Second Look Request
Understanding your result & requesting a second look
We are committed to your complete satisfaction. Before submitting a request, here’s what the science and our data actually show — and what might explain a surprising result.
86.6%
of second look requests confirm the original determination is accurate
+/- 1 Year
scientifically accepted variance for cementum annuli aging — not a reading error
Less than 1%
of second look requests change by more than 2 years
What does +/- 1 year variance mean?
Cementum annuli aging is the gold standard for deer age determination, but like all biological science, it carries natural variance. A +/- 1 year result is within the accepted scientific range and reflects normal variation in reading, not a reading error. The published accuracy rate for cementum annuli aging is 85.1% for whitetail deer, verified by peer-reviewed research. If your result is within 1 year of what you expected, the original read is very likely accurate.
Why results can vary — the science behind the slide
Several biological and technical factors affect how cementum lines appear under the microscope. Here are the most common reasons a result may look different than expected.
Most common · young deer
Intermediate / fuzzy lines
Deer under 3.5 years can have faint intermediate lines between true cementum annuli, causing them to age slightly older. Intermediate lines can occur at any age but is most common in young deer or deer from the south.
Common · older deer
Over-decalcification
Older deer tissue can decalcify quickly during processing, causing cementum lines to fade. A faded line may be missed, resulting in the deer reading slightly younger than actual. Repeat testing is needed.
Any age
Line stacking
Some deer have tighter spacing between annual cementum lines. When very close together, a reader can count two as one, leading to +/- 1 year variance. Common with injuries or periods of extreme stress.
Less common
Poor nutrition / messy cementum
Nutritional deficiencies create holes or disruptions in cementum tissue, making lines extremely difficult to interpret regardless of reader experience.
Technical factor
Sectioning depth
When cutting thousands of teeth, a technician can believe they’ve sectioned deep enough, but cutting further sometimes reveals additional lines. A second tooth is needed in this case.
Continuous improvement
Reader experience
A reader with 10,000+ slides has seen far more edge cases than one with 1,000. All readers are trained and tested. We also actively invest in calibration and ongoing development.
When does a second look make sense?
Use this guide to decide whether a request is likely to change your result.
✓ When it makes sense
✗ When it’s unlikely to change
What happens when you submit?
Submit request
Log in to your customer portal, find your sample under “My Trophy Room” and click “Request Second Look.”
Independent review
A different reader re-examines the slide without seeing the original result ensuring a fully unbiased analysis.
You’re notified
You’ll receive an email when the analysis is complete — typically within 1–2 weeks. Can be up to 4 weeks in peak season.
Ready to submit a second look?
Please request second look within 60 days of receiving your age determination. Slides are automatically removed from our server and this helps keep our flow moving.