How do you judge a deer's age?

[archerystud]

It would be easier to tell in person but like what most of the others said I would say a real nice 2.5 year old.

If it was shot in far Northern MN I could see it possibly being a 3.5 year old but from what I know in your post I would say 2.5.

[Bear55]

I agree arch, it could be a 3.5 if it was shot in the bigwoods or if he dressed out on the heavy side, did you happen to weigh him? Not knowing anything else I would say a really nice 2.5 year old.

[fr0sty]

It was shot in north central mn and was a heavy drag out. We didn't get to weigh him though.

[crothmeier]

there is a big difference between corn-fed southern deer, and acorn fed northern deer in terms of body weight, and nutrition for antler growth, he could be a 3-1/2 definitly

[CSTPETER]

Doubtful that's a 3.5 year old. Nose looks a little short, not much mass, but definitely had potential. Northwoods or not, I'm saying 2.5

[fr0sty]

If anyone else has some better pics of their deer and have had the deer aged, it may be fun to see how close we all can get in estimating age.

[Musky Buck]

2 1/2. The other day I mentioned Madelia MN as the place where I have sent deer jaw(s) to them to age. One year we took a dandy 11 pt. 190 dressed. He was a 2 1/2. People that guessed were guessing 3 1/2 4 1/2, that was why I sent it, they were surprised he was only 2 1/2 but hey in central MN corn/farm country, they can really get there quick some anyway. Do you guys feel that lets say a doe and buck fawn, the buck fawn would probably grow quicker than if the same doe had twins ? Competition for mom's milk and maybe a lower than a single fawn birth weight etc., think any of that stuff matters at all or would you guess more about when, earlier born off to a head start and later born, off to a slower start ?

[onlydrakes4me]

Musky Buck, I am from Madelia, just wondering where you took your deer to get it aged. The only place I can think of would be an area we call "the old game farm" the DNR has a research center there, but i guess i didn't know that they aged deer there.

I know the earlier a fawn is born the better its chances surviving the winter are, due to body size, fat reseves, etc. I don't know much about antler grow in regards to nursing competition between fawn twins. That is a good question. Obviously antler grow is dependent on nutrition and genetics among other factors.

[Musky Buck]

I wish I had my album where I stored that, that is at mom and dad's. I'm sure it was DNR related so I bet that research center is correct. It's been a few years ago now because where I register there is a DNR guy that if you'll let him cut the cheek open so he can get at the back teeth, you can have them aged, basically you are aging 1 1/2 or 2 1/2. At 3 1/2 and up I'm not so sure they can be 100% accurate. Last year 2 wardens checked mine and said it was at least a 3 1/2 year old and looking at the body size some and wear and tear they were most likely right. I just took the lower jaw bones out and sent them in. I'm not sure they want a million jaw bones sent there way. It was at the registration station I remember asking the DNR if I could mail it in because he said he was done for the season and if I remember right he wrote down the address for me in Madelia.

[Rippinlip]

I would say 2.5 year old also, mass and color of horns seems to me to keep him out of the 3 + year category.

Back to the original question.

I would have to say the only true way of telling how old on the hoof a deer is would be to have alot of trail cameras out and hopefully you have pictures to see before it comes time for hunting, that way you can look in the comforts of home and not have to make a quick decision in the stand, you may be acquainted with the deer before its "time".

I do not have the ability for trail cameras yet, so, I believe by what most have said by the body structure.

A 1.5 year old deer, like said before, looks like a young deer the body structure is skinny, skinny neck, smaller hind end.

2.5 year old legs are disproportionately long compared to the body.

3.5 year old has a race horse looking apperance, built well, stocky, muscular.

4.5 year old junction of neck and shoulders fades away.

5.5 year old extremely heavy rack and way saggy belly.

Some of this information came from a magazine I was reading...

[jerkin'm]

I thought according to what I have read/heard/seen that the buck I shot in 07' with my muzzleloader was a 2 1/2 year old deer...I just got him back from the taxidermist who said he was probably at least 4 1/2 years old..Surprised me, unfortunately this is about the best picture of his rack that I have..

[Musky Buck]

I would guess 2 1/2 depending on what county it was shot in. I've seen dozens officially aged in Ottertail county, some smaller than yours and some larger, but unless you get it aged who knows.

[Musky Buck]

Either way, nice muzzleloader buck,shootable, very nice and he looks cool on that fresh snow ! Nice Shot !

[PerchJrkr]

Not much for reference there, but i'd have to say that 2.5 is all he could be.

[WaveWacker]

Just quickly, your spikes, forkies, sixes (your getting an idea of the structure of the rack that I'm talking about) figure as being 1 1/2.

Now with that said...even a good percentage of your small tight racked short tined very minimal mass'd 8's = good chance 1 1/2. Heck could even be a small 10.

2 1/2 and 3 1/2 = in general not the "straight up" type of racks. How else to explain I don't know. 4 1/2 and up is a whole different breed of cat.

Generally if you think it's a 1 1/2 yr old then there's a good chance it probably is.