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How to Age a Whitetail Deer

Food Plots-How to Age a Whitetail                  

  I am in my mid forties and I have been hunting deer since I was of legal age in Pennsylvania. Through most of those years hunters, that I know or chatted with,  really didn’t concern themselves to much with the age of a whitetail, just as long as it was legal, no one really cared. Once in a great while someone would harvest an extremely old deer and then the guessing game would begin on trying to figure out how old it really was.

Nowadays, it seem like every time that I watch a hunting show or have a cold one at the local watering hole, everyone is an expert on deer aging. And for a few reasons, they are really concerned with the age of the deer that they are seeing and or bagging. Part of it, is the growing popularity of deer food plots, which gives hunters more time to observe deer and try to make age judgments. However, I believe that most of this comes from people watching professionals hunt deer management ranches, where the owners of such ranches tell you what you are allowed kill. So, to fill dead time, the host or hunter talks about the age of the whitetail that he sees or is stalking. They are also obsessed with taling about antler scoring, which I find very annoying, but that is for another article. Personally I think that a lot of this aging stuff is a load a crap and just gives limited TV personalities something else that they act like they wrote book on but who am I to say. If hunters want to know something, it is my job to provide the information, so be my guest. 

To my knowledge there are several different ways to tell the age of a Whitetail deer. I had a PA game officier check the the age of the very first Buck that I ever killed, when I was 12. We ran into him as my father, uncle and myself were bringing the deer out of the woods. To do this, he slit the skin back from the deers mouth crack along the jawline and exposed the back  jaw and teeth and informed me that it was 1 1/2 years old. I still think that this is the best way to tell the age of a deer but you are limited to knowing this fact after you all ready have the deer down. Today, everyone wants to be able to judge age by site and I have to tell you that the research that I did seems easy but it can be tricky. So, I assembled some of the latest information on the subject for you to view. I found articles on identifying by appearance and jaw and tooth methods. Enjoy!

Aging Whitetail DeerAt Various Stages (David Selman, Tracker …

Aging a Yearling DeerYearling deer can be easily aged by examining the third tooth back on either side of the jaw. This tooth is called the third premolar. If this tooth has three cusps, the deer is 1 1/2 years old. …

Publish Date: 02/19/2010 9:48

http://blog.vici.ro/2010/02/19/aging-whitetail-deer-at-various-stages-david-selman-tracker-outdoors-com/

Aging Whitetail Deer by Their Teeth

Looking at the teeth of a deer can give you an idea of a deer’s age. It’s not a perfect science, but when it comes to wildlife management what really is? Wildlife, including white-tailed deer, do not lend themselves to close monitoring. …

Publish Date: 01/21/2010 11:10

http://www.wildlifemanagementpro.com/2010/01/21/aging-whitetail-deer-by-their-teeth/

Whitetail Woods: Aging A Whitetail Deer by it’s Jawbone

“Aging Whitetail Deer” This video’s purpose is to teach someone how to age a Whitetail Deer. This is not a hunting video. Posted by Rick Kratzke at 6:00 AM. Labels: aging teeth, deer and deer hunting, youtube video …

Publish Date: 07/27/2009 6:00

http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com/2009/07/aging-whitetail-deer-by-its-jawbone.html

Back To: Cultivating Your Food Plot Options For Whitetails

Cultivating Your Food Plot Options For Whitetails

  I am sure that many of you know this all ready but one of the best things that you can do for your deer food plot is cultivate the resources that you have available to you on your existing land. What I mean by this is instead of clearing everything off and buying some wonder seed to plant all over, look around to see what you might be able to accentuate on the property, as is it naturally exits. I stumbled upon this video below while I was searching for material on corn food crops. More than anything that caught my attention from his video was that the kill zones were very well thought out in advance and yes, he planted new crops but he also worked with what he all ready had on the lots to attract deer. Please go ahead and check it out and I will also have some content discussed afterwards.

One thing that I would like to mention, first of all about this video is that it is terrific that this guy has all of these tools available to him to do what he is doing. In this short clip he mentions 2 tractors and a skid steer and 3 different food plots. This is great if you have all of these resources at your command but unfortunately most of us do not. This doesn’t mean that there was nothing to learn from the clip however. First, he incorporated the use of the fruit trees that are currently producing into his kill zone, This very smart because you never know what the whitetail deer might be craving. He also knew generally, which way the deer naturally funnel into the the food plot. This sounds easy but it is an important question to consider. Most experienced deer hunters know that deer can come into an area from all angles but they also know that deer can become quit predictable also.

