Aging Fallow deer by teeth wear

[Jon P]

Hi,

Does any one have the knowledge to estimate a fallows age by the teeth wear? I will post more pics now.

Thanks in advance

 

[Jon P]

lower jaw of the same animal

 

[Jon P]

And a few more

Thanks

 

[weblyish]

I think it is highly dependent on local food types
If they've been eating grain out of feeders and wheat shoots it'll wear the teeth down a lot less than standard grass (which is full of silica and highly abrasive)

Sanding a tooth flat and polishing it will allow you to count rings but you need either a polarised light or to do some staining

Take a look here and make an estimate yourself
Best practice guide - ageing by teeth

From what I can see 5-7y category but I'd say at the lower end of that

 

[lochty]

As above, depends on what they've been eating. But at a glance not in its first flush of youth.

 

[Jon P]

Thank you for the replies- here is the deer in question. Shot it 1 April. It was very emaciated ,if it was a horse I would body score it 1, one back leg was swollen above the ankle joint- the other back leg was seized solid with an abscess the size of an orange on the inside of the leg- I did gralloch and all looked fine- but stomach was pretty much empty- This Deer was not put into the food chain. - I was asking about the age as someone said to me he thinks he only about 3 yrs old, but looks older due to his injuries-
He was a good one to take- not suffering anymore and has made an interesting skull mount- it is not often I keep fallow heads.
When taken he was trying to hide out in a small bomb hole which has some good cover in it. Could only see lower head and neck and the odd glance of antler.

 

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

Did you feel any hard spots further down the digestive system, I recently shot a very skinny buck that the lymph nodes were all fine but while messing about with the gralloch I found an obstruction stopping it being able to feed it looks like some kind of rope all balled up blocking it off. Obviously it's previous antler growth is showing some kind of historical injury but the two symptoms could be in related.

 

[DavyG]

Not sure what age it is, but it isn’t getting any older…
DG

 

[willowbank]

Interesting post, from what I can see, the antler is very much more palmated on one side... is this significant?

WB

 

[Border]

Did you feel any hard spots further down the digestive system, I recently shot a very skinny buck that the lymph nodes were all fine but while messing about with the gralloch I found an obstruction stopping it being able to feed it looks like some kind of rope all balled up blocking it off. Obviously it's previous antler growth is showing some kind of historical injury but the two symptoms could be in related.

Could also have been plastic silage wrap in the stomach/gut. Not uncommon I have heard. None the less an interesting head and a good animal for the OP to select.

 

[Jon P]

Did you feel any hard spots further down the digestive system, I recently shot a very skinny buck that the lymph nodes were all fine but while messing about with the gralloch I found an obstruction stopping it being able to feed it looks like some kind of rope all balled up blocking it off. Obviously it's previous antler growth is showing some kind of historical injury but the two symptoms could be in related.

Nothing evident- I did look- stomach was full of gas that ruptured whilst grollaching . Had foliage in mouth at time of shot. Rear legs were in quite a mess, but nothing recent like being hit by a car. I don’t think he would have lasted much longer TBH.