Four-inch-long tracks

[A the P]

Walking around in some clearings behind a neighbourhood, I found a ton of deer tracks including one monster set at least four inches long from tip to tip. I can't hunt back there (residential land, not mine), dangit, but am I right in assuming it's a really big buck? Is four inches uncommonlylarge, or typical for an older buck?

[GobblerTX]

May have been dragging its feet?

If not, I dunno what that means...you'd think it'd mean it was a bigger deer

[Southern Buck]

he could a can to a fast stop and slid a little.

[fl.huntress]

was the ground hard or soft?
4in tracks are quite large...hopefully you'll manage to get a peak at him.

[Rebel Hog]

Tracks - The mule deer has a distinct "bound" in which all four feet come down together as if on springs. The tracks will vary from a rough "V-shape" while running to a straight line with slower speeds. The track varies according to the surrounding landscape. In soft, woodland areas the print is more pointed and on harder ground where the hoof may be worn, the track may appear with a blunter tip. The hoof print may be described as two paisley shapes facing one another with smaller "dots" of the dew claws at the wider end of these paisleys.

Straddle: 15.5 cm (6.2 in)
Stride: 50 - 61 cm (20 - 24.4 in)
Track: 8.5 cm (3.4 in) long / 6.5 cm (2.6 in) wide
The key difference in distinguishing the gallop of the white-tailed and mule deer is while the mule tends to bound as if on springs, the white-tailed deer "rocks" by swinging its hind feet ahead of the front ones. The white-tailed deer is known to drag its hooves between steps creating troughs between each print. The hoof print itself is nearly indistinguishable from that of the mule deer.
Straddle: 15.5 cm (6.2 in)
Stride: 33 - 50 cm (13.2 - 20 in)
Track: 7 - 9 cm (2.8 - 3

[Rebel Hog]

Deer hoof
Deer track

[DoctorDeath]

ORIGINAL: A the P

Walking around in some clearings behind a neighbourhood, I found a ton of deer tracks including one monster set at least four inches long from tip to tip. I can't hunt back there (residential land, not mine), dangit, but am I right in assuming it's a really big buck? Is four inches uncommonlylarge, or typical for an older buck?

Tell NYBOWHUNTER about it ...he might think its Big Foot LOL

dd

[Champlain Islander]

Now you are picking Doc.

[A the P]

Yeah, it was soft ground, so that's a possibility. All of the tracks were very distinct and regular, however, with no sign of slippage. Thanks for the response--I sure wish I could get a shot at him.