BSK. 2 Sets of Jawbones

[Big Buck]

I think the first set is 1.5-2.5

I think the second set is 3.5

 

[catman529]

They both look 3.5 to me


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[TX300mag]

4.5 on top one, 3.5 on bottom (my guess)

 

[Big Buck]

I left this pic out from the older deer

 

[Big Buck]

I will wait for BSK to respond
I really think younger deer is 1.5-2.5 max
The jaw bone length is about 2-3" smaller
than the older deer

 

[TX300mag]

I will wait for BSK to respond
I really think younger deer is 1.5-2.5 max
The jaw bone length is about 2-3" smaller
than the older deer

Yeah, I'm definitely learning and you're already getting various answers.

1.5 and 2.5 are generally easiest to differentiate in my opinion. What has you on the fence about this one? The premoler COULD be a new tooth with the two crests, but it already shows some wear IMO.

 

[BSK]

They both look 3.5 to me

This.

 

[BigGameGuy]

At least 3.5 on both, I'd also be okay calling the top one 4.5.

 

[Big Buck]

The one I think is younger had a very small body
head, nose ect
Basket rack 8 pt, 115 lbs

The larger deer was much bigger in body head
nose ect, 155, 16.5"w 8 pt

Here is a better pic of the smaller deer teeth

 

[BigGameGuy]

After seeing the side view, I'd go with 3.5 on both.

 

[Big Buck]

I would have never thought 3.5 on the smaller deer
It was a mistake kill.
Everything about the body indicates 1-5-2.5 max

The teeth tell the age in most cases

I hate that the deer was 3.5 as it does not measure
up to what most of our 3.5 deer look like

Thank you for help on this one!

 

[Deerbuster1996]

3.5


Hunt just about everything

 

[catman529]

I would have never thought 3.5 on the smaller deer
It was a mistake kill.
Everything about the body indicates 1-5-2.5 max

The teeth tell the age in most cases

I hate that the deer was 3.5 as it does not measure
up to what most of our 3.5 deer look like

Thank you for help on this one!

a 1.5 year old still has milk teeth so it's easy to tell yours isn't 1.5. It's worn down enough it pretty much rules out 2.5 as well. I killed a tiny 2.5 year old buck this year that I was very surprised to find did not have any milk teeth he had a small body, skinny neck and small rack but was not the yearling he appeared to be. You can't judge by body size, size does not indicate age


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[megalomaniac]

both are 3.5...

there is EXTREME variability in deer body sizes just like humans. Some adults are 7' tall and play basketball. Some are Spud Webb

the deer my son shot this afternoon was clearly 3.5 by body conformation and jawbone, but had an extremely small frame and only weighed 155lbs live wt.

 

[BSK]

I would have never thought 3.5 on the smaller deer
It was a mistake kill.
Everything about the body indicates 1-5-2.5 max

The teeth tell the age in most cases

I hate that the deer was 3.5 as it does not measure
up to what most of our 3.5 deer look like

Thank you for help on this one!

As Megalomaniac pointed out, there is so much variability in body weights and antler characteristics/score within each age-class, that it can be dangerous assuming a specific age buck will be a certain weight or have antlers that are a certain size. Now it's true to say that with each year older, bucks AVERAGE more weight or a higher score, but within that average is a massive range of numbers. In fact, there can be so much range within and between ages that a specific weight or score can belong to virtually any age buck. I've seen 200+ pound 2 1/2 year-old bucks in TN. I've seen mature bucks weighing less than 125. I've seen yearling bucks scoring over 100 gross B&C and mature bucks scoring under 50 gross B&C. And top and bottom-end bucks exist everywhere.