We've tested this formula over the last few deer seasons. It will get you within 5% of the actual weight. Stop guessing your deer's weight. This useful formula will help you determine your deer's estimated live weight, field dressed weight, hanging weight and edible meat weight.
Live Weight X 78% = Field Dress Weight X 75% = Hanging Weight X 75% = Edible Meat Weight
Here is an example of the formula:
100 Lbs. Live Weight X 78% = 78 Lbs. Field Dressed Weight X 75% = 58 Lbs. Hanging Weight X 75% = 43 Lbs. Edible Meat
You can use the following formula to work backwards.  If you know the weight of edible meat, you can calculate the hanging weight, field dressed weight, etc..  You can calculate from any weight.  If you know the hanging weight, than you could estimate the field dressed weight and the live weight.
Edible Meat Weight X 1.35 = Hanging Weight X 1.33 = Field Dressed Weight X 1.26 = Live Weight
Here is an example of this formula:
25 Lbs. Edible Meat X 1.35 = 34 Lbs. Hanging Weight X 1.33 = 44 Lbs. Field Dressed Weight X 1.26 = 55 Lbs. Live Weight
Here's a table to estimate your deer's live weight. Measure the girth just behind the front legs.

Girth/Inches

 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

Field Dressed is body cavity cleaned out (no heart, lungs, intestines, etc..)

Hanging Weight is the field dressed deer minus the head, feet and hide.

Edible Meat Weight will vary depending upon:
How the deer is processed and
How many times the deer was shot and what part(s) of the deer was shot.
For Example, if the whole deer is boned out completely, you will receive approximately 50% to 60% of the Hanging Weight in Edible Meat.