Jawbone age

[cecil30-30]

Killed this deer back in early muzzleloader, really had him pegged as a 2.5 yr old. Was doing a euro mount on him last week and noticed how much his top teeth was wore. So I hunted his lower jawbone up today, it was in the yard, dogs had been chewing on it. How old you think this deer was? Judging by his teeth, he is pretty dang old. Rack definitely doesn't match his age, or ot might if he is as old as his teeth show.

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[TheLBLman]

I'd love to see the other side as well.

For sure, 3 1/2 or older.
Probably 4 1/2 or older.

When I age one by this method,
I'm "guessing" the youngest age believed to be near 100% probability,
which is why the "or older" is there.

 

[cecil30-30]

I'd love to see the other side as well.

For sure, 3 1/2 or older.
Probably 4 1/2 or older.

I can't find the other side. I have the skull and all top teeth are there.

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[TheLBLman]

I have the skull and all top teeth are there.

If you want a more accurate guess, can send off to a lab for CA analysis.

This deer could have been 5 1/2, or older :tu:

 

[TN Larry]

I would say definitely 4.5 and possibly 5.5.

 

[megalomaniac]

Easy textbook 5.5.... very real possibility of 6.5

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[Matador]

Well there you go, you have everything from 2.5 to 6.5 years old. Believe you will have to send it off.

 

[cecil30-30]

Here's a pic of his body.

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[TheLBLman]

Easy textbook 5.5.... very real possibility of 6.5

Not disagreeing with that, but what if the other side was an easy textbook 3.5 ?

Just trying to point out that every deer is an individual, and tooth wear rates vary a bit, different areas have different food sources (some items wear the teeth faster), some deer may chew mostly on one side, etc.

And, our assessment is limited to this pic without other meaningful data.

I'd like to see the other side, and have both in my hands for careful inspection.
Would also like to know if this was an early archery kill or a very recent gun kill.

Do agree this deer was very likely 5 1/2 or older

 

[TheLBLman]

Hadn't seen the ground pics before prior post, but they don't change much for my thoughts
4 1/2 or older

 

[cecil30-30]

This deer was killed in the middle of several thousand acres of bowater pines.

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[Andy S.]

Easy textbook 5.5....

For sure, and we typically underage with TR&W as they get older, so yeah, could be older.

 

[Andy S.]

Well there you go, you have everything from 2.5 to 6.5 years old. Believe you will have to send it off.

Anyone who knows what they are looking at would NEVER in their right mind age this deer at 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 by tooth wear. He is at least 5.5, and possibly older. The thought of sending of the incisor, or molar if you do not have the incisor, is a good one, especially for teeth with this much wear.

Kill pics laying on ground suggest 4.5+ as well, and in my opinion, there is not a worse picture to age body configuration from than a dead deer laying on the ground.

I'd wager 5.5+ all day long.

 

[MickThompson]

Deer appears to be thoroughly muscled up and a big body.

Did you weigh him? The antlers aren't the biggest, but the jawbone and body sure suggest a fully mature buck.


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[cecil30-30]

Deer appears to be thoroughly muscled up and a big body.

Did you weigh him? The antlers aren't the biggest, but the jawbone and body sure suggest a fully mature buck.


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Field dressed 136lbs. Weighed at the processor

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[Andy S.]

^^^^50# in his neck alone...... :tu:

 

[MickThompson]

I'd be hard pressed to believe a 2 year old in a low ag area would weigh that much.


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[muddyboots]

Wow really tough one. By teeth I'd say 5 1/2. By body I'd say 4 1/2. By head size(not rack) the actual head is sat 2 1/2. So I. Other words I have no clue. Lol. Congrats none the less.

 

[TheLBLman]

I'd be hard pressed to believe a 2 year old in a low ag area would weigh that much.

I agree, not the norm.
But then no one thought he was a 2 1/2, based on his teeth.
(The shooter "may" have thought that, based on his rack.)

I've had deer where one side looks 5 1/2 and the other looks 3 1/2.
So what would you call it a 3 1/2 or a 5 1/2, or split the difference?

 

[MickThompson]

4 1/2+ by the jaw for me


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[cecil30-30]

Here is a pic of his top teeth. A little bleached from the peroxide.

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[Good time Charlie]

5.5 east Tenn. deer

 

[megalomaniac]

bad crossbite and certainly favored his right side. The other lower jawbone will certainly show less wear than the one you originally posted, but I still think he'll go 5.5

 

[Winchester]

Hes def not 2.5