Why must people use "half" when talking deer ages?

Discussion in 'Bowhunting Talk' started by buckeye, Sep 22, 2011.

  1. tfox

    tfox Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Posts:
    5,915
    Likes Received:
    8
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    henderson ky
    Deer have a much shorter life span than we do so a half year is a much larger part of their life span than ours. Add to it the fact they are born in the spring, it makes since to add it when it is technically correct.
     
  2. gutone4me

    gutone4me Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2011
    Posts:
    7,881
    Likes Received:
    31
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Monroe County WI
    I do every thing half assed :D
     
  3. GABowhunter

    GABowhunter Moderator

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    7,788
    Likes Received:
    1
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Ringgold, Georgia
    ^ This
     
  4. Treehopper

    Treehopper Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Posts:
    1,939
    Likes Received:
    3
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    WI
    It is just the way I was taught.
     
  5. purebowhunting

    purebowhunting Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2010
    Posts:
    2,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Central Wisconsin
    I believe its a life span thing, I hear people describe the age of their dogs in half years, the first two years of a child's life is described in months. I think the shorter the life span the more people break down the time frame.
     
  6. buckeye

    buckeye Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Posts:
    7,673
    Likes Received:
    847
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    The OH-IO
    Well then, if you guys are so adamant, you should start calling deer in July 1/4's, in October 1/2's and in January 3/4's. You know to insure age accuracy.

    For the most part people call them .5's no matter the time of year, April or December. So really, it isn't about age accuracy.
     
  7. soccerdan90

    soccerdan90 Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Posts:
    5,930
    Likes Received:
    1,743
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Oskaloosa Iowa
    To me its oh look a 2 yr old or younger or 3 yr old and older. Should we throw the deer a birthday!!
     
  8. buckeye

    buckeye Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Posts:
    7,673
    Likes Received:
    847
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    The OH-IO
    Twice a year we could, but specifically for their half year birthday cake, we could put one full candle for each year of age and cut a candle in half to represent their half year as well.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2011
  9. soccerdan90

    soccerdan90 Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2010
    Posts:
    5,930
    Likes Received:
    1,743
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Oskaloosa Iowa
    BRILLIANT!!!!!!! During the rut Ill throw the buck I kill a half bday party while Im cutting it up!
     
  10. Cablebob

    Cablebob Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2011
    Posts:
    2,300
    Likes Received:
    353
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    I like the first rack, second rack guy...that's a great idea.
     
  11. TJF

    TJF Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Posts:
    4,869
    Likes Received:
    1,426
    Dislikes Received:
    1
    Location:
    ND
    Oh bite me. :hater:

    It was taught that way... way back when. You got to remember... 20 - 30 years ago there was no food plots, summer scouting or many bowhunters. When guys hit the woods it was rifle for the most part. When rifle season ended most people never gave the deer a thought until the next rifle season. By late October/early November... the deer were .5 . Everyone I know around here always added the .5 . It stuck to this day. I really would doubt it was an ego thing. I know I am horrid for it but it is more a habit then anything. Why they had to be correct on age and most still said they had horns back when I started hunting... you do wonder why it caught on as it did.

    In college we aged deer jaws for a class. You got it wrong if you left the .5 out on the test.

    Now that I know it bugs you... :evilgrin: !!!!!!!!!

    Tim
     
  12. LittleChief

    LittleChief Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    Posts:
    11,998
    Likes Received:
    41,078
    Dislikes Received:
    6
    Location:
    SE Missouri
    That's only if you're talking. When you're typing you do everything .5 assed. :D
    Edit: ...or 1/2 assed. Take your pick. :lol:
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2011
  13. gutone4me

    gutone4me Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2011
    Posts:
    7,881
    Likes Received:
    31
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Monroe County WI
    I pick 1/2 assed ! !
     
  14. NY Bowhunter

    NY Bowhunter Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2009
    Posts:
    4,553
    Likes Received:
    352
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    what would you call a deer born this year without the half method?
     
  15. Forkie McRut

    Forkie McRut Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    May 21, 2011
    Posts:
    102
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Hagerstown, MD
    a fawn
     
  16. NY Bowhunter

    NY Bowhunter Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2009
    Posts:
    4,553
    Likes Received:
    352
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    But is it not born yet? 0 years old?
     
  17. bloodcrick

    bloodcrick Moderator/BHOD Prostaff

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Posts:
    11,180
    Likes Received:
    441
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    southern Indiana
    I do it because I know it bothers you .5 % of the time El Scotto :sheep:
     
  18. Rick James

    Rick James Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2008
    Posts:
    5,204
    Likes Received:
    1,416
    Dislikes Received:
    3
    Location:
    N. Illinois
    I think it comes from the discrepency between what people call a yearling. Some people call a button buck from this year a yearling. That deer IMHO isn't a yearling, and when saying a 1.5 year old buck people know exactly what I'm referencing. I think that just carries over to older deer than that.
     
  19. rednas5

    rednas5 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    Posts:
    1,447
    Likes Received:
    345
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Northwest Missouri
    This is it. When aging deer with the conservation dept., we had to age by .5. That was the way I was taught.
     
  20. fletch920

    fletch920 Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Posts:
    9,192
    Likes Received:
    5,226
    Dislikes Received:
    44
    Location:
    iowa
    In the spring he is 2. In the Fall he is 2.5. It is what biologists use. Not sure why it is a big deal? It is simply the correct way to explain what you are talking about. Simple way to classify the animal.
     

Share This Page