Determining deer age????
01-22-2002, 02:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Howell, NJ USA
Posts: 48
Determining deer age????
Can anyone help me with this? I want to know just for curiousity sake about the age of the buck deer I got this year. Im new to hunting and this is my first year and also my first deer. According to the way I hear it, each point of the deer's horn is equal to one year in age. If thats the case my deer is 19 years old. It doesn't look that old and the meat taste fine? Any thoughts fellow hunters?
01-22-2002, 02:36 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Warren PA USA
Posts: 1,512
RE: Determining deer age????
ABSOLUTELY FALSE! A DEERS AGE IS OFTEN DETERMINED BY THE WEARING OF THE TEETH. MOST DEER ARE BORN IN LATE SPRING TO EARLY SUMMER. THUS, WHEN YOU HARVEST A DEER IN THE FALL IT IS ROUGHTLY X.5 YEARS OLD.
EX.
BORN IN MAY 1998 AND SHOT IN FALL 2001 = 3.5
THE NUMBER OF POINTS ON A DEER'S HEAD HAS ABSOLUTEYLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF YEARS IT'S BEEN ALIVE.
EX.
BORN IN MAY 1998 AND SHOT IN FALL 2001 = 3.5
THE NUMBER OF POINTS ON A DEER'S HEAD HAS ABSOLUTEYLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF YEARS IT'S BEEN ALIVE.
01-22-2002, 06:09 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gettysburg PA USA
Posts: 20
RE: Determining deer age????
In order to age a deer, you need to pull the lower jawbone out. It is about a 4-5 inch section of 6 teeth. I have a fair amount of experience aging deer this way. If you had the jawbone, I'd age it for you if you sent it to me.
The oldest PA deer I have aged was an 8.5 year old doe my brother shot this past flintlock season. The oldest buck I have aged was 5.5. That is indeed rare for PA. Most "nice" bucks guys bring to me are 2.5-3.5 years old.
The oldest PA deer I have aged was an 8.5 year old doe my brother shot this past flintlock season. The oldest buck I have aged was 5.5. That is indeed rare for PA. Most "nice" bucks guys bring to me are 2.5-3.5 years old.
01-22-2002, 07:55 PM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Industry Pa. USA
Posts: 242
01-23-2002, 06:39 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Howell, NJ USA
Posts: 48
RE: Determining deer age????
Hey guys, thanx alot for the explanation, especially Jason. you were a big help! As soon as I learn how to post a picture, I will show you my 1st deer! thanx again!!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
