Deer Aging
Heterodont Dentition
.5 year old (fawn)
Any deer with less than 6 cheek teeth is a fawn.
1.5 year old
Tooth three is a tricuspid.
Tooth 6 has erupted and is slightly visible above
the gum line.
3 cusp tooth
6
5
4
3
2
1
2.5 year old
Lingual crests on all molars are sharp and pointed.
Tooth three now is a bicuspid.
Back cusp of tooth six is sharp and pointed.
Enamel is wider than the dentine in tooth four, five and
six.
2 cusp tooth
6
5
Pointed cusp
4
3
2
1
3.5 year old
Lingual crest on tooth four is blunt.
The dentine is as wide or wider than the enamel in
tooth 4.
The back cusp on tooth six is forming a concavity.
Dentine is wider
than enamel
6
Cusp worn to
concavity
1
5
4
3
2
4.5 year old
Dentine is now wider than enamel on the fifth
tooth, but thinner than the enamel on the last
tooth.
Dentine twice as
wide as enamel
Blunt crests
6
5
Cusp slopes
downward
4
3
2
1
5.5 year old
Lingual crest is worn away on tooth four and rounded
in tooth five.
Lingual crest on tooth six is blunt.
Dentine in tooth six is now wider than the enamel.
Dentine twice as
wide as enamel
6
5
4
3
2
1
Dichotomous key
Aging Whitetail Deer using teeth
1. Count the number of teeth
-Less than 6 teeth………………………………………...Fawn (6 months old)
-6 teeth present…………………………………………...Go to 2
2. Locate the third tooth from the front of the jaw
-Tricuspid tooth present………………………………..Yearling (1.5 yrs old)
-Bicuspid tooth present………………………………...Go to 3
3. Look at the “smiles”, underneath these is dentine. As the deer ages the
dentine widens. Also, the teeth become smoother when you run your
finger over the top.
-Dentine width thin, teeth feel sharp………….…2.5 yrs old
-Dentine widening, teeth feel smooth…………..3.5 yrs old or older