There’s a very distinct difference on properties here in NW AL between heavier bodied alluvial valley deer with great habitat and browse and deer that live in closed canopy upland forests with no browse.

I help manage two properties that are 4.5 miles apart and the difference in body weight is 35+ lbs on average for adult bucks and average antler scores are about 25” apart too. It’s almost like two distinct deer herds, but in actuality it’s simply a product of local habitat quality. I see a lot of mature deer in areas with a much more lean appearance than others in better habitat. The deer in poorer habitat are often aged younger than they actually are, and it’s opposite on areas with high quality habitat. Now, that’s not to say that hills don’t have good habitat, because some do. I should have mentioned that it’s less to do with upland vs bottomland, and more to do with the quality of vegetation on the property and surrounding properties.

I was expecting you to say hill deer are taller. But i guess leaner could equate to taller. Seems like tge deer pics people send in from.the lower part of the state are often shorter legged deer. Fatter bodied deer could appear shorter i guess. Might all be in my head. Mountain deer would almost certainly be more athletic just from the terrain