Crest of cusps on fifth and sixth cheek teeth (second and third molar) are blunt. 1996. Premolars: The first three teeth on each side of the jaw are called premolars. What does this mea. Molars: The fourth, fifth, and sixth cheek teeth are the molars. Dentine of fifth cheek tooth (second molar) usually not as wide as enamel. The front teeth, or incisors, are used for collecting food. Trust Your Gut. However, several states are now starting to look at managing their ‘limited’ harvest units to some age class on buck deer. Between the incisors and molars is an open space along the jaw that has no teeth. The back of the deer will also slope at a sharp downward grade from the rump to the shoulder. Most anyone who has a basic understanding of genetics knows the major flaw with this argument. A similar antler restriction for white-tailed deer has been in place for a number of years in other parts of the state, and has successfully shifted the age class structure toward older bucks. Some may argue that one is more important than another and in some instances that may be the case. Diet and soil types may accelerate tooth wear, but generally, estimating the age of adult deer is straight forward until they reach age 5-1/2;. The rest of the front teeth -lateral incisors and canine teeth – are replaced during the 10th and 11th month. A perfect example of this is a deer my dad shot a few years ago. About Us | Not because of the relatively small racks on their heads; but by their body shape. requires less than 15 minutes of work- each lick will adequately serve 40 acres of deer habitat. The science of aging deer is based on tooth development and wear.  If you want to have older bucks you simply control the harvest rate such that you limit your take on younger deer.  Most studies have show that a mule deer buck reaches its prime somewhere around 5-6 years old. On sale for $1298 Crating $25, shipping by UPS is $139 . The number of antler points in no way corresponds to age. There will be no wear on the permanent teeth, since they're new to the mouth and haven't had much time to be used. Antler and body size can indicate a deer’s age, but physical characteristics are often misleading. Big antlers and long-range attraction was unnecessary. This graph shows the percent of maximum antler growth that a male white-tailed deer averages at each age. Posted March 6, 2012 by manager. Here are a few simple rules to help get you started field judging mule deer. Actually, this tooth is lost after 1-1/2; years and replaced with a permanent two-cusped premolar. Most everyone realizes that genes and nutrition play a major part as well as age but for those of you who don’t—here you go. However, given a little money and time, the range can be improved.  This is perhaps more evident and easy to show on a small scale such as a small ranch or a certain drainage rather than over hundreds of thousands of acres.  Genetics—the genetic make up of a given population is without a doubt is the hardest factor to control when dealing with free-ranging, big game animals. Lingual crests of cheek teeth show some wear and cusps are starting to become blunt.  A note on supplements can be broken into two groups of minerals, macro and trace.  Macro minerals are those minerals which are needed in large amounts of the animal’s diet.  Macro minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium and sulfur.  Trace minerals are those which have been shown to be needed when supplementing an animal’s diet.  The seven trace minerals are iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium. This is largely due for the simple fact that game managers don’t have the ability to isolate and control certain genetic traits expressed by antler growth. The enamel portion of the cusp is wider than the dentine. I have some pictures of a mule deer from my trail camera and was wondering if you could try and estimate his age? At this age, most bucks will not have a spread wider than the width from ear to ear when they are standing erect. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/deerteth/index.htm (Version 16JUL97). From a structural standpoint typical mule deer and blacktails are actually the easiest of all the deer to measure as there can be no more than five specific normal points per antler, including the brow point (G-1) and the main beam tip (Figure 8-A). Another factor here is the females in the population. Only after that state of good health has been achieved are excess nutrients channeled into antler development but they can be a significant factor that will contribute to antler growth. From this point on the nutrients that previously went to bone growth can be transferred to antler growth. There were more than just a handful of 200 class ‘muleys’ and a grundle of 400 class bulls harvested last fall. Media | Because no whitetail, mule deer or blacktail can grow its biggest antlers until at least 4.5 years old. Always remember that minerals first into body growth and maintenance. Below we will examine these factors further as well as look at t… One common thread with mineral supplement is people expect to see overnight results when it often takes years to really make an improvement with your population. The age of white-tailed deer fawns can be determined in a number of ways. An important characteristic of the first set of premolars is that the third premolar has three crowns or cusps. Species generally have unique antler con˙gurations and the mule deer version is not shared by any other living deer. That means that for any age class, there’s a common average, but there are also uncommon bucks with below- and above-average antlers for their age. When a deer is 5-6 months old, the central two incisors are replaced. Took 4 men to load. The three factors that affect antler growth are well documented and have been studied for centuries. Some wear on third cusp of sixth cheek tooth (third molar). The back teeth or cheek teeth – molars and premolars – are used to chew and grind food. The easiest method for quickly judging the spread on any mule deer is the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip which is usually very close to 20 inches. June: Antler growth should increase dramatically this month, look for all the main points on the antler to be growing at this point. Lingual crest of molars have sharp points.Inset: Extremely worn third premolar may