I also love the fact that he created his own natural watering hole. He didn’t have one so by putting one in, he added an attraction to an all ready attractive food plot. If you do something like this, make sure that you do it well before the season starts. Unless deer are thirsting to death they generally need to feel very safe about where they get their water, so make sure they have unimpeded access to it. He is correct about the natural minerals that may be contained within his water hole but one thing that he didn’t mention was that if the hole doesn’t draw off of some type of water source, it might be fueled by the fields run off water which may contain fertilizer and lime, which you don’t want.

However you decide to do your food plot just make sure that you look around and reap the benefits of what you all ready have. You know your property better than anyone so you should be able to make the right decisions. To me, the whole idea is not to do work that you do not need to. Also remember that the more natural looking you food plot is the more comfortable whitetails will be in visiting it.

Food Plot Equipment-Tractor or ATV

When starting you own deer food plot, one of the chief concerns is the money that you will have surrender to the food plot equipment that you need to accomplish your goals. It would be nice if we all had enough capital laying around to go and purchase what ever we need but most of us don’t, so that idea is not very practical. One thing we do know, is that most food plots will need some type of tilling done to the soil. So, this means that many people will have to make a decision on whether to buy a small farm and garden tractor or an ATV to aid them in cultivating the soil that they have. There are many concerns that need to be addressed here but I can only get into a few in this article. Food plot equipmentlargely depends on you budget and the amount of muscle that you require. So, for now, we shall look at this dilema in very general terms.

 What is the plot’s terain like? How large of a piece of ground are you cultivating? How even is the ground that you are tilling? Is there debre or stumps that need removed? These are all pertinent questions. I would say that the easier the ground is to manage, the more likely I would use a small tractor. For about a grand you can pick up a tractor that will do the job. If the terrain is rougher you might be better off with a 4-wheeler unless there are stumps or roots that need tended to, in that case you would need a big tractor, but they can be serious money and you might not need it again. So, it might be more logical to rent a big tractor for your initial clearing and then use something smaller for continued care.

Another good idea is to purchase food plot equipment that you can use in a duel capacity. If you have kids or you like to ride ATVs yourself, a 4-wheeler can kill two birds with one stone. Likewise, if you have to mow grass at your house and need to replace your old mower, you could upgrade a little and get a nice garden tractor that you can also use on your food plot. In other words look for a product that offers the most versatility for you and your family.

Another consideration before buying food plot equipment is location.  Many people have or start food plots that are not on their residential properties.  They may have land that isn’t adjacent to their homes or may grow in an area located on other people’s land.  So, they have to think of transportation as a crucial consideration in choosing between a tractor or ATV. If you can travel across land a small to intermediate distance without a trailer, you might consider the ATV. If you have to load a machine onto a trailer, then it doesn’t matter as much, unless you all ready have a trailer that will only work on one and not  the other.

There are many, many other things to consider before making a sizable purchase, like food plot equipment. Way to many to discuss them all in this article, however, I hope that we have given you a few ideas and or maybe gave you some things to think about. Only you know what will work the best in your situation. Both tractor and ATV manufacturers are aware of folks like us and are continually improving and coming out with new equipment specific to what we do, so do your research and I know you will make the proper decision.

Check Out: Whitetail Deer Hunting Routines

Whitetail Deer Hunting Routines

FOOD PLOTS-Whitetail Deer Hunting Routines

To reach your whitetail deer hunting goals, the hunter has to know the deer’s routines and also identify mark that indicates a buck is in the vicinity. One guaranteed indication that a buck is in the area is usually a rub ” a branch or sapling which has been stripped of its bark by a buck banging the velvet from his antlers. Later on during the fall, when the rut draws near, new sign of the antler work might be visible on bigger, harder trees, as stressed bucks structure up their battling skill set.

A bigger sign that a whitetail buck is about can be an active scrape. That’s where a buck has pawed the leaves and grass away, revealing a new spot of uncovered soil from 1 to 3 feet in size. The Buck will generously apply his scent and tracks within the scrape, which in turn can serve as an indication to does that he is in the vicinity as well as on the market, and also alerts other bucks that this is his territory and they’d better skate away, or chance a battle. A whitetail buck, that’s completely swept up from the fever from the ,could have a number of scrapes that he monitors regularly, or he might place only one and remain in the area. What ever is the situation, the scrape which is getting renewed and taken care of is often a positive indication that the buck is going to be around eventually, and that it is worthy aspect to consider in the mind of the particular hunter.

