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mule deer ages
#8799338
02/10/23 09:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,118
Wytex
OP
Veteran Tracker
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OP
Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,118 |
Went to get our bobcat hides tagged at the WG&F office here in town, CITES, so we checked the ages on our mule deer bucks from last Fall. My buck was aged at 6.5 yrs and the husband's at 7.5 yrs. His deer was also cwd positive, we learned that way back in Fall. We were thinking 4.5 and 5.5 so a little surprised. Glad they both turned out to be nice mature management bucks. Spouse did the euro on both. 6.5 yrs ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2023/02/full-61217-380663-dscn1414_2_copy_copy.jpg) 7.5 yrs ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2023/02/full-61217-380666-dscn1443_copy.jpg) 7.5 on left and 6.5 on right ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2023/02/full-61217-380665-dscn1674_copy.jpg)
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799351
02/10/23 09:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,414
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,414 |
Good looking deer. The one is really tall. Did they age by tooth wear or some other method?
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799363
02/10/23 09:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,118
Wytex
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OP
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They do lab aging via cementum age analysis, counting rings. The WG&F tooth aging lab has been proven to be one of the most accurate in the US. Matson's Lab also does tooth aging. WG&F does ours for free so we get about everything mature aged by them. We have probably 25 years of known deer ages from this property, our takes and LO's friends and family.
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799434
02/10/23 11:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,682
kry226
The General
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The General
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,682 |
Great-looking deer and awesome info too. 
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799436
02/10/23 11:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,060
Longhunter
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,060 |
Very nice deer, congratulations...
Longhunter >>>-------> Make It Count!!!<><
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799478
02/11/23 01:27 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,414
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,414 |
We have had 60 to 80 ish bucks aged at lab with the cementum process over several years. We finally decided it wasnt as accurate as we thought and hoped it would be. We werent sending in known age deer so maybe they were right. We just really document a lot of bucks over the years and feel some we have a good idea on age. Then the lab says different, some younger and some older. Tooth wear is not accurate either. There doesnt appear to be a way to age them with much certainty. We watch them over years and talk among ourselves and give them our best estimate of age and thats what we go by.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: freerange]
#8799484
02/11/23 01:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 57,205
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 57,205 |
We have had 60 to 80 ish bucks aged at lab with the cementum process over several years. We finally decided it wasnt as accurate as we thought and hoped it would be. We werent sending in known age deer so maybe they were right. We just really document a lot of bucks over the years and feel some we have a good idea on age. Then the lab says different, some younger and some older. Tooth wear is not accurate either. There doesnt appear to be a way to age them with much certainty. We watch them over years and talk among ourselves and give them our best estimate of age and thats what we go by. I’ve only done 14 and I haven't had any suprises. STX sent in a few known and got some that where off but i dont know by how much. I do know that when looking at Mule deer molars add a year to what you think it is compared to WT
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Re: mule deer ages
[Re: Wytex]
#8799671
02/11/23 02:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 3,118
Wytex
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Your climate does not lend to that type of aging to be as accurate as up here. Out changes in extreme weather and diet over the year lends to more discernable rings on the teeth. WG&F lab has done known age studies on their methods and it was proven very accurate for Rocky Mt deer. Down South it just does not give good results. I trust their data, it is a proven lab method for us up North.
They do state it can be off a year or so.
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