Over the years, he has received about every kind of tooth imaginable. He has received anything and everything from cow teeth to human teeth. The annular tooth count is a labor-intense process involving a series of phases. Phase one involves sorting the envelopes of incisors. The envelopes are sorted into groups based on the deer unit from which they come and the sex of the animal.
Biologists then determine whether the incisor is from a whitetail or mule deer.
Rice said they examine the tooth size and amount of wear on the tooth's crown to determine if the incisor is from a fawn, a yearling or an adult. Biologists cut the crown off the adult incisors, leaving only the root. The root is placed in a decalcifying solution for three to five hours. The decalcifying solution draws calcium from the root. The decalcified teeth are then placed in a cryostat freezer for two minutes to freeze the incisors.