Sunday, March 9, 2014

How old was your deer ??

I came across some old pictures I was looking for and found some very interesting facts on the ages of deer killed. This goes all the way back to the years of 1987 and 1988.At that time I was doing some volunteer work for the Washington state game department..It was the first time they tried the new method of ageing a deer by cutting across one of the incisor teeth to check for age.I was also fortunate enough to draw special permits and was sucessful in getting what I was after.
   There are only 2 states with all the main species of deer so you had better know what you are shooting at. My deer a whitetail and a mulie were both 2.5 years old,but I had access to all the information so I thought you might be interested and I am certain it will change your way of looking at a deer and guessing how old it is..We will just deal with the oldest deer in each class.

IN 1987---
         Columbia blacktail deer---       Doe-17.5 years----------Buck-15 Years
          Mule deer-------------------       Doe-19.5  years----------Buck-12.5 Years
          Whitetail deer--------------       Doe-18     years ---------Buck-13.5 Years
          Elk---------------------------       Cow-26   years----------Bull-18.5 Years

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IN 1988---
           Columbia blacktail deer--      Doe-20.5 years-----------Buck-12.5 years
           Whitetail deer-------------------Doe-18.5 years----------Buck-16 years
            Mule deer----------------------Doe-18 years--------------Buck-10.5 years
            Elk-------------------------------Cow-25.5 years----------Bull-17 years
All these animals were killed fair chase and most in the National forests so you see they can live quite awhile if they are smart and lucky.. This information was taken from several thousand deer not just a few..
   I also have figures on bear,moose,sheep,goats for the same things..
Just think about it,some of these animals can have great-great-great---OH HELL man lots of great grandkids in the woods.