The only true way to age deer is by looking at the teeth. So, let's all learn a little something by posting pics of teeth.
How old is this deer?
How old is this deer?
He was the one I was thinking about. Or our local teachers.I just added it to the title. I agree, not the most NSFW thing, but then again guys like @Dannmann801 work in spaces where you never know what someone will think of pics like these.
cementum annuli aging of a tooth is extremely accurate. and there is not really any contest between this and molar wear aging. if it's good enough for biologists for data collection, then it's good enough for me. although I can honestly say that I don't give a shit what the age of deer I've killed is other than simply curiosity after the fact. I either want to kill the deer or I don't. you won't catch me deliberating on whether or not "he needs another year".
A 1.5 year old is so obvious based on tooth replacement, there’s no way the DNR got that wrong. You would be very surprised how many nice bucks are only 1.5 years old in Ohio. Genetics and nutrition are incredible.Maybe tooth aging has come a long way since 1986 but I killed a 136” 11 point that the DNR aged at 1.5. I would have almost believed 2.5. Most likely 3.5. So I don’t put a lot of stock in any of it. I know that from running lots of cameras that most deer are older than people think.
2. Yearlings (1.5 yr old) do have 6 teeth showing, but the third premolar will either be a worn down tricuspid tooth (baby tooth) or a shiny white new bicuspid tooth. Yours has a bicuspid 3rd premolar, and its stained like all the other teeth around it... so it’s at least 2.5 years old.
Like I said maybe it’s come a long way. You are also talking about the ODNR.A 1.5 year old is so obvious based on tooth replacement, there’s no way the DNR got that wrong. You would be very surprised how many nice bucks are only 1.5 years old in Ohio. Genetics and nutrition are incredible.