The oldest deer on record is a 23-24 year old captive doe in Texas, according to Joe Hamilton, the founder of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). Most captive deer live longer than wild deer due to the abundance of high-quality food, minimal predation, and access to vaccines and medicines. The oldest known captive deer are 17-18 year old does from the University of New Hampshire, a 14 year old buck from the University of Georgia, and a 22 year old doe from Mississippi State University. Wild deer typically do not live as long due to factors such as hunting, vehicle collisions, severe weather, disease, and predators. The oldest known wild deer was a 15.5 year old buck in Georgia, as determined by cementum annuli analysis.
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