Jaw length and hind foot length as measures of skeletal development of Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Jaw length and hind foot length are compared, as indicators of skeletal development, using data from Red deer in three different populations. It is concluded that jaw length gives the best index of skeletal growth throughout the whole lifespan of Red deer, but it can only be measured reliably post mortem. Although the foot stops growing before some other parts of the skeleton, hind foot length is especially convenient for studies on young live deer.