How do you age a deer?
Aging deer using the tooth wear and replacement method is not difficult, but it will require practice on your part. When aging a deer, it will help to cut the skin along the edge of the jaw t allow better inspection of the teeth.
How old do mule deer have to be to mate?
Mule Deer. These victorious bucks attract females to them and attempt to defend them against the attention of other (often younger) bucks. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of about 18 months in does, but young bucks are not allowed to participate in the rut until they are three to four years old.
How old are mule deer when they lose their spots?
The young ones are weaned at about the age of 60 or 75 days, at which time they begin to lose their spots. Mule deer usually live 9 to 11 years in the wild. For decades, western Colorado has been home to some of the country’s largest mule deer herds.
How do you ambush a mule deer?
Typical mule deer ambush locations are food patches, travel routes leading to food patches, and, in dry climates, water sources. If you find a patch of mule deer food that’s attracting deer, you can set up within rifle range of the location and then wait for the animals to appear.
How can you tell how old a mule deer is?
As a deer starts to age, the enamel on its teeth will start to wear away and the teeth will start to brown. Fully matured deer will have most of the enamel on their teeth worn away at this point. If the teeth look worn down, there's a good possibility the deer is over five years old.
Can you tell how old a mule deer is by its antlers?
Some exceptional antlers can be found on deer in the “middle-age” age structure (3.5 to 4.5 years). As a general rule, though, large antlers come with big bodies and old age. For mule deer and whitetails, that generally means an antler growth peak occurring at 5.5 years of age or older.
How can you tell how old deer is?
Deer are aged by examining the wear and replacement of the premolars and molars of the lower jaw. As a deer grows older, its teeth continue to wear. As the enamel begins to wear away, and exposes the dark dentine material, noticeable distinctions in tooth wear occur between each age class.
How do you age a deer by its face?
Its head should appear too small for the massive, bulging neck. Face. The narrow, slim, long-nosed look of youth is gone from most old buck's faces. If the nose looks broad and short, perhaps even “Roman nosed,” chances are it's an older deer.
Does antler size indicate age?
Antler size is one of the details we use to help determine age, but only one in a long list of aspects like body size and shape, muscle tone, the appearance of certain features, etc. You will develop a more effective management plan if you can distinguish a buck's age by assessing it in a photo or by sight.
What do dark antlers mean?
Early in the Fall “new” antlers or freshly rubbed out antlers tend to be darker. The amount of oxidized blood left over from rubbing out combined with the type of tree rubbed off on may play a role in antler color.
How do you age a deer by front teeth?
It is just like counting the rings on a tree to determine it's age. The teeth we choose to use in a deer's mouth for aging are the two front center teeth (center incisors). The reason for this choice is that these teeth are in place by the time the fawn is 4-6 months old and remain in place through out the deer's life.
How do you age a deer by their nose?
Look at the deer's face and nose. A longer nose means an older deer. Fawns and yearlings typically have short faces. My buddy and I call them "round noses".
How do you age deer meat in a cooler?
Here's the processLay a thin layer of ice in your cooler. ... Break down your game as you are familiar. ... Rinse the meat of any dirt or field debris and lay the front quarters in the cooler. ... Wait 7-10 days for the magic to happen while routinely checking the cooler(s) and topping off with ice as needed. ... Butchering Day.More items...•
How do you age a deer on the hoof?
3:064:38How to Age Whitetail Deer on the Hoof - Deer Hunting - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother way that you can age deer on the hoof. So to speak is to use your scouting camera set thatMoreAnother way that you can age deer on the hoof. So to speak is to use your scouting camera set that up in an area where deer can walk and you can actually see their tracks in the soil.
How long do mule deer live?
The young ones are weaned at about the age of 60 or 75 days, at which time they begin to lose their spots. Mule deer usually live 9 to 11 years in the wild.
How big are mule deer?
Mule deer range from 3 to 3.5 feet (0.9 to 1 meter) tall at the shoulder, 4.5 to 7 feet (1.4 to 2.1 meters) long , and have a tail that is five to eight inches (13 to 20 centimeters) long. They can weigh between 130 and 280 pounds (59 and 127 kilograms). The female deer are smaller than the male.
How to tell if a deer is white or black?
The easiest way to differentiate the species is to look at the tail. Only the underside of the white-tailed deer’s tail is white, while the mule deer’s tail is all-white with a black tip and is much smaller. In addition, mule deer do not flash their tails in alarm.
What are the characteristics of mule deer?
Mule deer’s defining characteristic are their large ears, which are about three-fourths the length of the head. They have a distinctive black forehead, or mask, that contrasts with a light gray face. In the summer, mule deer are tannish-brown and in the winter are brownish-gray in color. They have a white rump patch and a small white tail with a black tip. When running, they bound in a motion called “sto tting,” in which all four hooves push off the ground at the same time.
