How to Age a Whitetail Buck on the Hoof

[Rattler]

Here is a good article for those who want to age deer.

https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/whitetail-deer/how-to-age-a-whitetail-buck-on-the-hoof?utm_source=MeatEater Subscribers&utm_campaign=a37921ef8c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_08_04_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e4b2ec63b4-a37921ef8c-68008229&mc_cid=a37921ef8c&mc_eid=c7e8e22253

[Larry]

Only sure way is to check the teeth.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

10 minutes ago, Larry said:

Only sure way is to check the teeth.

agreed but you sure can get them into a general grouping with pretty good certainty if you study and know the physical characteristics, your area and how the time of year changes how they look. Pretty easy to get fawns, yearlings, 1.5 year old, 2.5 year old and 3.5/older. And for 98% of us that is good enough. 

[dbHunterNY]

it's another tool that has it's limitations. is it really that important to know a deer's exact age down to the year? not really in my mind and i'm fairly serious about it. it helps a lot to have the right trail cam pictures that are time stamped. see it in the field with optics. then send in the teeth to back check your method, as well as include any history with a particular deer. at the end of the sit on stand it really doesn't matter, because what trips your trigger is what it is. aging on the hoof though gives you a realistic idea of how big any particular buck will get.  beauty of trail cams or sightings is you can make up your mind vs deciding during that moment of truth.