Any buck clarification

[Kc_Kracker]

The regs say "visible antlers" at least 1" on the long side. Ok so this evening I saw one with about a 2" button. But there was only 1. Not both sides. So, shooter? Just curious

[Kingofthemountain83]

I'd say yes... If we see one like that today he's probably hitting dirt...

[hunter399]

I'd say yes... If we see one like that today he's probably hitting dirt...

Yup DRT,then the Crock pot and smoker.

[bhawley76]

I'm sure he probably identifies as a 5x5 

[Mike450r]

I don't want to look at the regs right now but my recollection is for any buck the visible antler just had to be visible above the hairline with no length requirement.  Meaning a nub that you can see is antler not still covered by hair is a legal buck.

The length requirement was 1" to be a legal antler point in the point minimum areas.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I don't want to look at the regs right now but my recollection is for any buck the visible antler just had to be visible above the hairline with no length requirement.  Meaning a nub that you can see is antler not still covered by hair is a legal buck.

The length requirement was 1" to be a legal antler point in the point minimum areas.

Correct, was just going to type this exact same thing, you just beat me to it... 

[92xj]

I don’t see any talk of hair covering an antler in the regs. 
An antler point must be at least one inch long measured on the longest side. 
Any buck is any deer with a visible antler.
To me, a button buck, with at least one inch long buttons, that are still hair covered is considered a legal “any buck”, even if there is as only a single button showing. 

[Mike450r]

I don’t see any talk of hair covering an antler in the regs. 
An antler point must be at least one inch long measured on the longest side. 
Any buck is any deer with a visible antler.
To me, a button buck, with at least one inch long buttons, that are still hair covered is considered a legal “any buck”, even if there is as only a single button showing.

The legal definition of antler is where you will find that it is a horn like growth projecting above the hairline, if the antler has not broken through the hair it is not by legal definition an antler.  This of course does not apply to velvet. 

Length has nothing to do with legal antler except in point minimum areas.  A button that is seen as a horn like growth above the hairline can essentially be flat and still be a legal buck.  Legal antler and legal antler points are defined separately.

[92xj]

Found it. I thought I was going crazy for a minute
Under any buck / bull

So, what’s the definition of hairline?    I still think an over one inch button buck is still legal as the button sticks above the hairline.   

[Ridgeratt]

So why not just make it a branched antler deer 2 point or better simple answer. That way you are getting enough meat than shooting something larger that the neighbors dog.

[Twispriver]

I think of button bucks as fawns and legal as antlerless but not antlered.

[dreadi]

Legal enough.




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[JWBINX]

So why not just make it a branched antler deer 2 point or better simple answer. That way you are getting enough meat than shooting something larger that the neighbors dog.

 

[jason stevens]

Legal enough.




Black Hammer Arms
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The Guy On HuntWA Selling Suppressors
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Yup, legal an tender.

[jason stevens]

I agree with a 2 point minimum on the west side bit I also agree with shoot any legal deer. I believe it's up to the hunter ad long as the rules are followed. Who are we to judge what others think is a good harvest

[Kingofthemountain83]

I shot a spike in Mason 3 years ago and got 57# of boneless meat... Was delicious! I think he was older than 1 1/2... Didn't get him aged...

[brokentrail]

So why not just make it a branched antler deer 2 point or better simple answer. That way you are getting enough meat than shooting something larger that the neighbors dog.

Because the law says he doesn't have to and everyone has a different level of success, experience, and what they want out of their hunt.  If you want to use a 2 pt minimum for yourself, great, you do you. 

[hunter399]

So why not just make it a branched antler deer 2 point or better simple answer. That way you are getting enough meat than shooting something larger that the neighbors dog.

Because the law says he doesn't have to and everyone has a different level of success, experience, and what they want out of their hunt.  If you want to use a 2 pt minimum for yourself, great, you do you.

If it's legal ,then eat it up.

[Tball77]

Hate to start the argument but a spike is a spike and a button. Buck is another.  A spike was a button buck a year ago that didn’t have the genetics to branch.  Many of you have harvested sheds from the deer you harvested and they are replicas of the prior years antlers.  A 2x3 always just that.  A spike, we’ll always a spike.  Those that choose to harvest a 2 yo 4pt are harvesting the future studs.  My personal thought,  if you go to a trophy state do one of 2 things.  Shoot an absolute toad, or take an inferior gened animal.

[brokentrail]

Hate to start the argument but a spike is a spike and a button. Buck is another.  A spike was a button buck a year ago that didn’t have the genetics to branch.  Many of you have harvested sheds from the deer you harvested and they are replicas of the prior years antlers.  A 2x3 always just that.  A spike, we’ll always a spike.  Those that choose to harvest a 2 yo 4pt are harvesting the future studs.  My personal thought,  if you go to a trophy state do one of 2 things.  Shoot an absolute toad, or take an inferior gened animal.

While I don't think you are starting an argument, your facts, based on proven science, are incorrect. A spike is not always a spike. 

[Mike450r]

Hate to start the argument but a spike is a spike and a button. Buck is another.  A spike was a button buck a year ago that didn’t have the genetics to branch.  Many of you have harvested sheds from the deer you harvested and they are replicas of the prior years antlers.  A 2x3 always just that.  A spike, we’ll always a spike.  Those that choose to harvest a 2 yo 4pt are harvesting the future studs.  My personal thought,  if you go to a trophy state do one of 2 things.  Shoot an absolute toad, or take an inferior gened animal.

While I don't think you are starting an argument, your facts, based on proven science, are incorrect. A spike is not always a spike.

Not facts if incorrect, just an opinion.  Fact is spikes do not always stay spikes.  Watched too many deer go through their entire life cycle to believe that as nothing more than nonsense.  There are genetic 2 pts that stay that way, same with 3's and 4's etc...  They all started as spikes in my neck of the woods though.

