How old is this elk

[Bambistew]

I wish I would have taken a picture of the molars on my bull, but I thought this was probably good enough to tell the age.

The molars had about 1/4" of tooth showing above the gum line. A full gold 'grill' was in his future too.

I've seen some pretty worn teeth, but nothing like this.

Any guesses?

 

[noharleyyet]

Would it be similar to aging deer Ivan.... 7-8 years? Wild guess.

 

[MattK]

Bambi- What did the ivories look like?

 

[Bambistew]

They were worn down to about 1/8-1/4" above the gum line, mostly dark brown, no cavities, and worn flat. I'll try and to get a picture later... Was thinking about that last night, I don't remember where I put them.

 

[BuzzH]

I'd say 8+ for sure.

 

[Tom]

Here's some criteria for elk tooth aging from USGS, but its hard to see in the picture.

4 1/2 to 8 1/2 Years: Aging elk 4 1/2 to 8 1/2 years is difficult. Wear on the lingual crest and cupping of molars becomes more pronounced. By 8 1/2 years the dark portion (dentine) of the first molar (four cheek tooth) nearly surrounds the pit, or infundibula, of the tooth. In older animals the infundibula of the first molar will be completely worn away.

 

[T Bone]

there you have it bambi. in certain states, he'd qualify as a cull/management bull. Nice of you to spare him the certain death that waited this winter.

You've gotta be wearing the perma-grin, even at night.

 

[Muleyslyr]

Ya...I would agree. I'm sure he's happy he was taken outta the herd. Poor old buzzard. Compared to the picture Tom put up, would definitely have to say at least 7-8. Rack sure didn't show any signs of regression that's for sure.

 

[Oak]

From a retired DOW terrestrial bio:

"Odd looking lower incisors. It looks like there are divots in the incisors, can't say that I've seen that. I'd say >6-<10."

 

[drahthaar]

The way I have always heard it, is once an elk or deer hits 7 years old, its pretty much a SWAG after that, when looking at the teeth.

Better find those ivories and do something special with them.