[mustang72]

I know tooth wear isn’t very accurate, but what age would you give this deer? Buck shot in Missuakee county in 2018 late October
dressed at 158#

 

[Osceola]

I know tooth wear isn’t very accurate, but what age would you give this deer? Buck shot in Missuakee county in 2018 late October
dressed at 158# View attachment 884989

I don't like venturing a guess without having the actual jawbone in my hands. I think it helps to be able to see the proper angle which you don't always get from a picture. But I will say that I think tooth wear aging is very accurate for 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5+ deer. Anything beyond that it's not very reliable. Having said that, that deer is definitely at least 3.5, but probably older.

 

[mustang72]

I don't like venturing a guess without having the actual jawbone in my hands. I think it helps to be able to see the proper angle which you don't always get from a picture. But I will say that I think tooth wear aging is very accurate for 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5+ deer. Anything beyond that it's not very reliable. Having said that, that deer is definitely at least 3.5, but probably older.

I'll wait for a few more guesses before I post the picture.

 

[Ricky B]

Not really.
There’s no particular order to bring out the potential
of deer. It’s a three legged stool.
Pull a prime key deer specimen from Florida and put him in the fields of Iowa. You’ll be disappointed in the size of the deer and his rack if you compare it to the locals.

That's an example of Bergmann's Rule, not an age/nutrition argument though. I understand the regional genetic differences play into it however.

 

[Stick Slingur]

I'll guess 3 1/2, has same wear as my 3 1/2YO 148# from this year in Antrim

 

[Ch@rg3r75]

OK, why is there so much difference in Sanilac County then?
There are places were there are huge racks and other places were they are big but not huge.
The whole county is AG and I think the biggest in the lower.
Sure, there is pressure but there has to be sanctuary's also.

Not all bucks are created equal. Twin bucks one can be huge and one never amounts to much. Just because you are all AG does not always mean the same either. A deer with heavy corn fields never will get the nutrition value of heavy soy beans. Corn is about 10% protein while soy beans are around 40% protein and 20% fat. Add alfalfa around 20% protein to the mix. Remember a whitetail needs 16 to 18% protein and 6 to 8% fat to reach full potential. There is many other things that also come into play. Michigan has okay genetics but some areas are better than others. There is not a perfect answer for some of our questions.

 

[Chessieman]

The only thing you plant twice is Beans, never Corn.
So unless that Deer never leaves a farm that is sort of shot down.

 

[mustang72]

That jaw was from this buck, He came in with a 3 point but you could clearly see the difference in body size. Once I cleaned up his jaw I too was surprised. 3.5 is what me and many others think after seeing the tooth wear.

 

[Osceola]

That jaw was from this buck, He came in with a 3 point but you could clearly see the difference in body size. Once I cleaned up his jaw I too was surprised. 3.5 is what me and many others think after seeing the tooth wear. View attachment 885000

Good example of a 3.5-year-old Zone 2 buck that looks about like a 2.5 year-old in Zone 3.

 

[Jarett]

Good video. Here's a couple things that are also might be of interest based on that video:

Below is the B&C entries mapped. No shading = 0, lighter color = 1 or 2 entries, blue is less than red, and the more red = the more entries. Jackson county is showing 22 total entries for reference.

 

[Osceola]

Here's a buck I shot in 2021. I estimated his age at 4.5. He probably resembles a 3.5 Zone 3 buck in body and antler size.

 

[Osceola]

Good video. Here's a couple things that are also might be of interest based on that video: View attachment 885006
Below is the B&C entries mapped. No shading = 0, lighter color = 1 or 2 entries, blue is less than red, and the more red = the more entries. Jackson county is showing 22 total entries for reference.
View attachment 885007

Osceola County doesn't have a single Booner! Maybe I'm growing the first.

Michigan looks pathetic compared to WI. That can't just be a soil issue. That's gotta be a culture/management issue. Look at the difference between northern WI and the UP.

 

[Bob S]

Michigan looks pathetic compared to WI. That can't just be a soil issue. That's gotta be a culture/management issue. Look at the difference between northern WI and the UP.

Two big differences, Wisconsin is one archery buck and one firearm buck, and Wisconsin's firearm season is 9 days long beginning the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

 

[plugger]

Osceola County doesn't have a single Booner! Maybe I'm growing the first.

Michigan looks pathetic compared to WI. That can't just be a soil issue. That's gotta be a culture/management issue. Look at the difference between northern WI and the UP.

Wisconsin's dairy milk production is also outstanding.

 

[Bucman]

My farm boy side gets a woody when I see soils in other places. Basically most of Michigan soils are good for pine trees. I see the difference in deer just in this county.

 

[Wild Thing]

I know tooth wear isn’t very accurate, but what age would you give this deer? Buck shot in Missuakee county in 2018 late October
dressed at 158# View attachment 884989

I don't like venturing a guess without having the actual jawbone in my hands. I think it helps to be able to see the proper angle which you don't always get from a picture. But I will say that I think tooth wear aging is very accurate for 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5+ deer. Anything beyond that it's not very reliable. Having said that, that deer is definitely at least 3.5, but probably older.

I agree that it is difficult to get a really good estimate from photos - especially from only a single photo. Having said that, from what I can see I can say that your deer was definitely at least 3 1/2…. Maybe 4 1/2…. And definitely not 5 1/2. Can’t venture anything more than that from the photo.

 

[Wild Thing]

Good video. Here's a couple things that are also might be of interest based on that video: View attachment 885006
Below is the B&C entries mapped. No shading = 0, lighter color = 1 or 2 entries, blue is less than red, and the more red = the more entries. Jackson county is showing 22 total entries for reference.
View attachment 885007

Interesting difference in the number of booners in WI compared to MI

 

[DEDGOOSE]

Good video. Here's a couple things that are also might be of interest based on that video: View attachment 885006
Below is the B&C entries mapped. No shading = 0, lighter color = 1 or 2 entries, blue is less than red, and the more red = the more entries. Jackson county is showing 22 total entries for reference.
View attachment 885007

Just think what the nw13 bucks will look like when those counties start planting soybeans...

 

[sureshot006]

Just think what the nw13 bucks will look like when those counties start planting soybeans...

Yeah to me all the maps say is deer grow bigger antlers when they have good food which comes from good soil and farmers tend to plant crops where the soil is good.

 

[Jarett]

Osceola County doesn't have a single Booner! Maybe I'm growing the first.

Michigan looks pathetic compared to WI. That can't just be a soil issue. That's gotta be a culture/management issue. Look at the difference between northern WI and the UP.

There is a cultural / management aspect for sure IMO. When you see some of the differences in B and C entries change immediately across state lines, it's clear that management/ culture has just as big of an impact as soil on growing big deer.