fool people into thinking deer is older. To determine the age of animals in older age classes we need to look more closely at tooth wear. Advertise With Us. We are speaking of whitetails of course. The antler scoring process is used for keeping personal hunting records and submitting trophy deer antlers to the record books. This paper provides a current review on the use of APRs applied to mule deer management. If you are protecting yearlings, make sure you protect the best yearlings, and so on. THE MULEY ANTLER Antler size is a function of age, nutrition and genetics. Whitetail and mule deer basically have two groups of teeth. Therefore, six-month-old deer usually have only four cheek teeth. Terms of Use | I often here the argument that if we just eliminate those ‘bad gene’ bucks or those. The following photos illustrate antler growth for 1 buck from 26 March 1999 through 15 September 1999. Lives up to 10 years. The third premolar has three cusps. If range conditions are poor, animals are usually in poor health and body condition is usually poor and antler growth will never be maximized under these types of conditions. All six molars and premolars are fully erupted by 2-1/2; years. Remember not to disturb newborn fawns. Mule deer antlers fork once 6-10 inches from the base and then each branch forks again in the classic mature form. In this case genetics are the missing link. In the oldest buck age group you want to protect, emphasize protection of the bucks in the right half of the bell curve (bucks that are more likely to be mistaken for older deer due to their above-average antler size). To be effective, mineral supplements must also be available all year, every year, or the deer will experience a roller coaster ride of nutritional highs and lows, with the lows often negating any highs which were previously gained. They fascinate us. This last year was a great example of extreme antler growth throughout the west. Research has shown that heavy stress, be it drought, predators, competition, severe winters or environmental factors can suppress antler growth by as much as 20-30%. At 3 1/2 this buck was again an 8-pointer, but now he is beginning to show antler potential. How old is my deer? Media | Contact Us | ‘genetically inferior bucks’ we will improve the number of ‘trophy’ bucks in a given area. The mule deer is one of only a handful of large herbivores in North America that survived the great extinctions of about 7,000 to 12,000 years ago. Deer grow two sets of premolars. So why the drastic change and why so different from last year? Dentine of fourth cheek tooth now twice as wide as enamel. This all happened during one of the worst drought years on record.  One of the positive thing about range condition is quite often it can be improved and even controlled some what that is if you take out the drought factor, nothing we can do there. About Us | One of the fastest growing tissues in nature, whether a trophy hunter or not, antlers hold a certain power over us as hunters.  Now you know all you need to know about antler growth so get out there and watch them grow. 3 1/2: When a whitetail reaches 3 1/2 years of age, its skeletal frame is done growing. Generally, there are only four cheek teeth showing. by William Jensen Photos by Craig Bihrle. Biggest deer I ever saw was a train kill in Ohio. How to Age Your Deer. These are the front teeth on a deer jaw. All pictures, images, & content are owned by MuleyMadness and cannot be used without permission Accurately aging these deer by tooth wear is usually more of a guessing game than a science. Basically, there are three different things that contribute to antler growth and all three are important when considering the whys and why ‘nots’. The nose or muzzle of the deer appears short or stubby, when compared to older deer. Reference: The first set appear in fawns and last until the deer is about 1-1/2; years old, when permanent adult premolars push out the baby premolar teeth. Field Judging Mule Deer Like a Pro. Size, weight and antler growth is primarily from what they eat and genetics. In some cases it’s a bit later but not too often much earlier in its life.  Typically, older bucks will almost always have heavier antlers than younger bucks.  Width and tine length will typically are usually longer and in most cases peak at this age of maturity. Look closely at the fourth cheek tooth (first molar). They might have the genetics for big antlers, but until fully mature at 4.5 years, they are still filling out their skeletons and body mass. Most studies have show that a mule deer buck reaches its prime somewhere around 5-6 years old. Contact Us | In no particular order they are; genetics of both the buck and the doe, age of the buck, and condition of the range or the quality and quantity of available green groceries. By 1-1/2; years of age – the second fall – the second and third molar have erupted through the gum, though the last cusp of the third molar may still be below the gum line. Six cheek teeth are visible in the lower jaw. Quite often, if the range is in poor condition land mangers have been know to augment antler growth with some sort of mineral supplement. REVIEW OF ANTLER POINT REGULATION USE Western states have applied APRs in two general forms to manage mule deer: 1) The central two incisors may still be erupting. n? Since most public and private lands in mule deer country are actively producing livestock to one degree or another, the distribution, timing, and intensity of grazing practices can have a great affect rangeland condition and therefore antler growth.  Again, we often overlook these important aspects of range management because of money, political pressures, or time. The cusps are sharp and show little or no wear; enamel (white portion) of the lingual crest shows well above the dentine (brown portion). Nutrition Antler growth and casting is an energetically expensive task for white-tailed deer. The process for aging a deer based on tooth replacement and wear is described below. Copyright © 2000 - 2021, MuleyMadness.com Deer only grow one set of molars. Advertise With Us. When it comes right down to it, you either already have good genetics in the local population or you don’t. Figure 10. The size and formation of deer antlers depend on a lot of different factors, such as age, nutrients, and genetics. Last cusp of sixth cheek tooth is flattened. All permanent premolars and molars are in place. If your post-hunt sex ratios are in the range of 10 to 15 bucks per 100 does or less, as is the case in many His antlers have a gross score of 122-inches (B&C). Click on image to enlarge. April: By the end of April brow tines and 1-2 inches of additional antler growth should be visible. Too many animals, whether wild or domestic, will result in decreased antler growth and could reduce the animal’s fitness and reproduction rates as well.  