My friend and I are 20 years old, we have been spot lighting every year since we have had our licenses. Last night something came up and we started wondering if you could tell the difference between the eyes of a deer. Many of the deer we saw were way too far out in fields to tell whether or not they were does or bucks, but of the ones we had close, we seemed to notice yearlings have more of a white reflection and does seemed to have an orange color. We spotted a six pointer and a spike just off the edge of the road, and they had a greenish color.
Is this correct or coincidence?

I hope you were doing this just to see what deer are out there!If you are spot lighting an shooting them at the same time.....than you won't want to meet me or several others on this board!
As far as your ? goes, I have no idea.

Hurry up and wait.

Since deer's eyes reflect light, I am sure the distance and angle would account for a slight variation in color. Telling the difference between a male amd female, to me, would be almost impossible to distinguish.

Bruce, that's one sh1tty assumption. I spotlight all the time. Just to get an idea on what deer are around...and to see some nice bucks. Not to shoot deer at night.


As far as your question goes Tyler; The color does not reflect what gender of a deer you are looking at. It's just how the light is reflecting off of their eyes. One way to get an idea on what the quality or size of the deer you are looking at is, is look at how far apart the eyes are. It's pretty easy to tell when you are looking at fawns...but the larger deers' eyes will be further apart.

When I go shining I would say the bucks eyes are very red when the rut is starting..Another thing when U snort and weeze at them when U have the spot light on them there eyes turn very bright red..I do alot of coon hunting when I am shining..

Thanks for reading
Brent
Shredm

Brent Schroeder