Interesting jawbone

[megalomaniac]

Anyone disagree it is a classic example of a 2.5yo deer? Almost no wear on PM3, broken cusps on the right M1 and PM3- not wear

The only thing that indicates it is any older than 2.5 is the last cusp of M3 is fully erupted and tall. (Sorry I didn't capture that adequately in the photo)

 

[TN Larry]

I would call it a classic 2.5yo from that pic.

 

[Andy S.]

Screams 2.5 to me from this one pic/angle.

 

[redblood]

Yeah that one is textbook 2.5

 

[megalomaniac]

I've seen several deer that we have killed that the jawbone missed the age by a year, but this is the first buck we've killed that missed by a full 2 years!

My daughters buck had all the features of a fully mature deer. 192lbs post rut (should have been 225 in early November). We have only killed 1 2.5yo since I started keeping records 7 or 8 years ago, and it weighed 155 prerut. Several 3.5yos killed averaging around 180lbs pre rut, and the lightest 4.5yo or older deer we've killed was 180lbs, most averaging 195 to 200lbs.

Furthermore, I've never seen a 2.5yo with tarsal staining all the way from the hocks down to the hooves.

I know you cant judge age based on the rack, but everything about this deer screams fully mature... except for the jawbone.

Regardless, its all academic. I'm sticking with my theory that this deer lived on pudding.

 

[megalomaniac]

Addl pics

 

[Ski]

He has a long face and his eyes are small for his head, so I'm doubtful he's 2.5. IMO, aging is a collection of evidence. The only evidence of youth for this guy is the jawbone. Everything else is older. That makes this jawbone seem anomalous, and that's how id accept it. Pudding diet might be right!

 

[catman529]

Yes it does look like a classic 2.5 year old, but is one of those deer that could possibly be a year older. The gum line on the last molar is one of the main things I look at and tend to lean a year older if it's fully erupted and has some wear on the last cusp.