Keep It Simple with a Deer Aging Tool

Deer Aging Tool

A deer aging tool is exactly what it sounds like. It is a tool that hunters and wildlife managers use to determine the age of a deer.

Deer are aged according to the amount of wear in their teeth. The tool replicates a set of 8 tooth wear patterns in 1 year increments beginning at 1 ½ years. The aging tool begins at 1 ½ years, because a deer that qualifies for legal hunting will never be a fawn.

A fawn is born in the spring and is only 6 months old by the next hunting season. The fawn will not be old enough to hunt until the second hunting season, which makes it 1 ½ years old.

Teeth wear is used for aging because deer are foragers and eat a variety of foods which require grinding. For example, weeds, twigs, seeds and nuts all wear down teeth.

Deer also chew cud, which requires daily grinding of the teeth. Because deer are like humans and often use one side of their jaw more thaadn others, it's important to look at both sides when trying to determine age.

You want to choose the most worn side for measuring.

The deer tool measures deer teeth wear at 8 stages: 1 ½, 2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½, 5 ½, 6 1/2, 7 ½ and 8 ½ years old.

At each age there are specific indications of wear on the cusps, lingual crests and molars.

The aging tool has 8 replicated teeth matching how the teeth would look at each of the 8 stages. Each set of teeth on the tool represents one side of the jaw.

When you kill a deer, all you have to do in order to age your deer is match one of the sets of teeth on the tool to the teeth of the deer you hunted.

This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the aging process. This aging process has been used since 1949 by hunters, biologists and wildlife management personnel.

The only thing you have to be careful about is underestimating the age by not choosing for comparison to the tool the side most worn.

Why Aging is Important

Aging deer is important because it promotes better management of hunting lands.

It also teaches you to choose a deer in its prime when faced with shot choices while hunting. You can shoot a deer, determine its age and take note of the size and development of the animal.

Deer are aged in 4 basic categories which are fawn, yearling, middle-aged and mature.

A deer aging tool is a handy device which is simple in design and powerful in effectiveness. For a very good Whitetail Deer Aging tool follow the link below.

Forensic aging of whitetail deer using the cementum annuli method.

The only reliable way for aging whitetail deer - when deer age is required to be accurate and verifiable. Follow the first link below to check it out.

» Go to Forensic aging of whitetail deer using the cementum annuli method

» Return to "Deer Aging" from "Deer Aging Tool"

» Deer Aging Articles from "Deer Aging Tool"

Whitetail Resources


Whitetail Deer Hunting Logo

Field Dressing a Deer Instructional Ebook

Price: $9.95

Buy Now


My New Site Dedicated To Deer Hunting


Scent Control


Deer Hunting Blog


State Wildlife Information


Trophy Whitetail Deer


Recommended Products


Deer Hunting Tips


Recent Articles

  1. Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunting Tips

    Jul 30, 16 12:21 PM

    Expert trophy whitetail deer hunting tips and advice to help both novice and seasoned hunters improve their trophy hunting skills.

    Read More

  2. Whitetail Deer Information

    Jan 26, 10 12:32 PM

    Having good whitetail deer information can improve hunting success while enhancing the sporting experience. You can learn many tips concerning fawn, doe and buck behaviors and successful hunting.

    Read More

My New Site Dedicated To Deer Hunting


Scent Control


Deer Hunting Blog


State Wildlife Information


Trophy Whitetail Deer


Recommended Products


Deer Hunting Tips


Should you find a fawn PLEASE LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS. It is not abandoned by its mother. The mother is out feeding and left her fawn or fawns in what she considers a safe place. quoted text



Questions and Comments 

Please use the contact us page for any questions or comments you may have. We may post them on our site with a reply. You will also receive a personal reply from us. We want to make this site as relevant to your needs as we can. Just let us know how we can help you.

And thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.
Randy