Hunters Asked to Help With Wildlife Data

WATERBURY, VT - Vermont's wildlife biologists are looking to hunters for help. Recent changes in deer hunting regulations designed to allow more bucks to live longer can be evaluated if wildlife managers have good information on the ages of deer taken by hunters.

Wildlife biologists with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are asking hunters to use postage-paid envelopes provided at deer check stations to send in the two front teeth from any deer they take during hunting seasons. The teeth will be cross-sectioned and annual rings will be counted to determine the deer's age.

"The data received from the teeth will help us determine the age composition of the deer population and if current management regulations are working," said Wildlife Biologist John Buck. "If hunters would like to know how old their deer was, they can put their address on the envelope and we will send the deer's age to them in the spring."

In Vermont, a "legal buck" must now have at least one antler with two or more points. A "point" is defined as an antler projection of at least one inch measured from base to tip. The main antler beam counts as a point, regardless of length. An "antlerless deer" is a deer without antlers or with antlers less than three inches long. "Vermont Deer Hunting 2005," a publication explaining this year's deer hunting rules, is available from license agents and from Fish & Wildlife's website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).
For more information, please read the Deer Tooth Flyer.

Thank you for your help.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

HUNTERS:
The two central incisors are described in the picture above. They are the two front teeth on the bottom jaw. They are easily removed by cutting deeply downward on each side of each tooth so as to collect as much of the root as possible. Please fill out the information section of the envelope and include your LICENSE NUMBER. Then, place the extracted teeth in the postpaid envelope and drop in the mailbox.


For Further Information please contact: John Buck at 802-476-0196 or email to john.buck@state.vt.us