[EnglishSetter]

Hate to start the argument but a spike is a spike and a button. Buck is another.  A spike was a button buck a year ago that didn’t have the genetics to branch.  Many of you have harvested sheds from the deer you harvested and they are replicas of the prior years antlers.  A 2x3 always just that.  A spike, we’ll always a spike.  Those that choose to harvest a 2 yo 4pt are harvesting the future studs.  My personal thought,  if you go to a trophy state do one of 2 things.  Shoot an absolute toad, or take an inferior gened animal.

While I don't think you are starting an argument, your facts, based on proven science, are incorrect. A spike is not always a spike.

Not facts if incorrect, just an opinion.  Fact is spikes do not always stay spikes.  Watched too many deer go through their entire life cycle to believe that as nothing more than nonsense.  There are genetic 2 pts that stay that way, same with 3's and 4's etc...  They all started as spikes in my neck of the woods though.

Ya.  Many bucks don't branch the 1st year, but do subsequently.  They may have spikes approximating the length of their ears. We would call them "cow horn spikes" as they generally curved.

I've heard the term "Y buck" for a buck that never branched to more than 2 points though with considerable mass.

Oh...and shoot any legal buck you want to shoot. 

[Tball77]

It is facts.  Spikes and button bucks are very different.  Shown buttons are a yearling.  4” spikes typical of a 2 year old (mutant).  I’ve watched on my game cameras the same group come thru on my property and have seen them be a bigger version than last year.  Agreed,  harvest whatever you want,  taking spikes out only makes the genetics better as long as you are not killing the yearling button buck. 
 

[Tball77]

Also,  I remember when hearing you killed a 4pt was the Mecca.  But watched my own hunting party harvest a 4pt that aged at 2-3.  My Opinion,  if you go out of state in an area known for trophy class bucks.  Don’t shoot the small 4’s.  If you don’t find the big buck you are looking for take the management buck.  Those are the ones that are not the perfectly symmetrical 4x4.  Ever wonder why guides in other states offer discounted hunts for management bucks?  Start your google search in Wyoming.  The management bucks are great but never a 4x4.  The genes stay fairly intact

[Mike450r]

This thread was started in reference to what is legal in I presume western Washington any buck GMU's.  Meaning blacktail bucks.  And in that regard, it is not at all factual that 1.5 year old spikes are genetically inferior, some are, some are not.  1.5 year old spikes is just what you get.  Genetics, nutrition, date of birth, etc. can be the difference between barely having a visible antler and having 4 - 6 inch spikes but by and large they do not stay spikes.

You will never see a 4 pt 1.5 year old blacktail buck which you mention.  You talk about out of state deer and management bucks, this isn't The Bucks of Tecomate.

[hunter399]

Also,  I remember when hearing you killed a 4pt was the Mecca.  But watched my own hunting party harvest a 4pt that aged at 2-3.  My Opinion,  if you go out of state in an area known for trophy class bucks.  Don’t shoot the small 4’s.  If you don’t find the big buck you are looking for take the management buck.  Those are the ones that are not the perfectly symmetrical 4x4.  Ever wonder why guides in other states offer discounted hunts for management bucks?  Start your google search in Wyoming.  The management bucks are great but never a 4x4.  The genes stay fairly intact

This thread was started in reference to what is legal in I presume western Washington any buck GMU's.  Meaning blacktail bucks.  And in that regard, it is not at all factual that 1.5 year old spikes are genetically inferior, some are, some are not.  1.5 year old spikes is just what you get.  Genetics, nutrition, date of birth, etc. can be the difference between barely having a visible antler and having 4 - 6 inch spikes but by and large they do not stay spikes.

You will never see a 4 pt 1.5 year old blacktail buck which you mention.  You talk about out of state deer and management bucks, this isn't The Bucks of Tecomate.

The Bucks of tecomate.......lol
Management buck...... Right into roast.....lol
Washington breeds dinks for licence sales ,any buck is better than tag soup.
I've asked for APR in units before, answer is always.....NO

[GeoSwan]

Glad I'm not the only one with this question.

Yesterday I had a button yearling appear about 15 yards in front of me. I didn't shoot it for two reasons. The first is that my freezer is full and ultimately I'm antler hunting and scouting. The second is because even though the unit (501) I was in is "any buck," for some reason I second guessed whether or not there still was a minimum antler length requirement (1" was my thoughts).
WDFW defines "any buck" as "Any Buck: Any deer with visible antlers may be
taken (fawns illegal)."

So that button I was unclear on was indeed legal.

[Mike450r]

Glad I'm not the only one with this question.

Yesterday I had a button yearling appear about 15 yards in front of me. I didn't shoot it for two reasons. The first is that my freezer is full and ultimately I'm antler hunting and scouting. The second is because even though the unit (501) I was in is "any buck," for some reason I second guessed whether or not there still was a minimum antler length requirement (1" was my thoughts).
WDFW defines "any buck" as "Any Buck: Any deer with visible antlers may be
taken (fawns illegal)."

So that button I was unclear on was indeed legal.

There hasn't been an antler length requirement for any buck as long as I have been hunting.

[Rugergunsite308]

One year I was on a time crunch and was going to harvest any legal buck. I had a button buck came out at 20 yds, and had enough time to answer the 1 inch debate with myself by getting out my phone, pulling up the regs, and reading the any visible antler rule. He was meat in the freezer. I ate a lot of his backstrap as carpaccio (raw meat covered in black pepper and coriander, sliced thin and sprinkled with salt). Absolutely delicious. His buttons proudly sit on the mantel below my largest buck, a massive 4 pt benchleg, who consecuently, was also the first legal buck a had seen a couple years prior.
Shoot what makes you happy and is legal