Deciphering Deer Size: Can Track Size Indicate the Buck's Magnitude?

Good question David. I've had that question on my mind too from some of the tracks I've come across. @Cameron @Turbo your insight on this?

@David funny I’m chatting with Cameron on a different post right now😁

@David You can. By that shell, looks like the track is 5”x3”. He’s probably in the 5.5-6 year old mark and definitely over 200 pounds with those dewclaws going real deep.

@Cameron this is the buck that has eluded me for the last 2 years!

@David Track about a day old. Did y’all have rain two days ago?

@Cameron yes I think he was out last night

@David He may be closer to 6.5 years old. When the track gets to 5 inches long, he’s old and big. About another year or two foot should increase in width.

@Cameron is there a formula I guess is the term I'm looking for like inches to years or something? Something I can remember when out scouting/hiking?

@David There is a chart online. I’ll have to look to find it, but that’s how I learned to gauge a buck’s age and weight.

@Cameron if you can find it that'd be great. Let us know.

@David

@David 👆

@David The part you won’t find is width. Mr. King’s is 5” wide.

@Cameron I walked this property today and there lots of mature buck tracks! I’m pretty excited for next season

@David Hear that! If you find tracks 4” or wider, you’ve got a real old boy.

@Cameron this is a portion of this property. The track was pretty close the the cross hairs on the pic

@David Sent you direct messages.

@Cameron done😁

I do agree with the fact that you can quite easily tell if a deer is in general bigger than the others but there seems to be a lot of certainty being chucked around with not much data. There are lots of variables that will change the shape of a deers foot or the depth it disturbs the soil. Just from the look of the ground and the way that foot is that deer was probably running or trotting. Splayed toes deep dew claws are what makes me say that. Also something as simple as a deer that hasn’t been moving as much could easily have 10% longer hooves just due to less wear. Unless you can see the deer and go over and look at it’s track you are really just speculating in general terms.

This all reminds me of an older Indian at work who when asked for the time would hold his hard hat up to the sun and tell you the time. What most people didn’t know was he always kept a watch taped up in there.

@Ian

@David I’m just saying use it as a general guideline. As soon as someone is giving you exact details without enough info being available you are probably being yanked along.

@Cameron , I beg to differ with you bud. When PA first went to antler restrictions, they asked if processors and taxidermists would save the skulls of the bucks shot. So they could age them. This went on for years. I got to have quite a few conversations with deer biologists, during that time. I asked about if you could tell if a deer track was a buck and if you could tell the age. The ones I talked to over the years, all said the same thing, absolutely no! Can you tell if it's a big deer, probably, a buck never. If a deer is running, the track could look twice as big as when it was walking. Ground composition could make a track look bigger. Was it startled, was it sparring, etc...... The only thing you can say for certainty, it was a deer. That chart has been around for years, it's someone's opinion but based on very little scientific facts. The only true way to age a deer is by the jaw and that gets a little murky at 4 and 1/2 years and above.

@Donald It’s a rough guide. Every buck is different. I didn’t consider the toes being spread, so that’s on me. Length is one thing, but the big bucks I’m after are past 5.5 and the track widths vary but they are at least 4” wide. The biggest one is 5” wide. If he survives he’ll be 8.5 this coming season. Having to add a scope to the shotgun to wait on him to slip through an open spot.

@Donald Even biologists have no clue after 6.5 on teeth. To be completely honest with you I don’t trust what biologists say. I’ve seen too much arrogance, ignorance, and politics in them.