpuf

[Shinesintx]

I'm gonna save this thread in my favorites. I always wonder if the processor is screwing me on my meat.

[JW]

I'm gonna save this thread in my favorites. I always wonder if the processor is screwing me on my meat.

I had some of those threads in mind when I posted. Just remember it won't be spot on. But it'll get you close enough to know if you're being taken for a ride.

[grizzman]

I always do my own and have never thought of the yield.

[jooger17]

It's a pretty rare event that I field dress or weigh a deer lol

[JW]

It's a pretty rare event that I field dress or weigh a deer lol

I don't unless I have to. I learned how to get to then tenderloins when I was a kid lol.

[perfectstorm]

Cool thread. Tagged for reference

[jooger17]

I don't unless I have to. I learned how to get to then tenderloins when I was a kid lol.

[BTLowry]

Thanks for posting

[JW]

thanks for posting

sí.

[Buff]

Good info thanks

[dodgeman]

Subscribed to this thread. Good info thanks

[Take em]

Is the edible meat weight calculation correct? I figure it should be higher as 100# of meat would be a 135# deer. I have seen that I get about 25-33% live weight of meat from a deer.

[WCI]

Great share. Thanks Ragin'

[Hoyt Man]

im going compare this chart to my scales this year.