jawbone age
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pinetag
Well-Known Member
If i were strictly going by the game cam pics I would say 4.5 but the tooth wear is not exorbitant (possibly 3.5). Aging by jawbone is not an exact science though. Tooth wear is a combination of age and diet so an old deer with a lot of hard mast in their diet would show extreme wear. Same age deer with a lot of forbes and soft mast in their diet would be exceptionally less. My guess based on pics is 4.5 on this deer.
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bill turlik
Member
try this site its rely good easle to understand
Jeff H
Well-Known Member
We had a couple does checked by the MDOC last weekend. They were checking for CWD but also asked if they could pull a tooth for ageing purposes. I mentioned that jawbone ageing can be a bit subjective. The gal pulling the tooth mentioned that the teeth (or maybe just the front tooth that was pulled) have rings similar to a tree that gives them a much better idea of the age. Moments after pulling the teeth they were able to say that one doe was 1.5 year old and that the other was 2.5 or older. This is the first I've heard of such. It may be worth looking into for more accurately ageing a deer on the ground.
DocHolladay
Well-Known Member
I don't know if it is still around, but several years ago, there was a company that would age your deer this way. The cost of the packet included shipping and aging.
Jeff H
Well-Known Member
You are correct. I did a quick Google search and found a couple companies that do that. They do a cross section of the incisor tooth. I believe the cost was $25.00
Doe Shooter
Active Member
IMO Erosion of the dentine says 3.5
Blizzard Ridge
Well-Known Member
My taxidermist that lives in PA. Pulled the front tooth out of my buck I killed to get it aged. I am not positive but I think he has this done for free at a college if I remember right.
Tap
Well-Known Member
I just sent this year's buck's incisor teeth to DeerAge. Total cost with all shipping from my zip code is $31.95, and I'll have the results back by mid March.
However, I was talking to a taxidermist yesterday and he said that Matson Lab is where all the aging is actually done. He said all the other "labs" are sending their samples to Matson for the process. I don't know if he was correct or not. The Matson web site is a little confusing but it looks like they charge twice what DeerAge charges... $65 at Matson. Am I missing something?
FWIW...I've sent 4 sets of teeth to DeerAge over the years and each has come back to be estimated at 4.5 years old. I would have estimated 3.5 by tooth wear. There was less wear than what the books say there should be at 4.5.
However, I was talking to a taxidermist yesterday and he said that Matson Lab is where all the aging is actually done. He said all the other "labs" are sending their samples to Matson for the process. I don't know if he was correct or not. The Matson web site is a little confusing but it looks like they charge twice what DeerAge charges... $65 at Matson. Am I missing something?
FWIW...I've sent 4 sets of teeth to DeerAge over the years and each has come back to be estimated at 4.5 years old. I would have estimated 3.5 by tooth wear. There was less wear than what the books say there should be at 4.5.
So.....that what then do you think is the actual age of the deer, seeing that those two factors conflict?
Cap'n
Active Member
HAHA. I guess i'd have to say 3.5. A really well developed 3.5 year old. I dont know anything about the land around where he hunts so I know that a deer with a build like that would be at least 4.5.
Doe Shooter
Active Member
I'm not looking for fight,but in my area we have taken bucks that good that were 2.5. It's all about genetics and food. We have also taken 3.5 cow horns the weighed 160 lbs field dressed. Sometimes the doe and the buck are a super good match.
