How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

Hello all.

We recently bought a place in western michigan and we have some acreage on the river that I plan to hunt next year. We have a lot of deer in the area and we spend every night watching groups of 5-15. How can I tell which of these, if any, are bucks?

I've been told that you can tell a buck by the flatness of of the crown of their head, but I honestly have a hard time seeing much difference, especially when they are out at 50 yards. Does anyone have any links to pictures illustrating this difference?

Are there any other physical or behavioral characteristics which would give a clue?

RE: How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

Yes ,
if it has a "belly horn" it's usually a buck ... ;) :D :D :D

RE: How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

duckter, i think the easiest way would be to identify by body build, large vs small, slender vs stocky, etc etc; this wouldnt work 100% of the time because of young bucks that resemble does etc, but it would give you a fair idea that you could easily confirm later on in the year.

good luck and welcome.

RE: How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

With a good pair of binoculars it should be easy to tell the difference.

RE: How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

If it lifts its leg to pee.

RE: How to identify deer gender in early spring.
 

Duck, I was visited by about 6 deer this morning as I watched them from inside the kabin here. Sometimetimes its tough to tell the diff, but the're just like people, they have certain characteristics that are different from all others, but look at detail in each deer. I noticed this doe with 2 yearlings from last year this morning and the yearlings look almost identical and almost the size of the doe, but I noticed that one of the yearlings had exceptionally large and dark tarsal glands that were much different the the others, not sure yet, but maybe a buck. The thing to do is pick something out on that deer that you'll notice the next time, DETAIL, look for it, its like a fingerprint. Good Luck, Bobby