Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I shot a nice 10 point yesterday ...my best so far.
The deer had a small body compared to his rack, which got me curious about his age.
I have taken pics of the teeth and would love some opinions.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

3 1/2

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Judging by those teeth, I would say 2 1/2 years old. The cusps are sharp, and the crests don't show wear.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I forgot to add that this is an Ohio deer. He was full of corn when I shot him.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Nice buck, but I hate to say his teeth show him to be only 2.5 years old, maybe 3.5 if I could get the teeth in my hands and look at them. Certainly no older. That buck would have been a monster at maturity.

There are lots of websites that can show you how to age him based on tooth wear, and your pics are good enough to do it with.

Try this one http://www.kerrlake.com/deer/teeth.html

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I had come to the same conclusion myself. Definitely no older than 3.5, probably 2.5.

I took this buck on heavily hunted public land, believe it or not. And my brother killed a 9 point just a little bit smaller from the same tree two weeks earlier. Unbelievable.

I wish I owned some private land with this kind of genetics on it. This deer would have been world class in a few more years.

Gotta love Ohio!

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Did you get any pics w/front teeth showing? IMO, Juding from the pics helooks tobe3 to4.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

\

Jes I think you "nailed" it ...2 1/2

dd

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Nice Buck, with a bow too. Are you getting him mounted?You already skinned the head?

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I'm sitting here looking at Jawbone aging chart;I'm gonna say 3.5.

Alot of Dentine on Molors.

Maybe you should try to get a biologist to age??

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Here are a couple pics.







It is possible it is 3 1/2. But it didn't look like enough wear on the crests. That is why I thought 2 1/2.

If you find out for sure, let us know.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Ok, I was looking at the lower pic of the two. When I went back, and looked at the top of the two, it looks more like 3 1/2.So, I'm not positive either way. Good luck.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Not more than 3.5! Good deer no matter how old he is.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I was looking at a laminated color/grey scale chart for aging.
It really shows some good detail along with pics on how to cut jaw out,
dentine line,premolars,molars,wear patterns etc..etc...It also makes some good comparisons from fawn to 6.5 yrs.Pretty neat tool for use in the filed.

I got the chart from QDMA when I joined/subscribed some yrs ago.I had a very large Doe aged by a Fish and Game Bio last year at 3.5yrs.I then pulled out this aging chart and asked him to show me how he aged according to chart.He examined chart for few minutes and then admitted he made a mistake and deer should be 2.5 and explained why. Hummm - so the deer might be 2.5 or 3.5.

It would be nice if this jaw was aged by an expert just to see how we all did on the aging estimate??

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

2 1/2 to 3 1/2, congrat, nice one

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

The experts will be no better, they'll just be more definitive making a call. Everyone here has a done a good, careful job. It can be hard to tell the difference sometimes. I've been checked out on dozens of jawbones by my wildlife biologist before he would allow me to do them solo. I had to go over 2 years worth of harvested jawbones.

This buck is probably 2.5, but the pictures hide some of the detail on the dentine. In addition, it would be nice to feel the cusp on the last molar to feel for concavity vs. sharpness.

Another great tool available on the QDMA online store and elsewhere is at http://www.deeragingtool.com

This tool, in addition to the charts you mentioned can really help.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

id say 2.5 but just imagine his siz at 5.5

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Thanks for all the input. I will try to have this deer aged in person by a pro some day and let you all know.

I am doing a skull mount on this deer ...for the person who was wondering. I have a colony of dermestid beetles. I may regret not having a full mount done some day...but I really like the skull mounts.

Here is a little better picture of him. I am sure every time I look at his rack on the wall I will wonder what he would have been at 5.5 years!

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

Im gonna say at least 3 1/2 but more like 4 1/2.
The teeth is a good aid but not the only one, the body of a deer along with the teeth are more accurate. that body is no 2 1/2 year old. The wrinkles on his ear show age. His head shape also tells me he is older than 2 1/2 . that neck is no 2 1/2 either. His legs are thick also. Im gonna stick with him being 4 1/2 yrs old.
I also kinda of dissagree with those links. that 5 1/2 is more between 7 and 9 years old. They are also showing to much wear within a year.I dont believe it's that drastic. but hey thats just my opinion.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

nice 2 1/2 year old. to bad he didn't last till next season. i hear deer tend to climb to there max at around 3 years and peek at 6, but obviously it all depends on nutrition, genetics etc... still nice job:)


THE FOOT

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

I'm guessing 3 1/2. Real stocky looking deer though. He looks older than that, but his teeth are a good way to judge him.

RE: Any ideas on the age of this deer?
 

3.5 without a doubt.