Of all of the indicators a hunter will probably run into, deer tracks are the obvious and they are also the most neglected and misinterpreted by the inexperienced whitetail hunter. Plenty of greenhorn deer hunters are most likely to lock onto the very first pair of tracks they discover and spend the remainder of the daytime pursuing them, pretty much almost always without discovering the deer.

Tracks certainly are a useful sign to the hunter, primarily for sign of the regularity as well as the deer’s course of traveling. Some might also give the sign of the size associated with the deer utilizing an area Normally, they supply many of the same details similar to droppings.

A number of whitetail hunters maintain they are able to differentiate tracks of bucks from those of does, however some other knowledgeable hunters discount this. Usually, the tracks of bucks and does appear the same, though a hunter following a deer may surmise he’s on the path of a buck when it is traveling alone and staying with more remote or maybe deceptive places.

Pursuing a set of deer tracks hoping to get a shot at the deer making the tracks is definitely an questionable adventure, and it is a strategy perfected by just a few experts. The majority of hunters stick to a trail way too slowly or produce an excessive amount of noise to achieve success. And, plenty of hunters can’t recognize a very fresh new track, and for that reason might pursue on a path half a day old or even more.

Many hunters pursuing deer tracks pay a significant amount of attention to the impressions themselves and virtually neglect to watch out for the deer standing in the tracks. Skilled trackers are on the lookout for the most distant noticeable sign, giving it merely a glimpse whilst trying to keep their vision on cover ahead, while staying ready to get a shot. Additionally they glimpse behind, since deer frequently double back on their particular trail to determine when they are being followed.

Usually the only time many hunters will need to track a deer is when they have taken a shot at one. If the shot doesn’t put the deer down, the hunter should find where the deer was standing when the shot was attempted, and look for blood, hair, or other signs of a hit. If the hunter finds nothing he should follow the track for a few hundred yards, and look for blood on the ground, bushes and trees the deer might brush against, or for any other evidence of a crippled deer. If there are still no signs of blood, the hunter should gather as many other hunters or people to spread out in a line and walk through the shooting zone looking signs.

Remember, field dress the deer as quickly as possible, so that the meat cools rapidly, especially in warm weather. It’s fine to hang and age a deer but be sure to cool the meat as fast as possible before hand.

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Milo-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

Milo-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

Milo, aka Sorghum, is usually a yearly grass that is comparable to corn, but creates seeds in loose heads developing on top of this plant, instead of in ears. Although sorghum is pretty low in protein (8% to 10%), it has lots of carbohydrates, therefore it offers deer an essential energy source from fall until early-winter. Deer consume the seedling heads once they develop fully at the beginning of fall.

Sorghum is simpler to develop than corn because sorghum requires less nourishing substances as well as generally calls for 1/3 less water for very good growth. It’s very drought tolerant, it can endure poorly-drained circumstances, lower soil fertility, as well as mild acidity. It is not going to endure flooding. Greatest growth is accomplished on well-drained soils with a pH between 5.6 and 6.5.

Grain Sorghum continues to be marketed for upland bird habitat, but it’s also a good food source for deer. The grain heads are nicely applied during the fall, though the plant itself is not touched through the summer months, despite deer density. This just about ensures a crop come fall. Additionally, sorghum is usually a much more sturdy plant than corn and can contend nicely with weeds and continue to generate heads. It grows effectively also throughout rather arid summers. Like corn, you may commonly locate a totally free supply for Milo, helping lessen the price tag on the planting process.

As a negative, Milo is less attractive compared to corn for a winter food source. Consequently, it can’t be relied on to provide deer managing once the temperature drops in the same manner corn can. In locations with reduced deer densities where both may be produced successfully, corn is superior. Milo has a place within a large deer management system.

Once deer get accustomed to feeding on Sorghum they are going to consume the heads to their stem, right when the seeds achieve the “dough stage”. This can be a stage, once the seeds take shape but have not dried down, typically in September. Once again, that is a acquired result by deer in average to high-densities. The initial year or two of your Milo planting system, in that environment, will generate the desired effect, which is late fall and winter food. However, after that you can only be generating early fall nutrition for consumption, during the period when deer should certainly be eating legumes along with other nutritional food items.

