How big?

[BillJ]

I've been chasing one particular buck for the last 3 years.  For a while I was seeing his tracks (they were pretty unmistakable - huge).  He may have moved out of my area though, as I don't seem to see tracks quite as huge.  This one may be him, but I don't think so.  It's the biggest track I've seen so far this year on the farm I hunt.  How big do you think this deer is?  (I wear size 10 shoes)

 

[Brad Davis]

He looks like he could wear my kids size 9.    Really I dont have a clue but thats a big deer. Wish he was in my woods.  

[bmfer]

It's "BIGFOOT" the buck- man that deer is carrying some weight!

[BigRonHuntAlot]

I would guess around 180 on the hoof, hard to tell without knowing how soft the ground is...

[Biggie Hoffman]

that's a doe track........

[TSP]

Here in Maine thats a bunny wabbit.

BTW, do all Ohioans have only one leg?  

[owlbait]

Come on Biggie that is obviously a buck track. Look at how the toe is rounded from making srapes. Actually, don't have a clue on sex. I'll say 165 "on the hoof".

[Biggie Hoffman]

It's rounded off cause it was made when the ground was wet.

What's a srapes anyway? Gotta be something purple.....

[BillJ]

OK - Stupid question alert!

I thought the rule of thumb was when the print splays out at the front (as this one does), it is probably a buck (especially when the dew claws(?) are so prominent at the rear.  And with does, I thought the normal track had the front turned inward.  In other words -

Buck =  \\  /  
        ..

Does = /\\

Am I incorrect?

[BillJ]

OK - My artwork stinks - those two little dots were supposed to be directly under the buck track.

[owlbait]

Obviously Biggie you have not kept up on new Big Buck terminology. Scrapes are what little bucks make, srapes are what Big Bucks make, at night, near grapes, but you don't "C" them do it  

[Biggie Hoffman]

OOOoohhhhhhhhhh...now I get it@


Really though, it's nearly impossible to tell a buck track from a doe although lots of guys will SAY they can tell...

[Biggie Hoffman]

Either way Bill...I'd be settin up on THAT track!

[bentpole]

BillJ your trying to make dew claws? Biggie it's EASY! Find track, follow track to leg ,look up leg[hind leg]BINGO!

[Killdeer]

BillJ,
The hooves are splayed and the dewclaw prints are there because the deer was travelling at a trot or better. The ground was wet when the track was made, so the definition is fuzzy and the track is enlarged due to a small skid factor.

Killdeer

[owlbait]

Killie did it for me. If there is a skid mark involved it has to be a male, although in our neck of the woods they are called hash marks!

[BillJ]

Thanks for all who responded.  Biggie, that was not the only track in that area - many - so my stand will be overlooking it on opening day!

[bowmofo]

Im with you Bill!
Where do you want to meet?