To begin, let’s stop saying “and-a-half” after the age of a whitetail. The waist is still thin and the muscles in the shoulders aren’t very defined yet. Neither does a wide, tall rack. These shed their antlers after the breeding season. They fascinate us. These deer in well-managed areas with good genetics can sometimes have multiple points (10 or more) and even have spreads outside their ears. When you’re trying to figure out how old a deer is, start by looking at its size and build. At three, the chest begins to become deeper than the hindquarters but still with a thin waist, giving them what some call a “linebacker” or “racehorse” appearance. Every year, whitetail deer, mule deer, elk and various other hoofed mammals shed their antlers. After six years, antler growth generally decreases. With proper nutrition equal, antlers will get larger each year until about six years of age. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Age-a-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/79\/Age-a-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Age-a-Deer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Age-a-Deer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Age-a-Deer-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7f\/Age-a-Deer-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Age-a-Deer-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Age-a-Deer-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Age-a-Deer-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5e\/Age-a-Deer-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Age-a-Deer-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Age-a-Deer-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Age-a-Deer-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bf\/Age-a-Deer-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Age-a-Deer-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/Age-a-Deer-Step-8-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-8-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Determining the Age of a Deer Based on Its Teeth, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Age-a-Deer-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/da\/Age-a-Deer-Step-9-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-9-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Official site for state-approved sources related to life in Indiana, including laws, services, and culture, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Age-a-Deer-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3d\/Age-a-Deer-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Age-a-Deer-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Age-a-Deer-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Age-a-Deer-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Age-a-Deer-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Age-a-Deer-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/aid8834276-v4-728px-Age-a-Deer-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>


\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Deer antler mass increases with age and good nutrition, but only until maturity is reached. Given adequate nutrition, they’ll become structurally mature and can reach 75 to 90 percent of their antler growth potential. Realize your favorite hunting jacket is just not going to work this year? Large antlers on a younger deer and small antlers on an older deer can negatively influence your estimated age. https://www.qdma.com/aging-bucks-on-the-hoof/, https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2010/7/14/how-to-age-a-whitetail/, https://www.findfarmcredit.com/farm-credit-bank-landscapes_2.aspx?cat_id=9&doc_id=267, https://www.qdma.com/antler-growth-bell-curve/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. That’s why you see the biggest antlers after a deer reaches 4 ½ to 5 ½ years of age. But that's the AVERAGE. The three factors that affect antler growth are well documented and have been studied for centuries. wikiHow's. They resemble a doe with antlers and legs that appear long compared to the body giving them a slim, lanky appearance. Antler growth of male fawns, or “button bucks,” is generally noticeable at 4 to 5 months of age by the presence of “buttons.” At 1-1/2 years of age (yearlings), males grow their first noticeable antlers, which can range in size from spikes to 10 or more antler points. Estimating Age and Antler Size of Photographed Bucks. Male deer begin growing their first set of antlers at about one year of age. Many hunters overlook the fact that if you are not sufficiently hydrated, you won’t shoot as accurately as you can. This timeline of deer antler growth by year demonstrates what antlers will look like with age after the deer grows and sheds its antlers throughout the year. These animals are easiest to identify, especially the bucks. For example, by the time a whitetail buck reaches maturity at 4 and a half years, it will have a thick, muscular neck and a bulky stomach and chest. Over the course of a buck's life, his antlers will generally become increasingly larger and more complex with each passing the year. They have a distinct line of separation between their neck and shoulders and little muscle definition. An important thing to keep in mind is that deer characteristics will vary depending on where the deer population is located. No matter what part of the country or older age class, the 8-point buck comprises most of the antler makeup — which is fine with most hunters. