However, there are some important factors that can influence their lifespan:
* Predation: Deer are prey animals, and predators like wolves, bears, and cougars can significantly shorten their lives.
* Disease: Deer are susceptible to various diseases, including chronic wasting disease, which can shorten their lifespan.
* Hunting: In areas where hunting is permitted, deer may be harvested before they reach their natural lifespan.
* Habitat: Deer in areas with good food and cover can live longer than those in areas with limited resources.
Some white-tailed deer may live longer than 10 years, especially if they are in areas with low predation, little disease, and abundant resources. The oldest recorded wild white-tailed deer lived to be 20 years old.