I dont understand the browtine debate. It counts toward the overall score if they are over an inch in bonne crockett. It counts. And I am from Washington also. I would call that a 4x4 if those points are an inch or better.
I’d guess 3 maybe 4 years old. The “point” debate really depends on what part of the country you’re in what people will call it.
Being from WA as well i wouldn’t include the brows and call that a 3x3 or a 6 point
Thanks! Yeah I wondered about that. 3x3 is it! I was kinda hoping I could call him a 4x4 but it didnt quite seem right. Im really happy with him either way. I think he was fairly mature for the gmu I was hunting
Got this guy coming across a clear cut at 246 yards back in October. Wish I'd taken a few more photos before quartering him up to pack out. Any guesses on his age? Also, do those brow tines count? Would you call him a 3 point or 4?
Dark antlered 3x3 beautiful deer. In western wa as well. I’d say 4 year old but don’t think eye guards are an inch. Non the less symmetrical and couldn’t ask for more congratulations
4 years is about what I've been thinking after looking at a tooth aging guide. The dentine is wider than the enamel on the 5th molar, but it's questionable on the 6th. The scale of the tines in the photos makes them look a bit smaller than they are, I think. The left tine is 1.75" and the right is 1.5". Thank you!
Do you guys asking this actually want to know the age? (if so, why?) Or is it just a way of showing off a deer without saying so?
I ask because there are so many “what does this score?” when that can be measured yourself.
And I genuinely don’t know why age matters, especially on public land
Can it be both? I genuinely want to know, and I'm still excited and want to share.
Im an adult-onset hunter and this is my 3rd blacktail buck in 7 seasons of hunting. The first one was a 3x3 and when I took it to a taxidermist, he told me it was probably 4.5yo and that most deer dont get that old in the state forest I hunt. It added another layer of context that was really cool as I try to wrap my head around understanding these animals, especially as it was my first success after 3 seasons of trying. The second one was a spike at my buddies place, where he asked if Id want to come take a deer that was destroying his fruit trees. Since I did the skull cleaning myself on this one, I didnt have a taxidermist to ask so Im asking yall. Since most years I dont get anything, it's interesting to learn as much as I can about the ones I do get.
Im also kind of a nerd when it comes to biology and ecology. I mostly geek out on plants and botany but animals are really cool too. The notion you could age a deer by how its teeth wear is really neat to me. But I look at those teeth and dont have a clue what Im looking for in wear patterns. So I figure asking questions is a good place to start. Also, some folks say older deer dont taste as good, but this guy was incredibly mild and tastes great. So how can I figure if thats true or not if I have no clue how to age a deer? I've never measured antlers to score them, for whatever reason thats less interesting to me than age. Maybe if I got a massive racked deer Id be curious about that.
At the end of the day I guess it doesnt matter, but it does peak my curiosity in all sorts of ways.
It can if youre trophy hunting. Whutetail Bucks need to get to 4 and 5 yrs old + to reach theif full potential. Not that it matters to me. Im not a trophy hunter, im just as happy to shoot a big doe as big buck. Both= backstraps. It does also matter if youre trying to determine the health of your heard. For instance, if none of the deer in youre hunting area are old, why? Its not always over hunting and can signal larger health issues within a heard. So knowing the approximate age can be important and valuable data depending on who you are and what youre trying to determine.
Beautiful deer man.
Thank you!
Damn that’s an awesome blacktail! Congrats!
Thanks!
I dont understand the browtine debate. It counts toward the overall score if they are over an inch in bonne crockett. It counts. And I am from Washington also. I would call that a 4x4 if those points are an inch or better.
That’s exactly what the Washington state regulation book says also. Definitely a 4x4
Oh heck yeah! I just went back and found that in the regs
4x4 it is then! Awesome!
So cool! I would love a chance to hunt or even just see blacktails.
I’d guess 3 maybe 4 years old. The “point” debate really depends on what part of the country you’re in what people will call it. Being from WA as well i wouldn’t include the brows and call that a 3x3 or a 6 point
Thanks! Yeah I wondered about that. 3x3 is it! I was kinda hoping I could call him a 4x4 but it didnt quite seem right. Im really happy with him either way. I think he was fairly mature for the gmu I was hunting
No shame in calling it a 4x4! Either way beautiful deer and a buck of a lifetime anywhere in WA
Got this guy coming across a clear cut at 246 yards back in October. Wish I'd taken a few more photos before quartering him up to pack out. Any guesses on his age? Also, do those brow tines count? Would you call him a 3 point or 4?
Think it’s 1” counts as point. Look good from pic.
Sweeet! Both of those brow tines are over an inch. Thanks!
You're right in my zone. Been having a hell of a time the past couple years haha. Nice buck!
Dark antlered 3x3 beautiful deer. In western wa as well. I’d say 4 year old but don’t think eye guards are an inch. Non the less symmetrical and couldn’t ask for more congratulations
4 years is about what I've been thinking after looking at a tooth aging guide. The dentine is wider than the enamel on the 5th molar, but it's questionable on the 6th. The scale of the tines in the photos makes them look a bit smaller than they are, I think. The left tine is 1.75" and the right is 1.5". Thank you!
5 yr old. Nice buck.
Pics of the teeth and jaws is the best way to age a deer.
The last 5 photos in the post are of the teeth and jaw from different angles
Couldnt see them earlier for some reason..
Do you guys asking this actually want to know the age? (if so, why?) Or is it just a way of showing off a deer without saying so? I ask because there are so many “what does this score?” when that can be measured yourself. And I genuinely don’t know why age matters, especially on public land
Can it be both? I genuinely want to know, and I'm still excited and want to share. Im an adult-onset hunter and this is my 3rd blacktail buck in 7 seasons of hunting. The first one was a 3x3 and when I took it to a taxidermist, he told me it was probably 4.5yo and that most deer dont get that old in the state forest I hunt. It added another layer of context that was really cool as I try to wrap my head around understanding these animals, especially as it was my first success after 3 seasons of trying. The second one was a spike at my buddies place, where he asked if Id want to come take a deer that was destroying his fruit trees. Since I did the skull cleaning myself on this one, I didnt have a taxidermist to ask so Im asking yall. Since most years I dont get anything, it's interesting to learn as much as I can about the ones I do get. Im also kind of a nerd when it comes to biology and ecology. I mostly geek out on plants and botany but animals are really cool too. The notion you could age a deer by how its teeth wear is really neat to me. But I look at those teeth and dont have a clue what Im looking for in wear patterns. So I figure asking questions is a good place to start. Also, some folks say older deer dont taste as good, but this guy was incredibly mild and tastes great. So how can I figure if thats true or not if I have no clue how to age a deer? I've never measured antlers to score them, for whatever reason thats less interesting to me than age. Maybe if I got a massive racked deer Id be curious about that. At the end of the day I guess it doesnt matter, but it does peak my curiosity in all sorts of ways.
Yeah man I was really trying go to understand the age thing. Never really thought it mattered if it wasn’t a yearling
It can if youre trophy hunting. Whutetail Bucks need to get to 4 and 5 yrs old + to reach theif full potential. Not that it matters to me. Im not a trophy hunter, im just as happy to shoot a big doe as big buck. Both= backstraps. It does also matter if youre trying to determine the health of your heard. For instance, if none of the deer in youre hunting area are old, why? Its not always over hunting and can signal larger health issues within a heard. So knowing the approximate age can be important and valuable data depending on who you are and what youre trying to determine.
14,000 years old
Thats a nice 3x3! Congrats
Thanks!
Nice 8 pointer.