Dimensions of a mature buck track?

[Schoolhousegrizz]

I have usually noticed if the track is blocky and is close to as long as my pointer finger, that's a giant track. Anyone ever taken the time to measure buck tracks in actual inches? Length and width?

 

[TaperPin]

You bet - a mature buck will be at least as long as a 30-06 or 7 mag - a doe won’t get that long.

The oldest deer Ive seen was longer than a big Weatherby, about 3-3/4”. He was past his prime with an extra thick stunted rack - still would have liked to get him that day.

 

[mt100gr.]

About yay big.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

You bet - a mature buck will be at least as long as a 30-06 or 7 mag - a doe won’t get that long.

The oldest deer Ive seen was longer than a big Weatherby, about 3-3/4”. He was past his prime with an extra thick stunted rack - still would have liked to get him that day.

Thanks

 

[willfrye027]

I think I still have his foot in the freezer, I saved it because of how impressive it was. Saw his track and hunted that area, pretty sure it belonged to this guy. 42” of mass right about 190” and a drought year in Nevada. Not crazy long but very blocky was what stood out to me

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

View attachment 610116View attachment 610118
I think I still have his foot in the freezer, I saved it because of how impressive it was. Saw his track and hunted that area, pretty sure it belonged to this guy. 42” of mass right about 190” and a drought year in Nevada. Not crazy long but very blocky was what stood out to me

Did you ever take a tape to it? I'd be curious how long the hooves are and how wide they are.

 

[Marble]

It's kind of like describing something that is "lude" or pornograpghy. I can't describe it, but I know it when I see it.

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[willfrye027]

Did you ever take a tape to it? I'd be curious how long the hooves are and how wide they are.

I’ll see if it’s still in my freezer

 

[mistermystery]

Robby does an awesome job of explaining what he looks for in big buck tracks in this video. Talks about tracks from 2:10-4:25. As someone who wants to get better at identifying big buck tracks too I thought it was insightful.

 

[MallardSX2]

This deer was VERY old, and he had big feet. I killed him ion a high-pressure hunting area when it was 5 degrees outside, and he got hungry......other than that he didn't move during daylight for many years.

 

[TaperPin]

Damn it - I should have been taking more trophy hoof pictures all these years!

The next time a big buck is spotted with hunting buddies, the first words out of my mouth will be, “LOOK AT THE FEET ON THAT DEER!” Lol

 

[MallardSX2]

You know what they say about a buck with big hooves...

 

[willfrye027]

Did you ever take a tape to it? I'd be curious how long the hooves are and how wide they are.

Must have tossed it sometime this winter. Dang now I’m curious what it measured!

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Some of y'all got tiny hands....

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Smaller antlered bucks can make a big track but a big ol buck typically leaves a big one, too. The old timers who told you to stick a standard length 06 round in it with room to spare weren’t lying… you got a big track there and quite likely a nice Buck that left it…

 

[Plainsman79]

Cool subject and definitely something I enjoy doing that helps me find/hunt big bucks. This past scouting season I went out looking for tracks after a good rain storm. I came across this one. You can see where his front/heavy shoulders stepped first and then the smaller back foot stepped into the already made track. The deer was obviously walking.

In the areas that I hunt most of the mature bucks have a minimum 2 1/4” wide by 3” long track (noted by the black marks on the tape) This guy definitely fit the bill. It’s rocky country and I’ve also noticed this has an effect on the front getting rounded, just like a finger nail file.

 

[Plainsman79]

This was a track from an area I hunted last year. That’s a 6.5 prc with a coal of 2.95. Definitely another mature buck. I killed a buck on this hunt, in the same general area that lab aged at 5 years old.

Tracks don’t lie!!

 

[Extrapale]

I took this pic to show some guys what an actual big buck track looks like. 325 WSM for reference.

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[DertyBert]

I like seeing a wide blocky mature buck track just as much as I like hearing elk bugle. Neat stuff.

 

[tkhuntsman]

Some of y'all got tiny hands....

Was thinking the same thing. I've killed some great mature mule deer and whitetails and they nowhere near covered my hand.