ORIGINAL: Jimmy S
A few years back, I shot a nice 8 pointer that dressed at 178 pounds. When I registered him, there was a biologist from UNH that was working with the NH F&G. He asked if I was going to have it mounted and when I said no, he asked to check the age by extracting a tooth. I said OK and he told me that buck was only 1 1/2 yrs. old. I questioned his age but the biologist told me it was absolutely true and this 8 pointer was 1 1/2. I was still very suprised but was convinced he knew what he was talking about and he even showed me the extracted tooth and why he could age it so accurately.
He finally told me I made one mistake. He said I should have shot him next year.
I'dtake the biologist opinion with a grain. He mighthave been right, but it has been proven time and again that the tooth method is not 100% reliable. Jsut cause he has a titke doesn't make hime all knowing. Case in point, a coworker took his wife in for some diagnose and the Educated doctor said all the problems were gall bladder realted. Simple surgery and she would be back to normal in a few months. Well a few monthshas passed and he has now given her six months tolive with pancraetic cancer. Sure a little extreme, but just goes to show that the pros even screw up.