When considering antler growth, we must remember that antler growth is secondary to body care and maintenance. Essential minerals alone are often poorly palatable.  A pelletized feed is your best assurance against nutrient and mineral sorting.  There is a wide range of mineral supplements available on the market today.  Make sure the one you choose fits your needs and is suitable for your area. Eventually, all permanent premolars have come in fully, with the fourth premolar two-parted. This means that a buck that may have been pushing 200 inches as a 5 year old may only be 150 class buck the following year if for what ever reason he is in poor condition. The same deer at 10 years (A) and at 14 years of age, just prior to his death (B). Unlike horses, deer do not have upper incisors. (Note: In all photos, black line indicates the gum line.). Many of these are managing for a certain age class of bucks which is determined by the average age of buck taken through harvest and tooth analysis. 10 years old. Reddish-brown to blue-gray or tan coloring; underside of tail is white, producing a “flag” when raised off the rump. At this stage, estimating age is based largely on the rate of tooth wear. In most hunted deer populations, less than two percent of the animals are more than five years of age. Whitetail antlers are an amazing example of nature’s wonderful and beautiful handiwork! The name mule deer is in reference to the animal’s Male is polygamous with most whitetails in North America rutting in November. Price for Medium is $1498. All pictures, images, & content are owned by MuleyMadness and cannot be used without permission While this particular buck is in the Kerr Wildlife Management Area Deer Pen Research Facility, its antler development is representative of whitetails throughout the Texas Hill Country. Bucks with their first set of antlers are the easiest to age. During that period, a mule deer buck is considered in his prime and will produce the best sets of antlers of his life. Whitetails evolved in thick marshes and forests where visibility was limited. The factors that dictate year to year growth are the age of the animal, its genetic makeup, and its nutritional intake. The third premolar may still have three cusps, or the permanent third premolar may now be in (two cusps).  Range condition—the condition of the range also greatly influences antler growth.  So much of an animal’s life is dependant on its ability to obtain the vital nutrition it needs from the range. how to score antlers Karl Oliver Typical whitetail deer Killed in Cando, SK, 1998 Can you guess the score? Deer grow these antlers and then shed them annually, which requires a ton of energy. To get a good look at the cheek teeth (premolars and molars), you need to cut back the lip and cheek skin. Antler scores by age class form a bell-shaped curve on a graph. Some deer antlers exhibit annual variation in conformation, and a deer's last antler set may be quite abnormal. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. As surely as a 6-year-old child will soon lose her two front teeth, an 18-month-old buck will be in the process of losing its third premolar. gorgeous montana muley with 21" … Antler size in bucks and physical development in both genders is greatly affected by diet and genetics, which may account for differences between animals of the same age taken from different locations. Most 1 1/2 year old deer are in the range age 110 to 130 if they are in the northern sector, southern deer, a little smaller, true north deer can be be larger. Yet we often overlook the importance of quality range lands. May: Look for visible G2’s and antler beams should be at about half their final length. In general, deer close to 5-1/2; years of age will show considerable wear on the premolars, and the first cusp of the fourth cheek tooth (first molar) will be dished out or show signs of “cupping.”. As a hunter these are the areas I want to spend my time and money on. Mule deer evolved in much more open country than whitetails, and natural selection dictated that mule deer bucks with large antlers could attract more females from further away. Based on which teeth are present, deer can be placed into one of three general age classes: fawn, 1-1/2 years old (sometimes referred to as “yearling”) and adult. To score a set of deer antlers using the Boone and Crockett method, many measurements must be taken. The buck came from a good genetic area he was a 6 year old deer but range conditions were poor it had been overgrazed and was in a drought year. 2. Overlap is when above-average bucks in a younger age class have the same antler size as below-average bucks in older age classes. How To How Old is My Deer? Mule deer archery-only season in the antler restriction counties occurs Sept. 29 – Nov. 2, with the general firearm season occurring Nov. 17 – Dec. 2. So once you have a mineral lick established, don’t be tempted to occasionally skip a year in “freshening” it with a renewed application. Under the Boone and Crockett system, even though mule deer typically grow larger antlers sets, mule deer and blacktail deer are scored the same way. THE BLACKTAILS .  Age–age is the easiest to control at least in theory. Maximum antler size occurs between 5–7 years of age. When the permanent teeth come, all premolars have just two cusps. 2nd item has to be over $100 ~racks~ md-483. Range conditions are often improved by some type of land treatment such as disking, chaining, or logging practices.  Additionally, reduced stocking rates with livestock, modified grazing systems such as rest rotation or seasonal grazing and water shed improvements can greatly improve range conditions. At 10 years ( a ) and the mule deer buck must also be given the to! Canine teeth – molars and premolars are fully erupted by 2-1/2 ; years upper incisors fifth! 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