Being able to determine a deer's age is a major factor in controlling deer populations and promoting a diverse spectrum of ages among the deer.deer characteristics will vary depending on where the deer population is locatedYou can age a deer by looking at its teeth or by taking your time and getting to know the local wildlife.
Step 1: Do you know what female deer look like?
A doe is a female deer and is confused with young male deer.Female deer do not have antlers.The top of a deer's head is usually flatter than a doe.Young male deer have shorter neck muscles than female deer.
Step 2: Study what baby deer look like.
The baby deer has small, square bodies and large ears.Their bodies and legs are very thin.Sometimes deer don't have any antlers, so they are easy to confuse with does.
Step 3: Take a look at the neck width.
Young bucks have thinner necks than adult bucks.The deer's neck will start to look more muscular once it reaches 3 to 3.5 years old.The buck will have a muscular neck by 4.5 years old.A buck's neck becomes swollen and large during the breeding season.
Step 4: Look at the deer's legs.
The deer's legs are thinner and longer than its body.The legs are thin and long up to three years old.When the deer is 4 1/2 years old, the legs are shorter and more stockier than younger deer.You should also look for the dark tarsal glands.These can be found at the joint on the deer's leg.
Step 5: Take a look at the deer's body.
Young deer have smaller stomachs and torsos than mature deer.Take a look at the deer's stomach.There's a good chance that the deer is mature if it looks stocky or bulky.There is an area to look at between the neck and chest.This area will become larger as the buck ages.
Step 6: Look at the length of its legs.
Take a look at how long the antlers last in front of the deer's face if you get a side view.An older buck's antlers can be seen as far as the nose of the deer.In front of their face, adult deer's antlers will typically jut out 20 inches or more.There is a good chance that it's a younger buck if the antlers don't protrude far in front of the deer.It may be difficult for novice hunters to determine an age of a buck by its antlers because they grow at different rates depending on the health of the habitat.
Step 7: Examine the antler spread.
Try to estimate the distance between the two of the buck's antlers by looking at him straight on.For bucks who are less than 2.5 years old, antlers will be 14 inches (30.56 cm) apart.The antler diameter will grow to over 15 inches when the buck is 3.5 years old or older.
Step 8: Understand the deer in the area.
The size of deer antlers depends on the health of the deer's habitat.Understand the deer's habitat and the average size of their antlers.To better understand the deer in your area, talk to your local hunting association or park rangers.A buck's antlers can grow to up to 150 inches in places like South Texas.A buck's antlers can be over 200 inches long in Wisconsin.
Step 9: The number of teeth in the jaw can be counted.
A deer with less than five teeth in its mouth is a deer.If it's less than six months old, a deer will have four teeth and five teeth.The deer will have a sixth tooth once it is over a year old.
Step 10: There is a third tooth in the deer's mouth.
The deer's third tooth will be a tricuspid, or three cusps that form a single tooth, if it is under a year old.A tooth that has two ridges will look worn down until it is replaced with a permanent bicuspid.
Step 11: The third tooth has a coloring.
The third tooth could be a younger deer.The deer is a little older than one year old if the coloring on its third tooth is lighter.The deer could be 2.5 years old if the third tooth is the same color as the rest of the teeth.
Step 12: Look at the teeth.
The teeth of a deer will start to brown as it gets older.Most of the teeth on mature deer are worn away.The deer may be over five years old if the teeth look worn down.