Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Discussion about shed antlers, etc
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BigHills BuckHunter
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Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby BigHills BuckHunter » Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:34 am

First of all Hey guys....I took the winter off I guess...lol My First post in a while.

I found a shed last weekend had 4 points with a 9 inch G2 and very little mass throughout. I looked at the base and compared it to 7 other yearling sheds I found so far this year and some of the yearling bases were actually larger than the base of the 9 inch G2 shed I found. Could this be a yearling? As of right now
Im guessing 2.5 years old but if it is I have never seen such small bases. I will post a pic of it this weekend compared to other yearling sheds Ive found. Its very interesting find regardless of age.

Back to the main question can you determine age from a shed antler base?

Thanks for your input....


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Black Squirrel
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby Black Squirrel » Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:39 am

I'm no expert but....... A 9" G2 is pretty long, that being said, I still think it could be a yearling. the bases or pedicles usually get bigger with age to a certain point, as does their mass.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby muddy » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:15 am

Most times you can't really tell age of a buck based on antler size unless it's in the 1.5 or 2.5 age class. I'd say it's entirely possible for your shed to come off a 1.5 if it's that spindly or it could just be a less than stellar 2.5 year old.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby Dewey » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:23 am

It's hard to judge age by the base of a shed antler. I have seen 3 1/2 year old bucks up north that had the bases of a yearling buck. It all depends on genetics and nutrition. Some bucks never put on mass and it all goes to tine length instead.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby PLB » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:25 am

Dewey wrote:It's hard to judge age by the base of a shed antler. I have seen 3 1/2 year old bucks up north that had the bases of a yearling buck. It all depends on genetics and nutrition. Some bucks never put on mass and it all goes to tine length instead.

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BigHills BuckHunter
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby BigHills BuckHunter » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:34 am

This is coming from farm country with good nutrition in Western Wisconsin, I guess it could be a 2.5 yr old. I think it will help you guys out maybe to see pics unfortunatly Im away from my camera card so it will be a few days. Wish I could just ask the deer how old he was? lol Wouldnt that be nice! ;)
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby tim » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:04 am

yep lets see some pics.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby hunt n nut » Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:21 pm

A friend of mine just found a few sheds and his too, one set is very good mass looks to be at least a 4 1/2 year old and they are mid 60's, the other set is low sixties the mass almost as impressive, but small peds compared to the rest of the horn. Almost want to say a very healthy two year old, hard to tell. I like the idea of just asking them :lol: .

Can't wait to see the pics.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby BigHills BuckHunter » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:34 am

Here are some pics of that shed I found still cant decide if its a yearling or 2 yrd old.

Image

Image

Image
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby dan » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:46 am

looks like a 2 year old to me... I don't think there is any set way to determine age from a shed.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby BigHills BuckHunter » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:52 am

Hey Dan, I was leaning towards a 2 year old with high hopes of him being a yearling.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby Wrinkleneck » Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:18 am

From that picture; if most 1.5 year olds in your area are like the one on the right then I would have to say the one on the left is a 2.5 year old. Just my .02
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby muddy » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:04 am

From the pics I'd say a nice 2 year old or a less than average 3 year old.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby wibowhntr » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:14 am

I would have to say 2.5 unless the shed was from a pen buck with awesome genetics.
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Re: Determine Age from base of shed antler?

Unread postby hunt n nut » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:40 am

I would have to agree, looks like a two year old from the pics


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