Teach me about tracks!

[PredatorTC]

I recently went hunting with a local on the holiday hunt who is basicly the Dan Infalt of our area. He has taken some monsters on public in the area. Anayways I noticed how much he really used tracks for scouting and figuring out deer and I realized that I do not do it enough.

SO im starting this topic because as I do my spring scouting Im going to post pics of tracks. I want to know what characteristics you see with them and the big question is weather or not I even have pictures of a buck track or if its just a big doe track.
So I will start it off with these pictures. I recently scouted an area looking for a buck that I lost track of during the rut. I went looking for big tracks and the biggest I could find were these? SO tell me, small Buck big buck or doe? THese three photos are all from the same deer

[DEERSLAYER]

Did you read this?
viewtopic.php?f=159&t=1327

[JRM6868]

Looking at the tracks without a bigger pic I would say first buck second doe third buck. Buck tracks are wider because of there body size and chest the does will step their hinds into their fronts. Bucks will also drag their feet and in some snow or mud you'll see their dew claws from the extra weight.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[magicman54494]

I got on a track when I was up north with Hodag. The track looked like a buck. I was sure it was. There were signs early on that it was'nt but it was such a good track. Then we found where it squated and peed. DOE!

The only way to be sure is to study a series of tracks to determine sex.
The deer above went thru a narrow spot. Usually a doe or small buck.
there were other tracks with it. Usually a doe group.
they were meandering. usually does. In my defense, it was feeding and any deer will meander while feeding.
the bottom line is the only way to be sure is to follow it a while.

The only way that I would bet on an individual track is if it is so huge that it just can't be a doe.
Another thing I like to do is look at the smallest track it makes because each track is actually 2 tracks - front and back foot on top of each other. Because of this most tracks look bigger than they really are.

Another thing I like to see is a stride of about 24" at a normal walk pace.

[Spysar]

A couple of observations. A front foot is bigger than a rear foot. And a big bucks foot starts to flatten out as it gets older and heavier. This may cause the dew claws to become visible in the track.

And listen to what Magic says as I feel he is the best tracker on this site.

[magicman54494]

Another thing I just thought of:
Tracks age (melt) even if it don't get above freezing.
tracks melt from the inside out so as they age the track appears to get bigger and bigger. A washed out track will look huge!

[dan]

Another thing I just thought of:
Tracks age (melt) even if it don't get above freezing.
tracks melt from the inside out so as they age the track appears to get bigger and bigger. A washed out track will look huge!

I agree, that even happens with tracks in mud as the edges break down. Fresh tracks tell the most good intel.

[dan]

Did you read this?
viewtopic.php?f=159&t=1327

Did you read my article? Lot of good stuff in it, I think...

[PredatorTC]

Did you read this?
viewtopic.php?f=159&t=1327

Did you read my article? Lot of good stuff in it, I think...

Yes, maybe I should read it again

[JakeJD]

I got on a track when I was up north with Hodag. The track looked like a buck. I was sure it was. There were signs early on that it was'nt but it was such a good track. Then we found where it squated and peed. DOE!

Serious question, how does a buck pee? How can you tell the sex by how the animal peed?

The only times that I can honestly remember a buck peeing is when they "squat" and pee down their legs on their tarsal glands.

[magicman54494]

I got on a track when I was up north with Hodag. The track looked like a buck. I was sure it was. There were signs early on that it was'nt but it was such a good track. Then we found where it squated and peed. DOE!

Serious question, how does a buck pee? How can you tell the sex by how the animal peed?

The only times that I can honestly remember a buck peeing is when they "squat" and pee down their legs on their tarsal glands.

The doe will always leave the toilet seat down.
A doe will pull her hind legs forward and wider. The pee will be behind all 4 legs. A buck will stand there and pee between his front and back legs. Since he can't "get a handle on it" his pee mark will be spread out a bit more. A buck will often pee "dribble a bit" when he crosses another deer track. Sometimes he will dribble a bit as he is walking along. I like to scoop up the pee snow and smell it. It ages so I can get some idea how old the track is.

[JakeJD]

Makes sense, thanks for clearing that up Magic.

[Stump]

Good info. I had no idea the difference between the 2. ha, ha