If you're a whitetail hunter, chances are you've heard of the term "Quality Deer Management" or "QDM" for short. While tens - if not hundreds - of thousands of landowners, lease holders, hunt clubs, etc. have joined the QDM "revolution", there are some that believe that their property is "too small", or that they "can't practice" QDM on their properties, or on the properties where they hunt. While some of the broader habitat projects, food plots, careful harvest management, etc. might not be possible (and I emphasize might), there are still things the average hunter can participate in that many consider "QDM-type" activities. One of those is aging the deer you harvest.
Even if you aren't engaging in a comprehensive QDM program, knowing how old the deer is that you shot can be interesting information to have. Whether just for fun and interesting conversation around the campfire, or simply to help you confirm that "mature" buck or doe you harvested was - indeed - mature (and if so, just how mature), knowing how to age your animals can be good to know.
The attached video is Part One of a three-part series the Quality Deer Management Association is putting together to share with folks the techniques - and art - to aging whitetails by evaluating the animal's teeth in its lower jaw. If you're interested in learning how to age a whitetail, I'll share the videos as they get posted. If you're interested in knowing more about QDM, I strongly encourage you to become a QDMA member! I have been a member for more than 10 years, and am still learning new whitetail science, habitat management techniques, and more with each issue of Quality Whitetails (their quarterly publication) that I receive. For you small acreage owners, you might be surprised at just what you can do on your property (or those that you hunt) that you never thought you could, or ever thought that would work!
Check out the QDMA, and check out the video:
A Hunting Blog by Chris Roe, Roe Hunting Resources
