White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) research and management often requires that animals be immobilized for capture, handling, or transport. Many wildlife immobilization techniques exist, including chemical immobilization with remotely delivered anesthetic agents. Preferred agents immobilize the target animal quickly, with minimal physiological stress, and can be reversed completely in a short time. Some authors have suggested a combination of medetomidine and ketamine (M/K), antagonized with atipamezole, as a potentially effective agent. This study compared the efficacy and physiological effects of M/K with a traditional agent, xylazine/Telazol® (X/T), antagonized with tolazoline. Fifteen captive white-tailed does were divided between 2 groups and anesthetized with M/K (7 animals) or X/T (8 animals). Percent blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse rate, and rectal temperature were monitored at 5-minute intervals for 30 minutes following induction. At 30 minutes post-induction, anesthesia was antagonized with atipamezole (M/K) or tolazoline (X/T). Treatment animals exhibited significantly longer and more variable induction and reversal times. Control animals, however, took longer to recover following reversal. Immediately following induction, control animals showed a significant drop in SpO2 and an increased pulse rate relative to treatment animals. Within 5 minutes post-induction, levels between the 2 groups were comparable. Both groups exhibited elevated body temperature, but temperature did not differ between the 2 groups.