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

Do you think you can beat one of our oldest animal records?

For a more detailed look at our oldest ungulates and carnivores, check out the charts below!

Oldest Ungulate Species

SpeciesTotal Aged 1978 – 2022Oldest Age to DateLocation
White-tailed Deer381,82022Louisiana
Elk216,55232Pennsylvania
Moose189,14822New Brunswick
Mule Deer145,02520Washington
Black-tailed Deer56,12422Oregon
Caribou48,55122Alaska, N. Territories (tie)
Mountain Goat23,32418British Columbia
Pronghorn22,45917North Dakota
Bighorn Sheep6,01817British Columbia
Sika Deer4,77718Japan
Bison4,61122N. Territories
Red Deer3,47920Spain
Roe Deer2,02715Belgium
Muskox1,44517N. Territories
Wild Boar5611Spain

Oldest Carnivore Species

Species Total Aged 1978 – 2022 Oldest Age to Date Location
Black Bear 898,373 35 Montana, Idaho (tie)
Brown/Grizzly Bear 78,540 39 Alaska
Polar Bear 34 Nunavut
Bobcat 248,639 23 New Mexico
Mountain Lion 88,229 22 Montana
Lynx 20,335 18 Switzerland
Wolf 15,326 15 N. Territories
Coyote 27,649 15 Colorado
Fox 26,333 16 Sweden
Wolverine 6,735 13 N. Territories
Badger 1,875 19 Washington
Fisher 41,763 12 Wisconsin
Marten 86,580 16 Alaska
Mink 15,796 10 France
Weasel/Stoat 897 7 New Zealand
River Otter 66,642 19 Connecticut
Sea Otter 24,235 20 Alaska
Seal 18,615 42 Ontario
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