Wildlife For Lunch - Using technology to age and score white-tailed deer in photographs

Knowledge of a buck's age and quality is critical for successful white-tailed deer management programs. In the past, deer enthusiasts have subjectively aged and scored deer "on the hoof" or have collected age and antler data from harvested animals. Although aging and scoring live deer is a skill that most hunters can develop with practice, many people don't have the experience or confidence to make these decisions. Researchers from Deer Ecology & Management Lab at Mississippi State University have developed a software program that can be used to age and score bucks from trail camera photographs. Using this technology will enable hunters and managers to have an objective measure of a buck's age and score to make informed harvest decisions that coincide with their management program.