BSK & Other Experienced Deer Agers - Deer #2

[TheLBLman]

Would appreciate your thoughts/opinions regarding the age of this deer at harvest, which was during month of September as well.

We take more our deer in November, so I'm not sure just how much difference it makes on September-killed deer?

Deer #2 - both sides

 

[HUNTTNKY]

BSK, thoughts on this one?

 

[BSK]

That's a tough one Wes. I would need to hold that jaw in my hands. Although from the picture angles provided, none of the teeth show excessive wear, all of the teeth show wear. That is very unusual. Even the 6th tooth on both sides show wear.

I would have to say, from those pictures, at least 3 1/2 and might be 4 1/2.

 

[TheLBLman]

Thanks BSK.
I had previously labeled this one as "3 1/2 or older".

Would think there would only be slightly more tooth wear between Sept & Nov because the focus would be more on the rut than food.

 

[BSK]

I don't think 2 months would produce significantly different wear.

 

[pass-thru]

Thanks BSK.
I had previously labeled this one as "3 1/2 or older".

Would think there would only be slightly more tooth wear between Sept & Nov because the focus would be more on the rut than food.

I would think 2 months difference would only be distinguishable in deer under 2 1/2 years old.

 

[catman529]

I'm gonna guess he's not older than 3.5. Still fairly high gum line on tooth 6, but pic doesn't show that very well. Looks to me like only the first molar shows enough dentine... just my guess

 

[catman529]

Looking again, the gum line might not be so high as the teeth are worn down. could be older

 

[BSK]

Thanks BSK.
I had previously labeled this one as "3 1/2 or older".

Would think there would only be slightly more tooth wear between Sept & Nov because the focus would be more on the rut than food.

I would think 2 months difference would only be distinguishable in deer under 2 1/2 years old.

Agreed. A difference of September vs November harvest date is an 11.1% difference in age for a yearling--a significant difference. For a 2 1/2 year-old, it's a 6.7% difference, and only a 4.8% difference for a 3 1/2 year-old. I seriously doubt that 2 month difference would be noticeable for a 3 1/2 year-old's tooth wear.