'Nother Jaw Bone

[Lawdwaz]

dbHunterNY and I PM'd back and forth a little the other day regarding aging deer.  He asked if I would post up some pics of my bucks lower jaw for analysis.

 

Here we go..........

 

 

 

 

[dbHunterNY]

Well? What do you folks think the age is?

[Terry]

2-1/2

[Terry]

After looking at the info and tools I have for tooth aging for another thread, I am saying he's possibly 3-1/2...

[NFA-ADK]

2.5 - 3.5

[growalot]

Not much wear on them....but I'm thinking 31/2 due to the dentine in the first molar being prominant and not as much in the back molars

[dbHunterNY]

so I think there's a chance he could be 3.5 but mostly think he's just an exceptional 2.5 year old.  here's why I think that, which doesn't mean it's right but my reasons none the less...

 

- obvious but not severe dentine line on the 3rd premolar and cusps still have crests even on the back.  at 3.5 they should be worn down more I feel.

- dentine relative to enamel of lingual crest (enamel) is at most equal on the first molar (should be more to 2x for 3.5), narrower on the  2nd molar (definitely not 4.5), and barely there on the last molar.

- secondary crests of 1st molar also still raised.

- last cusp on the 3rd (last) molar still raised on the inside (tongue side) and concave on general.  at 3.5 yrs old the outside edge (cheek side) should be worn so it slopes more toward the cheek.

- also when looking at the premolars (1st 3 teeth) they show minimal staining compared to the molars (back 3 teeth) so when they were replaced at 1 year 7 months couldn't have been too long ago.

 

at 172 lbs dressed, body size makes you think the buck might be 3.5 years old (myself included), but deer have different genes.  in your kid's class at school some kids are bigger and some smaller.  same thing with deer.  so I'm not ruling out 3.5 but if I was betting money I'd go with 2.5 years old.

 

[Lawdwaz]

I was always the "bigger boned" kid in school.............................

[skeets716]

so I think there's a chance he could be 3.5 but mostly think he's just an exceptional 2.5 year old.  here's why I think that, which doesn't mean it's right but my reasons none the less...

 

- obvious but not severe dentine line on the 3rd premolar and cusps still have crests even on the back.  at 3.5 they should be worn down more I feel.

- dentine relative to enamel of lingual crest (enamel) is at most equal on the first molar (should be more to 2x for 3.5), narrower on the  2nd molar (definitely not 4.5), and barely there on the last molar.

- secondary crests of 1st molar also still raised.

- last cusp on the 3rd (last) molar still raised on the inside (tongue side) and concave on general.  at 3.5 yrs old the outside edge (cheek side) should be worn so it slopes more toward the cheek.

- also when looking at the premolars (1st 3 teeth) they show minimal staining compared to the molars (back 3 teeth) so when they were replaced at 1 year 7 months couldn't have been too long ago.

 

at 172 lbs dressed, body size makes you think the buck might be 3.5 years old (myself included), but deer have different genes.  in your kid's class at school some kids are bigger and some smaller.  same thing with deer.  so I'm not ruling out 3.5 but if I was betting money I'd go with 2.5 years old.

I love nothing more than a well informed opinion.  Well done!!

[dbHunterNY]

Well opinions are like butt holes everyone's got one. Some are just full of crap so I'll be sending the pictures onto a biologist and/or other QDM guru for other opinions.

[chiefbkt]

Judging from the teeth I would say 3 1/2.  The first molar is still pointed but doesn't look sharp like you would see on a 2 1/2 year old.  Seems to be a bit more worn and cusp of the third molar looks more flat, although tough to tell from the angle.  Judging from the weight of the deer I would also have to say 3 1/2.  I know I read somewhere that whitetail's reach full skeletal growth in their third year, so that is when we start to see the prominent chest formation and body mass.  There aren't many 2 1/2 year olds in NY that get bodies that big at that age.  Granted I am no expert.   

[dbHunterNY]

I got a second reliable opinion back.  they said 2.5 yrs old and they sent it on to another reliable source.  i'll post again when I get their estimate.

[dbHunterNY]

so it was passed on.  got my feedback and the consensus is that it's aged at 2.5 years old.

[dbHunterNY]

...although it was a unanimously aged at 2.5 by those I know.  comments where made that your buck was a heck of a deer for it's age. seems the deer are probably nice and healthy, fat, and happy where you are.

[WNYBuckHunter]

That look like a 2 1/2 to me.