Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: TheSilverSlayer on October 19, 2009, 05:29:46 PM
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Is there a good way to gauge how big or old a buck is based on the size of his tracks or is it too variable to make any close guess? I found some real nice buck track while I was out over the weekend, snapped a pic of them in hopes that you all might be able to offer some insight. Anyway, here they are, what do you think?
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Yes, there is a correlation. No there isn't a theory. The older the bigger the buck, the bigger and blockier the track tends to be. Antlers don't always follow the same rule. Its all about genetics.
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P.s. Best to judge tracks that are not running. and on solid dirt ground.
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Exactly, Bone is 7' tall but has size 8 boots for example.
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Allow me to add a disclaimer here. I am relatively new to big game hunting, and am thus far self taught. So, do these tracks appear to be running? Is that because the toes appear to be spread outward?
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Size 14 actually but.... :chuckle:
Yes, those appear to be running. They are side by side, toes spread and heavily indented in the mud with forward pressure. They are medium sized doe tracks by what I can see from here.
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I was just about to say that those may be doe tracks. They'll look like that in the mud...
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Big track = big deer. As Bone indicated, a bigger buck tends to be an older buck. So, there is a correlation with age of bucks (not does, which achieve maximum body size by 3.5 typically). However, there is variability in body size of adult bucks, and a big young buck of the same weight as an older buck will have a track of about the same length - though the young guy's toes may be more pointed (as Bone pointed out).
I'd get very interested in any whitetail or mule deer with a 4"+ track.
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Average mature decent buck.
Things to watch for. Blocky or rounded tracks. heavy deer do spread out their toes a bit. Does always are more pointy. A 4 inch long track and a width to go along with is awesome. You won't see a 4 inch doe track.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbroadfoot.jpg&hash=e03ebb13fca08b253cd98697e96ed1d86210874b)
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What they all said except for theres no way to tell a deers sex by its track. If its big good chance a buck, if its average probably a young buck or a good doe.. so on and what not
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With more and more experience, you'll be able to sort that stuff out
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I had a buddy of mine tell me that when a track has those two little indents at the rear of the track it means its a buck. Do does tracks show this indent when running/jumping?
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All deer have those dew claws, you see them when there is more pressure on the hoof, such as when running, or in deep mud, snow, etc......
