JoeRe, Is that a back foot or a front foot?

The reason I ask is because mature bucks front feet usually show the most wear. Generally, the inside toe is worn way more than the outer toe. My guess is that it's from all of the scraping that they do. They seem to throw the dirt and rocks toward the outside more.

That track could fool you though.

Front foot - sorry I forgot to say that - I have never seen anything like it before for the reasons you say. It seems like he didn't do much scraping - which is also weird as his bases of his antlers were very polished from a ton of rubbing (granted I only assume that a deer that rubs a lot would scrape a lot and vice-versa).

Bucks tend to be splayed out at the tips and a does tend to be more parallel

That comes with weight....that being said, one of the largest tracks Ive ever saw was from a doe. Shot at her, missed, and saw her tracks, great googly moogly....started wondering if it was a buck with broken antlers.

As a doghunter, i spend alot of time during general gun season looking at tracks. Another big tip-off to it being a buck track is the stride of the tracks.long stride=a buck

Can't always guarantee nothing by the size of the track but generally the spread, curvature of the hooves can give a much better idea. Depth can fool us too. My best buck ever had lost a ton of weight(shot him in December) and was really long. His tracks were deceiving in as far the depth of his tracks.

I've always been a big believer In a wider then normal track usually means a decent buck (common sense). The dragging of the feet In the snow I also believe Is right on with bucks.

never knew that does have dew claws as well the guys that i have learned the little i know so far have always associated them with bucks.

Learn something knew everyday !