Buck aging

[Snake]

http://bowsite.com/BOWSITE/features/art ... gcontest1/




See how field judging can be off , way off . Known pictures or teeth seem to be the only true way .

 

[Mike Belt]

...and even then you could still be off a year or so. Much depends on the area the deer come from and the localized food sources.

 

[Jmed]

After being on the same KY farm for 5 years, running cell cams year round the only way I feel 100% about a deers age is to have photos consecutive years. Most of our 3 year olds are 200lbs on the hoof, which is mind blowing, but what really opened my eyes, was the 4.5 year old that we have pics of his whole life blew up into a 200" gross buck that was 300# on the hoof. when I posted his tooth pics on here and face book, most folks said it looked like 2.5 year old and were certain of that age assessment, even after I posted a pic of the giant deer. Thats why for deer managers, I am a fan of simply classifying bucks as mature or not and thats it.

 

[fairchaser]

I couldn't see all the data no matter which way I adjusted my phone but I think I got the gist of it. My question is for clubs like ours that encourages harvesting mature bucks 4.5 and older and use antler score to eliminate 2.5 year olds and most 3.5 year olds, what do you recommend as the BEST method for aging harvested deer? Currently, we use TWR period. Body size and shape or antler mass do not come into play. Often the members will send off the incisors for CA and get different results. If a deer scores enough then age is not a factor since no fines are imposed but in order to encourage members to allow young but scoring bucks to walk, age must be hard and fast.

 

[catman529]

After being on the same KY farm for 5 years, running cell cams year round the only way I feel 100% about a deers age is to have photos consecutive years. Most of our 3 year olds are 200lbs on the hoof, which is mind blowing, but what really opened my eyes, was the 4.5 year old that we have pics of his whole life blew up into a 200" gross buck that was 300# on the hoof. when I posted his tooth pics on here and face book, most folks said it looked like 2.5 year old and were certain of that age assessment, even after I posted a pic of the giant deer. Thats why for deer managers, I am a fan of simply classifying bucks as mature or not and thats it.

I picked up a skull a couple years ago that I am 99% sure was a buck I was after in 2012 and 2013. The jaw bones in the pile said 4.5 but he was easily 6.5+ when he died.


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