MT Mule Deer Age data accuracy and reality

[The Hedgehog]

Probably killed 10-15 bucks.
I’ve had 4 aged.
3 by toothwear and 1 that I sent in.

Ages at check station by FWP?

 

[The Hedgehog]

My biggest buck was aged at 3.5 what do you think your best buck would have been aged at?

I don’t really know. I thought I had the lower jaws of several animals I’d eventually age, but must have threw them out.

 

[FREAK]

It would be interesting to see, if we could, the age structure of LE area bucks compared to general. mtmuley

This was from the AHM document FWP put out. I bet the 2.5 is pretty standard for general if I had to guess.

 

[Ought Six]

1) 29ish
2) 0
3) NA
4) no

However, going to start independently aging by cementum as I find it very interesting and regret not keeping the jaws off all the critters over the years..

 

[DFS]

1) 29ish
2) 0
3) NA
4) no

However, going to start independently aging by cementum as I find it very interesting and regret not keeping the jaws off all the critters over the years..

Kind of sad sportsman are more interested than fwp.

 

[Schaaf]

10 mule deer bucks, 4 whitetail. Sent 1 whitetail in to an independent lab.

Never been stopped at a game check in 20 years.

 

[The Hedgehog]

10 mule deer bucks, 4 whitetail. Sent 1 whitetail in to an independent lab.

Never been stopped at a game check in 20 years.

You’re supposed to stop, not blow right by.

 

[cgasner1]

I don’t really know. I thought I had the lower jaws of several animals I’d eventually age, but must have threw them out.

That buck was 3.5 years old genetics are a hell of a thing. Im glad you brought up age and not trophy size.

 

[Gerald Martin]

You’re supposed to stop, not blow right by.

This is Boss Hawg you’re talking about…

 

[wtrfwlhunter]

View attachment 327934
This was from the AMH document FWP put out. I bet the 2.5 is pretty standard for general if I had to guess.

Interesting read. Can you link the full document?

 

[cgasner1]

I think people would be shocked at the amount of 2.5 year old bucks that get killed thinking they are much older

 

[DFS]

I do think there is a scuz head element. Bucks that are so ugly you tend to look away. They grow to ripe old ages, with the nature of how hunters are selective during the rut. It can’t be healthy for our deer herd over an extended period of time.

 

[wtrfwlhunter]

1) 5, 4 mule deer bucks and 1 whitetail doe.
2/3)1 aged by FWP. It was at the CWD check station outside of Libby, a whitetail doe. They took the time to look at the teeth and aged it at 4.5. Based off the size and appearance of the doe of the doe and condition of the teeth I would have personally thought it was 2.5.
4) N/A

 

[brockel]

8 mule deer bucks and 2 whitetail bucks in 22 years zero have been aged. Never been to a check station. Closest one is probably over 100 miles away that I have heard of.

 

[The Hedgehog]

That buck was 3.5 years old genetics are a hell of a thing. Im glad you brought up age and not trophy size.

If that buck is looking like that at 3.5, you’d probably be really impressed with what he’d likely look like in 2-3 more years. Even though they can be really great when young they transform into a wicked cool beast when old.

 

[FREAK]

Interesting read. Can you link the full document?

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/conservation/deer/mule-deer-ahm-plan-final_2021.pdf

 

[rogerthat]

I do think there is a scuz head element. Bucks that are so ugly you tend to look away. They grow to ripe old ages, with the nature of how hunters are selective during the rut. It can’t be healthy for our deer herd over an extended period of time.

This is exactly right. There used to be more of these around too but at least on public land these make up the few older age buck demographic that is reflected in any data. I only responded regarding fwp aging. I have aged my own critters and those of my buddies for over a decade. I have sent in many old scuz heads and these have tended to be the oldest bucks from Montana.

Edit: where as the highest scoring bucks in Montana have tended to be ones with fantastic genetics that made it to the ripe old age of 3.5-4.5. This is starkly different to the bucks we have taken from Colorado. They have typically been older

 

[cgasner1]

If that buck is looking like that at 3.5, you’d probably be really impressed with what he’d likely look like in 2-3 more years. Even though they can be really great when young they transform into a wicked cool beast when old.

He hasn’t aged at all

 

[rogerthat]

He hasn’t aged at all

Or moved?

 

[Carnage2011]

Ages at check station by FWP?

Correct. Other than the one we sent in and that was on a LE tag that came with an envelope and instructions on what tooth to remove and send in.