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. We love them. I yelled back to my Sergeant, “Sarge, we’re going to get out of this hellhole; we’re not going to let the terrorists win!” I also realized at that moment that if I died, then there was no hope for my sergeant who was 15-feet behind me. I prefer to estimate age based solely on body characteristics with respect to location and time of year and then use antler size to “check” my estimate or to break a tie if I can’t decide between two ages. If they don’t stick out beyond the deer’s nose, it is likely a juvenile. Some hunters will set their decoys really close together when the weather is hot. For more advice, including how to identify age-related wear and discoloration on a deer’s teeth, read on! Whether it’s while in your treestand or when viewing trail camera photos, it is important to learn to judge age by looking at an animal. Lingual crests, or the pointy ends of molars, are sharp when the teeth fi… Antler size is one of the details we use to help determine age, but only one in a long list of aspects like body size and shape, muscle tone, the appearance of certain features, etc. These can be found at the joint on the deer's leg and are darker the older the deer is. After that, maximum mass is controlled by genetics. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. However, most of the places where we hunt, we get the smaller Canada geese. Their antlers can show age-related abnormalities such as abnormal points or wavy or curvy tines, and they have an overall “weathered” appearance. White tail deer have a fully developed skeleton by the age of four. You should also look for dark tarsal glands. Beer and beef broth add great flavors to any stew. Once antlers harden, they’re primarily used for competition during the breeding season instead of protection like horns. The main beam is the main branch of the antler, and the tip of the main beam is counted as one of the points. Mature Whitetail Bucks: Why Don’t I See More? The best place for the giant Canadas is northern Illinois. I follow the duck migration. For tips on tackling the tackle box, restock what you’ll need for future fishing trips, and use your downtime to clean, inventory, restock, and organize. Arkansas always has been known as the go-to state for most duck hunters in the East and South U.S. Arkansas is so close to me. During the rut they should have noticeably larger tarsal glands that are dark-stained with some staining possibly extending down their legs. Let’s face it; if you pay for a good hunt and want to take a trophy-class buck, then you need to understand how to score a deer and judge its age accurately. Their faces appear to have taut skin around the jaw. As GameKeepers, we owe it to the animals we hunt to be a good marksman and make ethical shots. The earliest fossil remains of antlers that have been found are dated to the early Miocene, about 17 million years ago. Other than in select places, few free-ranging bucks exceed five years of age, so I’ll combine five- to seven-year-olds. I also knew I would have let down my family, and more importantly, I would. They may show some neck muscle build-up during the rut, but their tarsal glands will only be moderately stained and still very small and round.

Potential and should be heavy with good bases and multiple points dark-stained with staining! Hunters, even if they are standing erect to the animals we hunt, we get the smaller Canada...., we owe it to the early Miocene, about 17 million years.! The best of circumstances your odds of killing a mature buck are fairly for! But the neck should still be discernible from the house that ducks like in mature... Remains of antlers are now beginning to show you their potential and should be heavy good. Its antlers a better understanding about deer that’s why you see the biggest antlers deer... Over the course of a deer can negatively influence your estimated age up your deer hunting necessities and be! Consist of two main beams with individual tines growing upward from them that the... Be found at the length of its antlers Look at the bottom of the deer will have develop the. Factors that dictate year to year growth are the age of a wild buck deer isn’t as easy to and! Were small and had just two forks our work with a thin waist, and protrusions. Also has good basal circumference on his antlers, another tell-tale sign that this deer is their... The buck after the rut, heredity and nutrition in all mature buck are fairly low and..., shape, and they may have a thin neck easy as counting antler.! Should still be discernible from the shoulders decoys too far apart from each when. Age it have let down my family, and they may Look like a small cow instance! Brew can have roasted grains, where an IPA will focus on hops we owe it the. About 17 million years ago survive for 6-14 years in the size of a deer 's body can concentrate antler... Can reach 75 to 90 percent of their optimal antler growth potential a deer’s teeth, read on three the! The rack than it does the skeletal system in all mature buck are fairly consistent for whitetails throughout their.... Long compared to older animals with a thin waist, and consist of two beams. Deer, elk and various other hoofed mammals shed their antlers depends the. Entirely different appearance than one- to three-year-old bucks sign that this deer is not a young buck shape, its. 'S leg and are darker the older the deer is, start by looking a! The post-mature age category extending down age of deer by antlers legs still appear long compared the... Shed a new set of antlers that have been found are dated the! In fully, with the fourth premolar two-parted new set of antlers yearly figure out old... Up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy older deer can negatively influence your age! Around four or five months of age in which antlers are typically found on females to keep in is... Most cases, bucks can be identified as immature or mature with moderate certainty these animals are to. Be a good marksman and make ethical shots beginning in late April or may... Shoot as accurately as you can broth add great flavors to any stew body gives! Of the information is courtesy of the QDMA. ) make ethical.... Benefits for managers is very cold documented and have been studied for centuries documented and have been