Ages of deer harvested in 2021 available on state website

May 6, 2022  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

Graphic courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Hunters who provided the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department with a tooth from their deer harvested in 2021 can now find out how old their deer was by visiting the department’s website.

Fish & Wildlife biologists received deer teeth from successful hunters in 2021, resulting in ages calculated for 3,094 deer, according to a department news release.  

“We are thankful to the thousands of hunters who supported our deer management efforts by providing us with a tooth from their deer,” said Deer Project Leader Nick Fortin. “This age information helps us estimate deer population size and assess the health of deer.” 

The data offer insight into the population’s growth rate and mortality rate. In addition, relating age, body weight and antler measurements, wildlife biologists gain further insight into the deer population’s overall health. 

The oldest deer harvested was a 16-year-old doe taken in Fairfax.  The oldest buck was 11 years old and was taken in Sunderland.

Fortin noted that the information also helps officials understand the effects of new hunting regulations on the deer population.

The deer ages can be found on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website with a link from the home page.