also...is it the same aging does?

To halfbaked and everyone else...

There's clearly a lot of methods circulating about aging deer using the wear-replacement method. I want to share with you guys a method that my boss has developed...all indications say it is very reliable. This method narrows it down to one tooth per age...

When aging it's best to start at 0 years and work your way up...saying this deer is AT LEAST 1.5, 2.5, etc.

Fawn: Anything that has less than 6 cheek teeth is a fawn.

At least 1.5: If a deer has 6 cheek teeth and a tri-cusped 3rd cheeck tooth (3rd pre-molar) than the deer is at least 1.5

At least 2.5: If the 3rd cheek tooth has 2 cusps that deer is at least 2.5.

At least 3.5: Now look at the 3rd cusp on the 6th cheek tooth (3rd molar). If the last cusp is flat and you can see dentine (brown color, enamel is white) then that deer is at least 3.5. If the 3rd cusp on the last cheek tooth is not flat, your deer is only 2.5.

Now it starts to get interesting.

At least 4.5: Look at the 4th cheek tooth. If the dentine is wider than the enamel all the was around the perimeter of the tooth then that deer is 4.5.

At least 5.5: Look at the 5th cheek tooth. If the dentine is wider than the enamel all the way around the perimeter of the tooth, then that deer is 5.5.

At least 6.5: Same deal as 4 and 5, this time look at the 6th cheek tooth.

*Note: Once you get into the 4+ age range it is usually best to start classifying them in 2-yr age groups (ex: That deer is 4.5-5.5, or that deer is 5.5-6.5). There's simply too much room for error at those ages....even experts disagree. Best thing to do at that point is remove an incisor and send it in for testing.

However, the method I just outline can be very reliable aging deer up to the 3-4 yr old age range. As you can see, you only have to look at one tooth per age.

An yes, halfbaked, the same principles apply for bucks as does.

Thanks guys for taking the time to look..Thats what a hornady fpb bullet does at 40 yds..

[QUOTE=glew22;3582740]To halfbaked and everyone else...[QUOTE]

Thanks, very interesting, I am going to save that, I really don't age deer very often and never clamed to be very good, when I was young (many moons ago) the oldtimes always had to age the deer and some of the methods were really strange, but yours is very good Thanks Doc

I think it was Mississippi State or Auburn, one of the schools that has a deer research program, took a number of deer that were tagged, no doubt about their ages, removed their jawbones, and had a number of deer biologist/specialist examine the jawbones to determine the ages. Very few of the deer were aged correctly by examining their jawbones.

I'd have to agree, there are way too many factors that can alter a deers teeth. Most people claim to be experts but unless you are a biologist that specializes in deer I think most are just educated guesses, just look at the range of ages we got off this post.

I think aging by the teeth can give a pretty good idea of the age of the animal, but it certainly isn't science, but I think it is good enough for the average hunter. I think it should also be noted that in areas that receive regular hunting pressure, finding a deer that is 4 1/2 or over is not very likely, I might be wrong but I don't think I am. Doc