Relate a bulls age to number of points?

[82ndreddevil]

So I know that the ivory teeth is one way to estimate an elks age, but what about the antlers? How old is the typical 3x3 or even 6x6? Can you even estimate age from the number of points? A hunting guide here in NM told me that some bulls never even become a 6x6 if their genes are not good. Is there much truth behind that?

[Huntrgathr]

Not really. Bulls can have 6 points by their second year. Genetics has a lot to do with it. Pedicle size ( antler base diameter) has a better correlation to age.

[one_elk]

There are a lot of bulls in CO at least that will never become a 6 point bull, because, at least as of a few years ago 75% of the 2.5 year old bulls were harvested each year….so living long enough, probably at least till a bull is 3.5 years old is the major criteria (but I know that really wasn’t the point of your question) so back to the real point of your question about genetics. I am sure that cases where a bull that lives to, say be more than 7 years old will not have a least 6 tines on one side but I am also sure that is far from the norm as would I imagine it would be somewhat rare for a second year bull to have six tines on one side…. Now symmetry of antler growth is a different story….Long story short genetics and diet have a lot to do with antler development….