Deer Age - Cementum Analysis

[fly]

I sent in several incisors of deer I have shot in the past and got an official age. My identification based on molar wear was off on most and every time the deer were older than I suspected. Check out the results below.

This buck I estimated to be 4.5 years old when I saw him walking in the woods. Molar wear indicated he was 5.5 years old and cementum analysis found him to be 6.5 years old.

This buck I estimated to be 4.5 years old when i saw him and molar wear also found him to be 4.5. The cementum analysis found him to be 5.5 years old.

This one I didn't really have time to age in the field - just n]knew he was a shooter. Molar wear also found him to be 4.5 years old but cementum analysis found him to be 5.5 years old.

 

[wtnhunt]

That is pretty interesting Frank.  One of these days i am gonna get with the local state biologist and ask him about some that i know which deer they came from. 

Just out of curiosity how much did it run you per set to get those tested and did they send the teeth back to you?

[elkoholic]

Interesting results.  Tooth wear is a result of diet, and soil type.  Deer living in an area where their diet is made up mostly of hard browse are more likely to show more wear and if you throw in sandy soils that adds to it.  Now you know how molar wear in your hunting area looks at those age classes and can create your own aging chart based on that information.

[fly]

"Just out of curiosity how much did it run you per set to get those tested and did they send the teeth back to you?"

If you send in teeth for 5 or more deer the charge was 18.00 per deer. I sent in 8. I will not get the incisor teeth back as they are destroyed in the process (cut in half).

" Now you know how molar wear in your hunting area looks at those age classes and can create your own aging chart based on that information. "

Yep - I have the jaw bones for all of them and will now have a good reference.

One thing I learned is that on the hoof it's pretty tough to figure out if a deer is 4.5, or 5.5, or 6.5, etc... unless you have seen it in previous years and know its history.  It's easy to ID a 1.5 and not too hard to field age a 2.5 but after that there are many variables that come into play making it very difficult. Generally I underestimate.

[Ravin R10 man]

knowing what you do now and having those jaws to compare will be far easier now...you are shooting the right age class for a trophy in that area

[Dorothy Payne]

Buck-The older the buck gets the more the center of his back will drupe and the bigger his gut will drupe. The rack of a deer depends alot on genes. Also the face of a deer will become more of a gray color the older. 
Doe- Same thing as a buck besides the rack

[wtnhunt]

Matson lab gives only an 80 percent accuracy rate for whitetail and less than that for southeastern deer.  Margin of error most typically 1 year.  

I guess my biggest question would be are the deer i think i am guessing over 3.5 really over 3.5 and this type analysis should be able to determine that within reason.  Most the teeth i have have been sitting some in compost barrels and some have been boiled, would have to wonder how that might play into the accuracy of their analysis.