button bucks
 

Do you guys take button bucks if you can help it. The last two deer I have gotten where button bucks. I thought they were does. Now I look closer to see if they are does or a BB. Yes its possible someone else could shoot it. You never know it could make it in a few years could be a nice buck.

RE: button bucks
 

It happens, but when you get over that sick feeling of walking up to what you thought was a doe, you start looking a little closer the next time! But as i said, it happens to the best of us!

RE: button bucks
 

Ya thats too bad just try to look as close as possible you want to let those young bucks grow up.

RE: button bucks
 

Adult buck, doe or yearling in all things I give thanks for a successful, legally taken deer. I enjoy eating each regardless.

To try to ascribe a difference about a different aged animal that someone "feels bad" about taking a legal deer or other game animal is in my view misguided. Other predators don't make such distinctions. Fish and Game Depts. determine how many of any given sex, age of deer and other species can be harvested. Hunters live within those bondaries. No need to feel bad about that.

RE: button bucks
 

Minn,
I am not talking about being a "trophy" hunter. If I were in a situation where eating was critical, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a BB, but when you are looking to shoot a doe, and you walk up on a BB, it's more than a little dis-heartening! AND depending on the local laws, if your buck tags are already filled, it can be illegal!
In my case the BB that I shot was legal, ONLY because the antlers had not "broken the skin!" In TX, a "buck" deer is a deer with antlers protruding through the skin, all other deer are "antlerless!" My buck tags were already filled, so this deer was close to being illegal!
Again, to many hunters, walking up to a BB that you thought was a doe, definately chills the thrill of the kill! If its legal, and it doesn't bother you, fine! If it does bother you, you just have to finally chalk it up to experience and move on!

RE: button bucks
 

One of the properties that I hunt has imposed a one buck per season rule this year. That includes BBs. Now that WILL make you look close before you take the shot.

RE: button bucks
 

My country is included in the 12 "reduction counties" that our DNR has designated for increased bonus antlerless cull , we can take up to 8 , so shooting a nice tender BB doesn't make me lose any sleep . Icouldn't care lessabout QDM , the DNR manages the herd just fine in my book .

RE: button bucks
 

I won't condem anybody for shooting fawns but it's just not for me. I couldn't tolerate the ribbing I'd get from my friends plus you get so little meat for your tag it just isn't worth it.

RE: button bucks
 

ya i shot one once.. now its like wait.,,,... maybe ya its a button.. put the bow back on the hanger
but they are good and legal but .. try to face your hunting buddys and why shoot a button when theres probly some does near by

RE: button bucks
 

It doesn't bother me. I hunt for enjoyment and for meat. The young deer's meat is so tender and good.

RE: button bucks
 

If I see a group of antlerless deer, I'll see which one is bigger to avoid shooting any button bucks. But if the deer is alone, and I want to fill my antlerless tag, I'll just take the chance of shooting the deer if I can't see any buttons on his head.

RE: button bucks
 

ive learned that during the rut does will kick the buttons or young bucks out of the group so if you see a lone small deer by itself more than likley it is a button and if 2 young ones are together the bigger is normally the button buck.

RE: button bucks
 

I agree with HunterKeland Ted Nugent on this one, too. I enjoy the hunter no matter the (legal) deer I'm given the opportunity to take home. Years ago I had a co-worker give me a hard time about one I took. That was his problem. I enjoyed the nice tender deer as much as any I've ever had.

RE: button bucks
 

Yes, I shoot them. If there is a doe with 2 fawns, and there is a BB in the group, that's the one I aim at.

I'd rather let the females go to have their fawns in the spring than shoot one. I will shoot a doe but if given a choice, I'll take the BB. Here in PA Bucks get too much protection with the AR's. I hunt in a 4pt areaand see lots of spikes and little bucks. They get enough protection.

I don't get all wrapped up in trophy bucks or big antlers. Its great to take a nice buck and it might give you some bragging rights but I like venison and don't eat antlers.

To each his own.

RE: button bucks
 

All I think is Yum Yum!! I try not to do it from the stand with bow, I can usually tell. If I had two choices I would shoot a fawn doe over a fawn button only because I am trying to increase the bucks in my area. I did take my nephew out on the Ohio youth hunt this weekend and we had a button come out at fifty or sixty yards and I thought it was a small doe in the excitement with himbut realizedafter the shot it was a button. I thought it was a doe so mistakes can happen, but nothing beats that tender meat!

RE: button bucks
 

We trophy manage our club, so small bucks (which include buttons) are encouraged (strongly) to be left go another few years.

I have made errors in the past (twice). Once was on a deer drive, and I was in a thick cut row. The deer nearly ran me over, and I had to fire in defense (at least thats what I tell people). Happened to be a BB, oh well.

Second time was this year. Sitting on peanut field at a friends property. I had my 30/30 Ackley with a 4x scope on it. Four deer came out at 200 yards. I picked out the biggest one, which I assumed was a big doe and rolled her at 180. The next to largest one, (I figured maybe a yearling doe) ran towards me, confused by the sound, and stopped at about 160. Rolled it as well. Feeling smitten, I got down to see that the first deer I shot was a doe fawn of about 60# and the second was a BB about 45#. What I want to know, is how much (or should I say little) those two SMALLER deer that were with those two weighed! Must have been the orphans club. Fortunately, my friends place does not trophy manage, they just need deer shot off their farm.

The best way to tell if a deer is a button buck, assuming you opt not to take them, is too look at the face. Button bucks have much shorter noses and very round heads/faces. If you have good quality binoculars, you can often see the buttons as well, if the deer are close enough. But the best way to tell is to study the face. It also helps if there are other deer around it, so you have something to compare it to.

But at the end of the day, its a right tasty mistake to make...