Do you age deer on your property, in your hunting enterprise, or in a professional capacity? Are you certain that the method you are using is accurate?
Dr. Susan Cooper and her team at the AgriLife Research Station in Uvalde, Texas have developed a new method for aging deer. Her study focused around the use of measuring dentine to age deer more accurately than the older, visual method, known as the Severinghaus method, of tooth wear.
This new method focuses on taking precise measurements of the dentine on the distance between the enamel cusps of the 1st permanent molar on the lower jaw using digital calipers. By multiplying this measurement in millimeters by 1.8 plus another 1.8, the age of the deer can be accurately estimated. There is a handy quick-reference card shown below.
In experimental trials, Dr. Cooper's team accurately assessed the age of known-age deer most of the time, and always assessed it within 2 years of the actual age. In comparison, wildlife professionals using the Severinghaus method were accurate 40% of the time, but many were not within 2 years of true age. These results seem to demonstrate a significant increase in the ability of hunters, land managers, landowners, and professionals to accurately age deer, which in turn may lead to better management.
Input costs for this method are low: digital calipers cost around $20. Since measurements taken are in such small increments, the jaws must be very clean to ensure accurate aging. This is achieved by boiling the skull before measurement to remove any lingering particulates. This method shows promise of being extremely useful for property owners and land managers alike.
Read the full AgriLife Today news article here, which also includes a handy chart for in-the-field calculations.