ORIGINAL: GMMAT
check for horn imprints
I saw you say this somewhere else, MM....and I have to ask....
Do they really lay with their antlers to the side? I've only been fortunate enough to see one buck bed down near me. He stayed 14yds away for 3:40 minutes, though. I saw him groom himself like a house cat would several times. What I also thought was interesting is.....he would tuck his snout inside his back hip when he would sleep....and that position had his antlers stuck straight down his back.....sort of streamlined.
If there had been snow on the gorund....there's no way he would have given away he was a buck just by judging his bed (and looking for antler imprints).
Just my (admittedly) single observation.
They don't normally lay with their horns laid out but sometimes they will tip their head or rest it for a bit and leave a mark. You won't find it in every bed. But it's something to look for. If they do you can get a good idea how big they are of maybe how many points