Matson's Oldest
Animals
Remember, hunting season is always just around the corner, and Matson’s oldest animal age records are ready to be broken!
The Oldest Animal Records.
Waiting To Be Broken.
Have you ever wondered about the ages of the oldest animals in the world? At Matson’s, we have had the privilege to age some of the oldest animals in the world and have kept record of the oldest animals we have ever aged. And… these records are just waiting to be broken! It’s a fact that some of the oldest living animals are still waiting to be aged. Do you have teeth from what you think may be some of the oldest animals in the world? Send them to us and find out! We can age any tooth at any time. Whether submitting a tooth from a fresh harvest or prepared skull, maybe you will be the next to claim the title for one of the oldest animals in the world, or at least one of the oldest animals ever aged at Matson’s!
Oldest Ungulates Aged At Matson's Lab
Deer
White-tailed Deer
22
years old
Louisiana
Mule Deer
20
years old
Washington
Black-tailed Deer
22
years old
Oregon
Elk, Moose, & Bison
Elk
32
years old
Pennsylvania
Moose
22
years old
New Brunswick, Canada
Bison
22
years old
Northwest Territories, Canada
Mountain Goat, Pronghorn, & Bighorn Sheep
Mountain Goat
18
years old
British Columbia, Canada
Pronghorn
17
years old
North Dakota
Bighorn Sheep
17
years old
British Columbia, Canada
Oldest Carnivores Aged At Matson's Lab
Bears
Black Bear
35
years old
Montana, Idaho (tie)
Brown/Grizzly Bear
39
years old
Alaska
Polar Bear
34
years old
Nunavut, Canada
Mountain Lion, Bobcat, & Lynx
Mountain Lion
22
years old
Montana
Bobcat
23
years old
New Mexico
Lynx
18
years old
Switzerland
Wolf, Coyote, & Fox
Wolf
15
years old
Northwest Territories, Canada
Coyote
15
years old
Colorado
Red Fox
16
years old
Sweden
Wolverine, Badger, & Marten
Wolverine
13
years old
Northwest Territories, Canada
Badger
19
years old
Washington
Marten
16
years old
Alaska
For a more detailed look at our oldest ungulates and carnivores, check out the charts below!
Oldest Ungulate Species
| Species | Total Aged 1978 – 2023 | Oldest Age to Date | Location |
| White-tailed Deer | 395,108 | 22 | Louisiana |
| Elk | 224,782 | 32 | Pennsylvania |
| Moose | 197,096 | 22 | New Brunswick |
| Mule Deer | 148,322 | 20 | Washington |
| Black-tailed Deer | 57,601 | 22 | Oregon |
| Caribou | 49,085 | 22 | Alaska, N. Territories (tie) |
| Mountain Goat | 23,860 | 18 | British Columbia |
| Pronghorn | 24,105 | 17 | North Dakota |
| Bighorn Sheep | 6,599 | 17 | British Columbia |
| Sika Deer | 4,894 | 18 | Japan |
| Bison | 4,640 | 22 | N. Territories |
| Red Deer | 3,528 | 20 | Spain |
| Roe Deer | 2,105 | 15 | Belgium |
| Muskox | 1,753 | 17 | N. Territories |
| Wild Boar | 56 | 11 | Spain |
Oldest Carnivore Species
| Species | Total Aged 1978 – 2023 | Oldest Age to Date | Location |
| Black Bear | 945,672 | 35 | Montana, Idaho (tie) |
| Brown/Grizzly Bear | 81,771 | 39 | Alaska |
| Polar Bear | – | 34 | Nunavut |
| Bobcat | 253,503 | 23 | New Mexico |
| Mountain Lion | 92,697 | 22 | Montana |
| Lynx | 20,983 | 18 | Switzerland |
| Wolf | 16,679 | 15 | N. Territories |
| Coyote | 27,958 | 15 | Colorado |
| Fox | 26,580 | 16 | Sweden |
| Wolverine | 7,141 | 13 | N. Territories |
| Badger | 1,877 | 19 | Washington |
| Fisher | 43,239 | 12 | Wisconsin |
| Marten | 87,213 | 16 | Alaska |
| Mink | 15,992 | 10 | France |
| Weasel/Stoat | 897 | 7 | New Zealand |
| River Otter | 70,478 | 19 | Connecticut |
| Sea Otter | 24,479 | 20 | Alaska |
| Seal | 19,494 | 42 | Ontario |