We just received our results from the lab on our ages from last season. Five bucks taken and they were 6.5, 6.5, 7.5, 7.5, and 8.5

The feed and genetics are huge but none of that matters unless they are allowed to mature. It is not always easy for our guys to lay off really nice deer but we think it pays huge dividends.

Looking forward to the start of this season

Mature bucks for sure!!! It would be difficult to pass for that long.. Is there anyway that you can post pictures of the bucks? What method does a lab use to age the deer?

A buddy of mine shot a buck last year. They have been watching him for 4 years waiting for him to blow up. Finally shot him, weren't enough teeth left to try to age. Sent it off and he was 9.5 years old. Sometimes old is too old.

use some type of solution and then use a microscope - I don't think it is 100% accurate but more so than aging by tooth wear. Although I will say the deer we took we were within a year on all of them on the hoof and then with tooth wear

I agree - they can digress - usually their max age is determined by loss of teeth and then cannot chew -

I hear of claims every so often of places letting them get to 12-15 years old which I find hard to believe. I can see an exception every once in awhile but to say there are a lot of bucks on a ranch that are 12-15 years old just defies all common sense

I've been surprised at the teeth wear on ours. The bucks with quite a bit of history that've been shot haven't had a whole lot of wear. Makes you re-evaluate your age criteria. Of course, it'll be based on the individual deer, a slight cross bite could throw it all out the window.

I would assume that deer with a lot of protein available would not have the same tooth wear as those eating natural browse - we have had a couple where one side of the wear was significant and the other side not - never thought about a deer having a cross bite

I don't know what these are eating other than natural browse, but they just aren't wearing down that fast. Maybe browsing on things off the ground is keeping them from getting as much sand in their mouths. Similar philosophy with protein feeders. I really don't know, just found it odd. I have 1 buck I'd like to kill just to see his teeth because I have history dated back to 08 (and he wasn't young then) and he seems to be maintaining well.

I would be willing to bet that deer that are in sandy county have a 5-6 year lifespan max.

First 6.5 44 inches of mass
Second 6.5
Third 8.5
Fourth 7.5
Fifth 7.5

Studs!


(You and STX must be related with y'all's pic cropping habits.)

Yeah just being respectful of our hunters - they may or may not want their faces online - so rather safe than sorry

I understand, just messing with you about it.

Those are awesome bucks.

Oh I know - but I do get asked about it alot

Got the B&C scores on them?

yes

just kidding - 198, 170 typical, rest in 160s

It's usually just one arm, at least tlk gives us half faces

And yes, awesome deer sir

Outstanding deer. Always enjoy your pictures and looking forward to this years

Huge bucks!

For all practicle purposes we hunt in a sand box. We have shot several 4-5 year old bucks that show surprisingly little tooth wear. Shot some does that only God knows how old they were with significant tooth wear.

We do feed free choice protein 10 months out of the year, but we also sling corn into loose sand like in the dunes at the beach.

I also hunt in very sandy country. Last two bucks taken were 6.5 and 8.5.