Go to Food Plots-Perinnial Clovers

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Alfalfa-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

 Alfalfa-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

The truth is, there’s next to nothing as easily accessible that produces more raw protein than top quality alfalfa. Deer will consume it all of the summer and for as long as the plant remains nourishing in to the fall. They may also begin it as fast as possible early in the year. Also, a correctly managed alfalfa plot can last as long as 7 years and is relatively drought tolerant. Alfalfa is a wonderful method to obtain protein. Finally, you will find there’s a ready and well-established marketplace for good quality alfalfa hay. Since you’ll want to cut the crop and remove the remains anyway to help keep the field weed-free why not make some income? 

Alfalfa has also downsides. First, alfalfa is chiefly a summer food source. It turns brown easily following the first hard frost and can be used less by deer afterwards. Also, it doesn’t green-up as quickly early in the year as winter grains or alternatively clover, therefore it isn’t of great help during periods of high stress. Second, alfalfa is often tough to ascertain and manage. The soil should be properly drained or the crop will swiftly flood out. Leaf hopping insects love the leaves just as much as the deer do, so you will need to observe the plot on a regular basis and treat it for bugs occasionally.

Also, alfalfa is pricey to implement. You may need to anticipate liming, fertilizing and paying a premium price for substantial protein types. You’re most likely looking at well above $125 per acre even though you do the project, more in the event you don’t. Although this might not seem so bad if you look at the the price tag covering the lifetime of the area, do not forget yearly fertilizer costs that add about $35 per acre. 

Should you be selling the hay, the math will be a lot more attractive. Actually, alfalfa as a crop is often pretty worthwhile. But, unless you want to get into these things, you might be more well off keeping the crop put up on halves with a local farmer. Under the ideal conditions, alfalfa is a superb alternative.

Food Plots-Milo Deer Food

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Winter Grains-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

Winter Grains-Deer Food Plots Crops and Seeds

Because winter grains are planted within the fall they benefit from a period of time when many regions of the united states receive steady seasonal rainfall, causing this crop a good solution in otherwise arid areas. Winter wheat, rye or triticale are employed greatly in numerous southern food plot programs where heavy deer densities and dry summer conditions make other fall and winter food sources much less reliable. Most people have heard the expression green field when discussing southern deer hunting strategies. Green fields are usually some mix of winter grains along with a little clover included. With sufficient moisture, winter grains grow fast and may be employed by deer within a couple weeks of planting. In addition they stay green well in to the winter and therefore are very unyielding to frost. Early in the year, there’s the initial plant to green up, so they really are an essential early food for deer seeking to restore them after a challenging winter.

However, being an all-purpose deer meal source, winter grains are unsuccessful. They rapidly become harsh and unpalatable as spring wears on. Many birds eat the seed heads (and turkeys will eat them also) but deer don’t appear too interested past mid-spring. Because winter grains work well in certain situations when nothing else is, they stay within the list of feasible possibilities. Winter grains seem to be more of a piece to a bigger vision of an all incompasing food plot. They are great as an inhancement but not a sole food plot seed.

Food Plots-Alfalfa Food Crops

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Corn-Deer Food Plot Crops and Seeds

Corn-Deer Food Plot Crops and Seeds

Everybody knows that Whitetail Deer love corn! Corn is especially attractive to deer in the hart of the winter, when everything else is dead or dormant, corn is still available and and is packed with carbohydrates. I realize that many of you know this all ready but I must state it again to be sure. Corn is not a great year round food for deer. It offers little food value to the herd with regard to nutrients. It’s best attribute is that deer can make it through the end of rough winters by eating corn. I use this analogy all the time, that a biologist friend of mind said to me many years ago, “Feeding deer corn is like giving a starving person a candy bar. It will keep them alive but you don’t want it to be the primary food source.”

The nice thing about corn is that it is an abondant cash crop, so it is everywhere. Many times if you search around you can find corn seed that is left over. You may even be able to get it a very low price if not for free. Which is great for people like us that want a cheap deer food plot.

I don’t feel the need to talk much about corn as a plant because everyone is familiar with corn and there are volumes of information on growing it. Idealy, your food plot should contain other crops in it to maintain the herd through the spring, summer and fall and the deer will not depend on the corn until they have to. This time of year happens to be when most hunting is accuring, so corn can be a vital resource for late season stands and blinds.

Winter Grains-Deer Food Plot Crops

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