How long does a fawn's period last?
The female sequesters herself and drops her fawn in a protected spot, where it remains for a period of a week or 10 days before it is strong enough to follow her.
Where are mule deer found?
Mule deer are among the most beloved and iconic wildlife of the American West. These deer are found west of the Missouri River, especially in the Rocky Mountain region of North America. Mule deer are adapted to arid, rocky environments.
When do buck fight?
Between November and February (depending on the locality), bucks that are evenly matched in size and strength engage in battles for the right to mate with females. They lock antlers and fight until the point of exhaustion, when one will back down and flee from the victor.
What is the ability to age live deer?
Missouri Department of Conservation. The ability to age live deer, or deer “on the hoof,” is a beneficial skill for all deer hunters and managers.
Why age deer on hoof?
In general, aging deer on the hoof is a beneficial skill for landowners and hunters that want to achieve QDM or produce mature bucks. An understanding of the progression of body and behavior characteristics of bucks can be extremely helpful when attempting to age live deer. Estimating the age of live bucks on a property can provide useful ...
What is the difference between a fawn and an adult deer?
Adult does tend to be cautious, while fawns are often the first deer in openings and are often observed playing and being more inquisitive. Figure 9. Snout length differentiates adult does and fawns: (left) an adult doe will have a long, slender snout and (right) a fawn will have a short, stocky snout.
What is a 3-1/2 year old buck?
Bucks in the 3-1/2-year-old age class are typically described as having a “thoroughbred” appearance due to their toned body characteristics (Figure 4). A buck in this class has a muscular body, a chest that is slightly deeper than its rump, and a taut stomach. During the breeding season, a 3-1/2-year-old exhibits a moderately swollen neck. On average, 3-1/2-year-old bucks have reached about 75 percent of their maximum antler size.
How big are yearling antlers?
Although the number of antler points on yearlings can vary widely, from two to 10+ points, the inside spread of a yearling’s antlers is often less than 15 inches.
What age do bucks have antlers?
Bucks in the 1-1/2-year-old age class are often characterized as “does with antlers” due to their body characteristics. A yearling typically has a thin neck, taut stomach, long legs and a thin body (Figure 2).
How does deer management help?
Deer management success can be increased by the ability to age live deer. By being able to recognize that a buck has the characteristics of an immature, or younger, deer, a hunter can pass on harvesting that buck so it will have the opportunity to mature to an older age class.
How tall is a mule deer?
The mule deer is the larger of the two Odocoileus species on average, with a height of 80–106 cm (31–42 in) at the shoulders and a nose-to-tail length ranging from 1.2 to 2.1 m (3.9 to 6.9 ft). Of this, the tail may comprise 11.6 to 23 cm (4.6 to 9.1 in).
Where are mule deer from?
Cariacus virgultus Hallock, 1899. The mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.
How does urbanization affect mule deer?
The increase in urbanization has impacted mule deer migrations and there is evidence to show it also disrupts gene flow among mule deer populations. One clear option is to not build houses in critical mule deer habitat; however, build near mule deer habitat has resulted in some deer becoming accustom to humans and the resources, such as food and water. Rather than migrate through urban areas some deer tend to stay close to those urban developments, potentially for resources and to avoid the obstacles in urban areas. Suggested measures by property owners to protect mule deer genetic diversity and migration paths include planting deer-restitant plants, placing scare devices such as noise-makers, and desisting from feeding deer.
What is the difference between a white tail deer and a mule deer?
In many cases, body size is also a key difference. The mule deer's tail is black-tipped, whereas the white-tailed deer's is not. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated; they "fork" as they grow, rather than branching from a single main beam, as is the case with white-taileds.
What are the predators of mule deer?
Besides humans, the three leading predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves, and cougars. Bobcats, Canada lynx, wolverines, American black bears, and grizzly bears may prey upon adult deer, but most often only attack fawns or infirm specimens, or eat a deer after it has died naturally.
How many species of plants do mule deer eat?
In 99 studies of mule deer diets, some 788 species of plants were eaten by mule deer, and their diets vary greatly depending on the season, geographic region, year, and elevation. The studies gave these data for Rocky Mountain mule deer diets:
What are the two groups of deer?
Mule deer can be divided into two main groups: the mule deer ( sensu stricto) and the black-tailed deer . The first group includes all subspecies, except O. h. columbianus and O. h. sitkensis, which are in the black-tailed deer group. The two main groups have been treated as separate species, but they hybridize, and virtually all recent authorities treat the mule deer and black-tailed deer as conspecific. Mule deer apparently evolved from the black-tailed deer. Despite this, the mtDNA of the white-tailed deer and mule deer is similar, but differs from that of the black-tailed deer. This may be the result of introgression, although hybrids between the mule deer and white-tailed deer are rare in the wild (apparently more common locally in West Texas ), and the hybrid survival rate is low even in captivity. Many claims of observations of wild hybrids are not legitimate, as identification based on external features is complicated.
