collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Aging a Bull by teeth  (Read 1796 times)

Offline CK85

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 19
  • Location: Lewis County
Aging a Bull by teeth
« on: July 24, 2014, 01:44:36 PM »
I just received a letter from a wildlife biologist stating that the 4x6 bull I shot this year was determined to be 2 1/2 years old. I am curious how accurate counting the annuli in the cross section of a tooth is?  Our group harvested 3 bulls a 4x4 a 4x6 and a 5x5. All of the bulls were considered to be 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old.

Offline Broken Arrow

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 903
  • Location: Richland
Re: Aging a Bull by teeth
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2014, 02:08:05 PM »
Hard to tell. I have seen two Rosie's, both 5x5's with complete different set of aged ivories. Here is what I go off of:

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/planahunt/huntingGuides/dea/agingElkBrochure.html


Offline dreamunelk

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 2049
Re: Aging a Bull by teeth
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2014, 02:46:14 PM »
I just received a letter from a wildlife biologist stating that the 4x6 bull I shot this year was determined to be 2 1/2 years old. I am curious how accurate counting the annuli in the cross section of a tooth is?  Our group harvested 3 bulls a 4x4 a 4x6 and a 5x5. All of the bulls were considered to be 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old.

It is 100% accurate.  Tooth wear is very subjective.  About 2.5  or less someone who knows what they are looking at will be quite accurate.  Beyond that it is an educated guess.  Points have very little to do with age.

Offline CK85

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 19
  • Location: Lewis County
Re: Aging a Bull by teeth
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2014, 03:46:39 PM »
I agree 100% that all bulls grow at different rates. I just have a tough time thinking a 6 point bull is only 2 1/2 years old. I would say for at least the two bigger bulls we harvested that they would be at a.minimum 4 1/2 years old.

Offline dreamunelk

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 2049
Re: Aging a Bull by teeth
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2014, 04:31:43 PM »
Antler development is very complicated.  Genetics plays a role but, most importantly it is nutrition on a bull that is healthy with no injuries or genetic predisposition.  A bull that receives an injury to certain areas, say the left rear leg, on one side at the right time will often have a abnormality on the opposite side.  Why one bull grows larger antlers then another from the same area is the riddle.  Being nutrition is so important in development.  Take me pages to explain my thoughts on it.  One thing to look at is the spread at the pedicle.  Each time it sheds it looses a little more on the outside then the inside thus increasing the spread.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Brittany breeders by ghosthunter
[Today at 01:17:23 PM]


HUNTNNW 2025 trail cam thread and photos by huntnnw
[Today at 01:10:59 PM]


Kings by metlhead
[Today at 12:37:26 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by rainshadow1
[Today at 11:46:04 AM]


AKC lab puppies! Born 06/10/2025 follow as they grow!!! by scottfrick
[Today at 11:29:22 AM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Karl Blanchard
[Today at 10:47:28 AM]


Looking for Solid 22 LR input by C-Money
[Today at 07:52:53 AM]


Velvet by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:35:16 PM]


Advice for a first time Bear spot and stalk? by Crunchy
[Yesterday at 06:02:28 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 05:00:03 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Humptulips
[Yesterday at 03:09:35 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by JBar
[Yesterday at 02:20:40 PM]


Rotator Cuff repair X 2 advice needed by Wood2Sawdust
[Yesterday at 01:36:26 PM]


Rock creek gone? Next? by JBar
[Yesterday at 01:00:56 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal