I sure as heck cant tell.
10-19-2008, 09:30 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,131
RE: I sure as heck cant tell.
ORIGINAL: my7pointmonster
This happened to me sat. night I had a deer step out and I couldnt tell if it was a big one, I had it in range and in a shooting lane, however I passed on the shot, either I havent seen enough deer to know, or I just cant tell straight up cannot do it. How do you tell if its a big deer or not??? I thought she was a fawn but then a few seconds later, her fawn stepped out..... And I diddnt have any shot at either deer.
Anyone got any tips or can suggest something I just diddnt want to waste my tag for the 3rd year in a row by shooting a small deer. I did it in maryland too.
I need help on this one real bad.
Ryan.
This happened to me sat. night I had a deer step out and I couldnt tell if it was a big one, I had it in range and in a shooting lane, however I passed on the shot, either I havent seen enough deer to know, or I just cant tell straight up cannot do it. How do you tell if its a big deer or not??? I thought she was a fawn but then a few seconds later, her fawn stepped out..... And I diddnt have any shot at either deer.
Anyone got any tips or can suggest something I just diddnt want to waste my tag for the 3rd year in a row by shooting a small deer. I did it in maryland too.
I need help on this one real bad.
Ryan.
10-20-2008, 04:51 AM
#12
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southeast Missouri
Posts: 968
RE: I sure as heck cant tell.
Actually what helped me with this problem more than anything else was the deer's body overall. Someone here once posted a couple of pictures and drew boxes around the deer. The head can be decpetive when taken alone as an indicator, but if you can imagine drawing a box which encompasses the deer standing at attention, a mature deer (buck or doe)will most resemble a rectangle, while a young deer will be more of a square. The older a deer gets, the longer their body gets. So when looking at a broadside deer, if it looks long it's probably a mature deer. Fawns will appear more boxy and....I guess symetrical (sp?). The head and neck on a mature deer will look long as well...the older the longer in my experience. Lastly, always be extra cautious when you encounter a lone "doe" this time of year. More often than not, it's just a button buck who has been run off from mama. I hope I made all that clear......
Good luck!
Good luck!
10-20-2008, 05:07 AM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Georgia
Posts: 164
RE: I sure as heck cant tell.
Most of the time does aren't by themselves. If possible, wait to see several deer and then make your shot then. That's truly the only way to be sure. I shot a button buck once that I thought was alone doe due to this.
Of course waiting may not always be possible, so what's the worst that could happen? You shoot a very tasty yearling/fawn. While that might be something you want to do regularly, it is a part of management and certainly very legal. Just hunt and have fun.
Of course waiting may not always be possible, so what's the worst that could happen? You shoot a very tasty yearling/fawn. While that might be something you want to do regularly, it is a part of management and certainly very legal. Just hunt and have fun.