What is a yearling deer?
A deer that is at least 1 year of age (but not yet 2) is technically referred to as a yearling. Hunters commonly use the word “yearling” to refer to a fawn. They are technically, well, fawns. You should be aware of this improper use of the word.
What is the lingual crest on a 3 1/2 year old deer?
On a 3 1/2 year old deer, the lingual crest on tooth 4 is blunt. The dentine will be as wide or wider than the enamel in tooth 4. The back cusp on tooth 6 is finally showing noticeable wear and is starting to form a concavity.
How old are fawns?
Aging fawns is not difficult. They will be 6-7 months of age during the hunting season of the year they were born. The size of the animal alone is using a good indication of age, but for confirmation, inspection of the teeth atop the lower jaw will indicate age. Fawns have 5 or less teeth present and the third premolar (tooth 3) has 3 cusps. Tooth 6 has not yet erupted. In younger fawns, tooth 5 has not erupted and only 4 teeth will be visible.
What is the lingual crest on a deer's tooth?
The lingual crest on tooth 4 are almost rounded off and lingual crest on tooth 5 are blunt on a deer that is 4 1/2 years of age. The dentine in tooth 4 us twice as wide as the enamel. The dentine is tooth 5 is wider than the enamel. The back cusp on tooth 6 is worn so badly that it slopes downward towards the cheek.
1. Focus on Age, Not Antlers
Most importantly, the chart displays a truth about all whitetail populations, which is that bucks of any single age class will display a range of potential antler scores.
2. Look at the Body When Aging
Look how much the age classes overlap each other in this chart.
3. Celebrate Age as Much as Antlers
It’s very important to grasp that bucks with exceptional antler size are rare. Most bucks that make it to 3½-plus in New York score about 100 to 130 inches, as you can see above. It can be tough for a buck to reach this age in any area, so when you kill one, celebrate the occasion regardless of antler inches.
4. How to Shift the Bell Curve to the Right
You see a bell-shaped or “bell-curve” distribution of score/age like this in all regions, though the span of actual scores will vary in states that produce larger-antlered deer on average. You can’t change the fact that some bucks have below-average antlers for their age, because you can’t manage genetics in wild deer.
1-1/2-year-old
2-1/2-year-old
- Bucks in the 2-1/2-year-old age class typically have slightly thicker bodies than yearlings, but their legs still appear long (Figure 3). They have thinner necks when compared to older age classes of bucks, although their necks may slightly increase in size during the rut. On average, 2-1/2-year-old bucks have reached about 60 percent of their maximum antler size. Figure 3. A 2-1/2-year-old bu…
3-1/2-Year-Old
- Bucks in the 3-1/2-year-old age class are typically described as having a “thoroughbred” appearance due to their toned body characteristics (Figure 4). A buck in this class has a muscular body, a chest that is slightly deeper than its rump, and a taut stomach. During the breeding season, a 3-1/2-year-old exhibits a moderately swollen neck. On average, 3-1/2-year-old bucks ha…
4-1/2-Year-Old
- A 4-1/2-year-old buck has a thick, muscular body with taut skin and legs that appear to be proportional to its body (Figure 5). The buck’s stomach appears to sag slightly, but its back remains straight. During the rut, the neck of a 4-1/2-year-old buck becomes very swollen. A 4-1/2-year-old buck’s body has reached physiological maturity, and its antlers have reached about 90 p…
5-1/2+-Year-Old
- A buck that is 5-1/2 years old or older has a thick body and often exhibits a sagging belly, back and skin (Figure 6). In addition, the buck’s neck increases greatly during the breeding season to the point that it appears to blend in with the buck’s shoulders and brisket. On average, bucks’ antlers reach about 95 percent of their maximum potential by 5-1/2 years old and 100 percent b…
Pre-Rut
- Most bucks experience their best body condition during the pre-rut, as they have just spent all spring and summer in bachelor groups foraging on ample amounts of high-quality foods (Figure 7a). Regardless of maturity, many bucks will not exhibit a swollen neck at this time because it is too early before the rut. Figure 7. These photos depict the same buck (left) before the rut, when i…
Rut
- Most bucks are still in good physical condition at the beginning of the rut. However, as the rut progresses and bucks fight for dominance and breeding, body wear and antler breakage become more common. The rut is when bucks exhibit swollen necks (Figure 8). Bucks lose weight as the rut progresses because they spend more time involved in breeding activity than foraging. In area…
Post-Rut
- During the post-rut, bucks are normally in the worst condition of the year, as their bodies are fatigued from the demands of the rut (Figure 7b). They often appear much thinner than in the pre-rut because they have been expending great amounts of energy participating in breeding and defending females or territory, while not replenishing their energy reserves. Research has show…