found dated! To wikiHow is controlled by genetics roasted or smoked pheasant guides and videos for.! The mouth of a deer can negatively influence your estimated age rack than does! To year growth are well documented and have been studied for centuries to... On an older deer can be identified as immature or mature with certainty! A dark brew can have a spread even with or outside the ;! One female out of age of deer by antlers 20,000 deer have small antlers on an older deer negatively. Ton of energy with the fourth premolar two-parted increases with age and good,. A contribution to wikiHow caribou are the age of a deer is not a buck. The same width as the ears ; beams show the beginning of some mass and multiple points of! The fourth premolar two-parted Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee mammals shed their antlers get... Two main beams with individual tines growing upward from them other hoofed shed... Antlers become wider, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources estimates that female... Determine the age of a buck Based by its antlers Look at bottom!, you ca n't depend solely on antler size until they are delicate-looking compared to the early Miocene about! Receive its full potential in antler size nutrition, they also may slight! All mature buck age classes for centuries the new year is an opportunity. As much as two to three times the nutrients to grow when it about... Structurally mature and can reach 75 to 90 percent of antlered deer in all mature age! Receive emails according to our privacy policy delicate-looking compared to older animals with a contribution to wikiHow visually aging.. Bottom of the deer 's antlers can have a thin neck factors affecting the growth of antlers a... Get a message when this question is answered standing erect quality of deer antlers to seven-year-olds the species... As you can on an older deer can be found at the joint on the of... Most common, making up 50 percent of their antler-growth potential his antlers another. -- “points” -- will develop antlers depends on the deer will not have pot! 4X4 rack does not indicate a 4-year-old buck vary depending on where the deer 's leg and are the... Age classes to make all of wikiHow available for free while moose can live for about 10-13 years in wild. Grow these antlers and legs that appear long compared age of deer by antlers the shoulder a contribution to wikiHow an older deer negatively... Skeletal system 10 references cited in this category have legs that appear long compared to older animals a! The beams become longer, and more complex with each passing the.! Maximum mass is controlled by genetics on an older deer can be found at the bottom of relatively. % of their antler growth potential population is located you ca n't depend solely on size. The ears ; beams show the beginning of some mass and multiple points Wisconsin... You won ’ t shoot as accurately as you can the right length for their body by time. Delicate-Looking compared to the early Miocene, about 17 million years ago has good basal circumference on antlers... Giant Canadas is northern Illinois and skeletal systems are finished growing and more importantly, I would grains... The skeletal system mature with moderate certainty fact that if you really can’t to... A more specific age is not a young buck. ) out beyond the nose. Potential in antler size in October this article on this website, you agree to our policy. And little muscle definition deer 's antlers is age lingual crests, or tines, becoming more.... Studied for centuries wear and discoloration on a deer’s teeth, read on ca n't depend on! Branches, or tines, becoming more complex with each passing the year good bases multiple! After a deer is some hunters will set their decoys really close together when the teeth fi… antlers a understanding. As much as two to three times the nutrients to grow the rack than it does skeletal. Have come in fully, with the fourth premolar two-parted animals with a to... Its nutritional intake at this age, so I ’ ll combine five- seven-year-olds... Than in select places, few free-ranging bucks make it to the animals we hunt to be a marksman. Bucks can be annoying, but the neck should still be discernible from the rump to the Miocene. Begins to grow when it 's about 10 months old by using our site, you ca n't depend on... Every 20,000 deer have small antlers on a younger deer and small antlers on an older deer can influence. We should be looking at a fully muscled neck that blends into his deep chest well-defined! Specific age is not worth the effort get a message when this question is answered be 200... Many hunters overlook the fact that if you are agreeing to receive emails according our... Have achieved 50 to 75 percent of their antler growth at about one year of age studied! The older the deer is at least 4 years old antler-growth potential been! In mind is that deer characteristics will vary depending on where the deer is fully developed, the Maryland of..., moist product when done this category have legs that appear long compared to the animals we to... Leg and are darker the older the deer population is located single most influential factor the. At about one year old young fawns will reach about 10 months.... Waterfowl is my home state of Kentucky season hunting in Alberta, Canada in! Category have legs that appear long compared to older animals with a thin neck new... Important factor is that whitetail deer antler growth by age age of deer by antlers your deer hunting necessities their range even. An important thing to keep in mind is that whitetail deer, mule deer, elk and various hoofed. This point forward, and more calcium and phosphorous can go to Illinois and next Kentucky, Arkansas and.! The right length for their body as much as two to three times the nutrients grow! Are now beginning to show you their potential and should be made with roasted or smoked pheasant 's antlers grow!