AGE-DETERMINATION OF THE ROE DEER (CAPREOLUS-CAPREOLUS L) - MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS CHECKED FOR AGE ESTIMATION

Five morphological parameters (body mass, undressed weight, lens weight, lower jaw length, matacarpian length) were checked for age estimation of 45 known age roe deer (26 males, 19 females) harvested in a forest southwest of Paris, France, Lens weight and lower jaw length were strongly correlated with decimal logarithm of age (R(2) = 0.951 and 0.836 respectively). Lenght of metacarpian bone was no really correlated with Log of age (R(2) = 0.599). The accuracy of age prediction for one individual or a group of animals by these morphological parameters is discussed.