GregH

I'm no expert either but due to my profession as an electrician and armchair biologist I have quite the interest in this subject myself. [8D]

However, other than color of coat, everything else listed above definitely gives more of a definition of age than just 'young deer' or 'mature deer'.

Rack size:

In the area where these deer are hunted the rack size can definitely get you in the ball park of age class.For the average......

1 1/2 - spike to about 80"

2 1/2 - 70" to about 115"

3 1/2 - 120" to about 140"

4 1/2 - 135" to about 150"

5 1/2+ - 145" to 170"+

The mass of the rack is also indicative, especially between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. Stickers are another indicator of age (generally).

These are the average figures that can get you close. Now you throw in body shape and appearance(roman nose, pot belly, swagger etc), the size and shape and wear of the hooves, especially the fronts. Now you can start picking out age class. At least I can ,along with several other guys that I know. As I said before, it is a best guess based on our years of experience with the deer in this area. We feel that we are within a year of our guesstimates and definitely more accurate than... young..... mature.


Yes, this was addressed in my initial post.

I'm not certain about that. There are too many variables to say this is true for all locations. Who said it was for certain?

I addressed this in my initial post as well. I have to agree, it doesn't look like the ones in the pics from the web sites that you posted. To be fair, I don't think that their jaw bones are from the same location as mine. The one was from Texas.

I tried this once, I brought the rack, a pic and the jaw bone from a 20", 140 5/8" 8 pointer that field dressed at 193 pounds to my local whitetail biologist......... He told me it was a 1 1/2!!

I am interested in getting the teeth analyzed. If I do, I'll let you know.

IAhuntr

Cool enough. I'm definately not one to debate the subject as I'm just learning as I go, but I haven't seen a pic of an 8.5 y/o jawfrom any part ofNorth Americathat had any amount of teeth left close to yours.
Anyhow,since your local biologist is about as accurate as playing darts, you'd have to find another biolgist that has a clue or do the teeth analysis.
Just a heads-up if you do the teeth, soak the front portion of the jaw in warm water for an hour or so before you go to make your incisions. The tip of the root is what they need and the tooth won't come out intact after the surrounding soft tissue/gum has dried soaking it will soften it right up.

GregH

Is the tooth that's needed for this (the incisor), one of the two middle ones, or will any of the front teeth do?

Thanks

IAhuntr

The very front two.

robdre56

greg do you think becuase of the broken jaw that is why he had those droptines?

eswany

Hey Greg, Absolutely fascinating! Thanks for posting and sharing your thoughts. Keep us updated if you do get it aged.

GregH

No, he had the drop tineslast year and the broken jaw was from this year.

GMMAT

Greg:

Back when I said my taxi (who's nationally recognized/decorated) had aged my two bucks via this method.....you seemingly scoffed at the practice and questioned its accuracy.

Have you changed your mind? Why?

bawanajim

Jeff ,OJ had experts that said he didn't do it also,real experts that said no way.[:-]

Why you embarrass your self like this amazes me, Greg is hunting a different class of deer ,get over it. The guy is good give it to him and try to learn some thing from him.
No one has ever taken any thing from your bucks ,be proud ,but don't even pretend that they are in this class.
Bestrepresentative specimen ? Go with that for a while.

GMMAT

I have no idea what you're talking about, Jim. You sound like a drunk, though.

Your inferences are pretty pathetic, though. I asked a fair question.

Have another!