Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

I'm 19 years old and from Indiana. I have been deer hunting for about 8 years and bowhunting for about 4. One of my best friends that I have hunted with for years says you can tell the difference between whitetail buck and doe tracks and their droppings, I have not yet had the opportunity to do any research on this or experiment for myself so I was hoping someone could tell me if he is right or wrong.

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

if he can,get him to pick your lottery ticket numbers for you.

I have also had people tell me they could tell the difference.we hunt with dogs and those guys always have an excuse when they say it is a buck,and out comes a doe.

you have a 50/50 chance.

an old gentleman always said when we looked at a track,that is a nice buck or a great big doe.he was always right,it was one or the other.

I will not say that there is not someone that can. there may be someone out there that can,but I have never had the plearure of meeting him.
Thats just my 2 cents,there are 98 more.:)<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

I am not a hunter I am a whitetail population reduction specialest

remember keep your back to the sun, your knife sharp, and your powder dry.

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

Bucks-larger tracks that tend to leave deeper impressions and often have more of a split toe look to them. If snow you'll see they drag their feet. Bucks often wander in a zig zag fashion when moving about.

Does-tracks smaller often look like a U and with smaller tracks indicating fawns/yearlings with them. Does more of a direct point a to b thing.

Droppings, bucks often scat in a glob or pile. While does scat in single droppings and often while moving. Bucks are chocolate flavoured and does vanilla. Of course this isn't all scientifically proven....just have to taste and see<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

Yes tracks are differant between buck and doe.

Deer walk within their own tracks.Doe's hip's are widder for birthing.So her rear hoof leaves an imprint on the outside of front track.Where the bucks rear hoof print will be on the inside of the front track.Also the tip of the hoof on the buck is more rounded instead of pointed like the doe's are.And if you find a dropping 3/4 of an inch or larger it's most likely that of a bucks(mature).

It's not how big the Deer,But the size of the experiance that matters!!

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

There is a lot of buck droppings here. Stick with tree climber his makes sense. Not to insult but if there is some slight difference and you have to ask it is beyond your skill.

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

There are some very subtle differences in buck and doe tracks but these are GENERAL rules.
1. Larger bucks tend to have their tracks splayed outwards. This is especially true during the pre-rut when the bucks are heavier.
2. A doe will USUALLY put her hind feet directly in the print of her front feet. Bucks are more careless (or less dainty) and will put their hind feet down wherever.
3. A heavier deer (usually bucks but sometimes big does) will leave dew claw marks.
4. In four inches of snow or less, a mature buck will generally leave drag marks as he pulls out his front hooves. In snow of more than four inches, most deer will show drag marks.
Some other hints...
After getting up from her bed, a doe will usually get a short distance away before urinating. A buck will generally urinate right near his bed.
An area that is sprayed with urine generally indicates a doe. While a pinpoint urine spot usually indicates a buck.
The ONLY sure fire way to tell whether they are buck or doe tracks is to actually see the animal that made them.

ALWAYS CALL YOUR SHOT.

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

I heard that the wider tracks (2&quot; or wider) and 3&quot; long tend to be that of a Mature buck... I have harvested 3 what I call Mature bucks and this all proved to be true... as I like to do some testing of my own to see if all that I read and hear is true... I have also heard that the clumped droppings tend to be that of a mature buck... I have no proof or theory of that, but due to the fact that the deer in one givin area all tend to be eating the same things at certain times of the year, and there are different droppings (clumped and not clumped) I would say there could be some truth to that as well. But who really knows... Just look for the big ones and hold it on the front shoulder...:o)

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

nobody believes my dad that you can tell scat....bucks of all ages go in clumps like humans lol...does though are the little pellets you see everywhere(he showed me by squeezing some out of the colon when gutting my button buck one year and his doe last year....tracks you can tell sometimes...behind the track there will be another part of the hoof because they weigh more i heard....but i guess big does can do the same...and little bucks wont....

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

Carpetguy has it right, A bucks front end is wider than his rear, and a does rear is wider than her front. Add to that the fact that a bucks front hoofs are noticeably larger than the rear and the fact that the opposite is true for does, and you can tell the difference, but you have to be able to see the tracks in a soft dirt area or something like a road crossing so that you can tell wich hoofmarks are printing over the other. Now, if you don't believe this, just remember to pay very close attention this year when you kill a doe and a buck and you can actually see the difference.

RE: Is there a difference between buck and doe tracks?
 

UMPIRE , pretty much nailed it!

A buck will have a wider gate than a doe and you can distinguish that the animal has four feet instead of two. If you look at doe tracks thru a few inches of snow , you'd think the animal had two feet instead of four , because they put their hind feet in the track of the front feet. Bucks and does leave dew claw marks , both will leave split hoove marks. The best way to tell is to look at the way their walking.
If anyone wants to really study up on the art of tracking , pick up a book called &quot;Big Bucks the Benoit Way&quot; , it's excellent read.



&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;