Thread: How old is this Sika hind ?

I took this jaw from a Sika hind I shot recently. I don't know how to age deer from a jaw but, to me, this jaw has indicators of some age.
Anyone here like to have a stab at estimating the age ?
I intend to have it aged by someone experienced and will report back here later.

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send it to Sika Foundation and they will age it.

Crikey , no spring chicken

Originally Posted by cookie

send it to Sika Foundation and they will age it.

Yes. My intention is to get it to the Sika Foundation for ageing. Probably about the end of this month. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Lucky

Crikey , no spring chicken

Yep. Been in the hills for a circuit or two for sure. Cheers.

Oldest sika hind I ever shot was on spion Kop

Aged at 21 1/2 years old

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Oldest sika hind I ever shot was on spion Kop

Aged at 21 1/2 years old

I have seen a few Sika hind jaws aged around that mark. Quite amazing really. Very few stags seem to reach a similar age.

I’d say around 6-9. I shot a 9y/o a year and half ago and it’s maybe slightly less worn then that jaw going off my memory. Let us know how old it goes

Originally Posted by Rusa3006

I’d say around 6-9. I shot a 9y/o a year and half ago and it’s maybe slightly less worn then that jaw going off my memory. Let us know how old it goes

@Rusa3006 yep, will do. Cheers.

She has very good front teeth for the wear on her molars.
I'd say 12-14 years.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

She has very good front teeth for the wear on her molars.
I'd say 12-14 years.

I'm looking forward to what the Sika Foundation reckons.

Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Attachment 250288

@7mmwsm
Interesting guide. Thanks for posting. Based on the pics I would guess my jaw indicates the hind's age at 10+ years.
The suggestion is that deer of this age qualify as "dog tucker" Actually I had some of her backsteak on my plate tonight. It was as good as ...... However, the remaining meat is going into sausages and salami soon.

I find it very interesting looking at the jaws of sika i shoot or even find in the bush.
If i were to guess i would have said around 10 or 11 years for your jaw, however i am no expert and am just guessing that based off jaws i have shot and had aged.
interesting that the 'bush dentistry' chart confirms this too. would love to see a photo of a 15 year old deers jaw, or the 20 ear old deers jaw as mentioned above.
It always feels good that you have outsmarted an older deer also. i look forward to what the experts come back with age wise for your jaw.

Originally Posted by Young_sika_hntr

I find it very interesting looking at the jaws of sika i shoot or even find in the bush.
If i were to guess i would have said around 10 or 11 years for your jaw, however i am no expert and am just guessing that based off jaws i have shot and had aged.
interesting that the 'bush dentistry' chart confirms this too. would love to see a photo of a 15 year old deers jaw, or the 20 ear old deers jaw as mentioned above.
It always feels good that you have outsmarted an older deer also. i look forward to what the experts come back with age wise for your jaw.

I'm keen to see the expert analyis too.
Interesting thing is I'm reasonably sure I've encountered this hind before. I shot her in a smallish area I have walked through numerous times where several times I have spooked a deer. I never saw the deer first. Usually got a squeal then saw only a flash as the deer darted away too quickly for a shot. This time however, aware that I might encounter a deer, I think I walked in more cautiously and I'm sure I caught the hind unaware, at least initially. I think we saw each other at the same time. She flashed across a little opening and stopped behind a bush, probably thinking I couldn't see her. But through the scope I could pick out her shoulder, and that was her undoing.