bertos750

I would like to let the bucks grow but how do I tell the difference? I've heard that a young deer walking around alone is most likely a button buck because he's been forced to go out on his own. Are there any other ways to tell the difference?

headhunter300win

Most buttons will have darker colored knobs on there heads, hence the name button buck. I have seen buttons bucks that werent turned out by there mothers that were the exact same size as there mother. The only way to tell is look at the knogin and if you dont see the buttons blast away. I have seen some that develop buttons right before they loose their spots and some that you have to look real close to even see, it all depends on the availabilty of nutrition. hope this helps.

RedAllison

bert eveything is a "generalization" but in 20 years of seriously hunting whitetails with the last 12-15 of those being DEATHLY SERIOUS mgmt that has included shooting 50 does a year from one of our places in west TN. THE best thing I can tell you is to NEVER shoot small deer. lol now I'm not trying to be funny, I mean it literally. NEVER shoot a fawn or deer that appears smaller than the rest. As good as a doe fawn tastes the risks of it being a button are too large. ESPECIALLY when you realize that there is less than a 1 in 100 chance of survival for bucks past their 4th birthday. So the need to keep EVERYONE of them out there (unless they obviously become culls by 3yrs!) is important.

After the rut starts, yes most button heads will be solo. A good rule of thumb is NEVER shoot solo deer. But I have seen button heads traveling two and three together before so even then its tough. Also, by about the middle of December the button heads hit a growth spurt where they grow too about 3/4 the size of the average does, much faster than a doe fawn. So even then you cant strictly go by bodysize in comparisons to others. Look also for the "roundness" of young deer. Once a doe has fawns and gets older they lengthen in body features (most prominent is their longer noses and "lop ears"). Fawns are always quite "round" with their quarters, heads, noses and spinal columns being more rounded than older deer.

But NOTHING is a substitute for quality high powered optics and just taking the time to make ABSOLUTE sure there arent nubs. And I have seen buttonheads that didnt have nubs, just light "swirlpatches" of hair where their pedicles will grow. So you just gotta be sure visually. Just shooting a deer running through the woods isnt a good idea. You gotta be as sure on a doe as you do with a trophy buck.

But with patience comes wisdom,
RA

cardeer

You got good advice. Me If I'm not sure I dont shoot.

Allen Denton

I agree with what was said but someone also told me that even a buck fawn will have a change during the rut, and will have a fuzzy back of the neck. I have never read anything on this but it seems to be true. I am on the skinning shed commitee and I check the weight, the hoofs, take the jaw bone out and on does if milk is present. I also for my own behalf look at the buck fawns, hopfully not too many, and check their neck and it does seem to be diferent from the smaller does. I for one use the bigger deer are usually not a buck fawn but if they are close and I can look I look for the neck.

PYseeker

Very good advice has been given here by all. Bottom line do not shoot yearlings, the chance is to great that you may kill a button. Any deer with a short or stubby looking face is a yearling. Some buttons don't even show signs of nubbings on their head. Good luck

1865

Testicles?

BowHuntingFool

A button buck will usually lead the way. I have found this to be true. Let's say you have four deer come by and there are a couple of big does and 2 smaller deer. The first deer is the button and the last deer is usually the doe fawn following their mother. The button is also usually the first in the field to feed as well. Remember not always but a good starting point, for me anyway. Good luck!

hunter rich

Let it also be known that if you are trying to increase the buck numbers on your land letting the buttons and yearling bucks walk doesn't gaurantee that they will be there next season, unless your property is high-fenced. It has been shown that males tend to leave the area they were born for their own area. I can't directly qoute or even name the researcher(s) or publication, but I have read this many times in the past few years. Besides, nothing beats venison veal!!

whiskeysnoot

Very sage advice. Good binocs saved two button buck's lives this year. Use binocs even at close distance.