Alot of talk about aging lately. Got me thinking about some of the deer we've killed over the years and their ages. I'm still trying to learn to age them on the hoof...getting better, but definitely not "good" yet. Below are some bucks that my son and my nephew took over the past few years.....ALL were aged by a biologist so I know the ages. I also weighed them all...if that helps you. These are mountain deer so they aren't huge body deer, obviously. 5 were taken in WV, 1 in VA. Let me know what your thoughts are on these....curious. Hint...none are 4.5 or older :D :p :p (sorry, no prize for the winner ) 1. WV spike....81lbs dressed 2. VA 7pt.... 107lbs dressed 3. WV 3pt...88lbs dressed 4. WV 8pt....97lbs dressed 5. WV 8pt.... 94lbs dressed 6. WV 4pt.... 80lbs dressed
This is exactly what I thought after these deer were killed. Once they were aged...I was floored. 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 That's right .... ALL were 2.5's. I have the jawbones, there is no disputing it...the first pre-molar is worn on all of them. Power bucks no doubt Who'd of thunk a bunch of 80lb spikes/forks were 2.5. I'd have never believed it if I didn't see the jawbones. 2.5's are the easiest to identify by teeth, outside of 1.5's obviously. My cousin's son killed this buck last week at our place in WV ... It was aged by the dnr at 3.5 ... and weighed 105 dressed. It was his first buck so he was pumped...but boy what a weak 3.5! You could visibly see a good bit more wear on the teeth on this deer than the 2.5's. Definitely a 3.5 On the flipside of these....I killed this one last year in WV and it too was aged at 2.5, and weighed 101dressed. I thought for sure it was 3.5....and it was one of the nicer deer I've seen in the last 5 yrs. Would have loved to seen him in another couple years....lots of potential for sure. What I have come to understand is I don't know squat when judging their accurate age on the hoof...except that I can come within a year or so I wonder how many other folks think they are aging accurately, but truth be told they are wrong like me. Alot of folks seem very confident, maybe its easier in other areas...maybe the deer do have more distinct differences at the different ages, moreso than here. The other thing I've come to understand....its no wonder we don't have many (if any) P&Y caliber bucks running around. It takes most of them 3+yrs to reach 100"... if they live that long. I need to move to the midwest. Anyone got a room for rent :D
Well looks like I am late to the party but this is what I got before reading anyones guesses 1. 1.5 2. 2.5 3. 1.5 4. 3.5 5. 2.5 6. 1.5 Tim
Mike Your eastern deer are very hard to age on the hoof. It is much easier here not that anyone is a 100% as they are just guessitmates. Tim
I didn't think any of them looked SMALL enough in the BODY to be a 1.5yr old deer, I'd have probably guessed 2.5 on all but the better buck (#4), and I'd have leaned towards 3.5, based on the racks of the others, but I'm also somewhat familiar with the lack of size of WV deer being not too far away.....Too bad the women make up for it down there......:D
Just so you know I wouldnt take you biologist word until you send your deer bottom front teeth off and have then cut and the rings counted. But at the same time your bio would surely know that the first premolar would have 2 cusp on a 2 1/2+ yr old compared to 3 cusp on a 1 1/2 yr old. Hard to believe any deer waying under 140lbs as a 2 1/2 yr old
