Aging deer on the hoof

I need tips/ advice on aging deer on the hoof I need to learn what a 3.5 year old looks like and older .Any advice is much appreciated

 

I hear ya man, I'm still learning some of this stuff myself. Wish I could help!

 

Look for a sagging pot belly, thick neck, a fatty flap in the sternum area, and a dip in the back. If you see those things then you likely have a mature deer. On a mature buck, the head really fills out and the nose will look shorter and more stubby, but that's because the neck typically fills out quite a bit on a 4+ year old healthy bucks. Looking at the legs can really help too because younger deer appear to be "taller" even though they probably aren't, it's just that their body mass isn't like that of a mature deer.

Edit: the best way to test your skills is to get the jawbone checked after you put an arrow through him and see if you were accurate

 

https://www.qdma.com/videos/aging-bucks-on-the-hoof

 

Thanks for the link. Very informative video frenchbread . We're never going to forget that comment I'm sorry I had to.

 

As said above pot belly, sway in the back, and his sternum.

 

Thanks guys

 

Another one I hear a lot is a filled out front shoulder. A mature deer will have a front shoulder about the same size as the back ham.

 

I just hit them wit ha tranq dart and check their teeth...maybe I got a little extravagant?

 

unless there is a history with the deer, i'll be the vast majority get the age wrong on deer over 3.5.

 

If you don't already start watching Growing Deer Tv. Dr. Grant Woods talks a lot about that subject and shows examples.

 

I agree, without history all types of aging methods out there are nothing more than an educated guess. That goes for visually aging by body traits to both tooth aging methods.

 

Deer biologist Dr.Grant Woods on growingdeer.tv has covered this subject in detail you can check his videos out on his website or youtube!

 

Many firmly believe that tooth aging isn't dependable. Aging deer on the hoof is an educated guess by definition. Unless personal history with a deer, all you have to go on is indications of how a typical deer's body changes as it ages. Deer are not consistently going to change body proportions as they age from one deer to the next so there is a pretty understandable margin of error. That said, an educated guess is better than an uneducated guess.

I see more pics than the average person and have a longer history with several than many ever get a chance to enjoy. I still have a doubt as to estimates on deer age, especially at certain times of year. We have deer that I know have to be five or six and I still get pics of them that could be argued they are 3 this time of year. It's a lot easier and more dependable after they fill out in rut.