Squirrelhunter91 Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Ok folks, in one of our areas, we have noticed 2 button bucks, atleast frequenting the food plot. One of them appears to be a 1 year old and the other a 2 year old. What should we do? I think the 1 year old should walk and the 2 year old should go. I mean, what could it be? The deer have a year round food source. Could it be the genes? Should this buck be taken out? It has a nice sized body, but little antlers. The buttons appear to be 3/4"-1" long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... First of all a button buck is this years fawn with no antler growth, just a couple nubs. Sounds to me like you have a button buck and a yearling with little antler growth his first year. I would let them both walk this season. Just because his first set of horns are poor does not mean that he is a management deer yet. He could have been sick or had a bad winter. Wait till next year to see how he turns out. Ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... joe---like clay stated a button buck is a fawn--born this year. More than likely the young buck with 1" spikes is a yearling. Lot's of reasons why his antlers are so small and genetics could be but probably isn't the cause. If you're wanting to shoot him b/c that's the buck you want then by all means--shoot him. If you're only shooting him to remove his genetics then I wouldn't waste the tag. If you're trying to practice QDM in anyway then the goal is to harvest mature bucks no matter what their antler characteristics are. I also believe it is impossible to control genetics in a free ranging herd. So if it was me---I'd pass on this young buck and give him more time to grow. good luck this season todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... Im gonna go with Clay on this one.Could be a lotta things causing the yearling not to have a lotta growth his first year.Injuries, sickness, weather, you never know at that age whats going on with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerslayer06 Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... give them both another year then reevaluate next fall. Thats what I would do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMSD5 Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... i think (imo) that the button is this years fawn.. the other may be a late fawn born late last season... or could be a real early birth this past spring... i'd wait like most have said and see what shape's up next year...good luck on your season joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarvDog Posted August 31, 2005 Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... Let em walk...unless of course it would be the first deer you even shoot. My first deer ever was a button buck. Otherwise, give them time to grow a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted August 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... There are better quality bucks back there but I don't think I'd be able to draw on one.. I'd be shaking like a leaf on a tree..... Thanks for all the input and replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... Got to let them both walk. All fawns are not born at the exact same time and all do not grow at the same rate. Could be one is late born and the other was born early in the spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... Buttons are fawns. One might have been dropped earlier this year than the other one. Either that, or one's momma is healthier than the other one. But I'd bet the bigger one was dropped in May, and the other one in June or later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BuckMaster058 Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... I would let them walk. If you practice QDM like many said that shouldn't even be your mindset. It should be on the bigger more mature bucks. Let them grow for a couple yrs. And you might be surprised what you have running on your land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... [ QUOTE ] Buttons are fawns. One might have been dropped earlier this year than the other one. Either that, or one's momma is healthier than the other one. [/ QUOTE ] I read a neat report a few years back about a study that the NYSDEC did on road kill does. They tested them to see when they inseminated. They found that some does were bred as early as Sept. 1st and as late as January 31st. Many years ago I had twin fawns with spots run by me during the late muzzleloader season in December If you want the short spike to be your first deer then by all means shoot. Ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdickey Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... Generally, this time of the year... ALL bucks are in groups or are forming groups of bucks; each group will establish their "pecking" order. So it is not uncommon to see the younger bucks by themselves or with other younger bucks. Whether or not you shoot an immature buck is your call to make; but your focus should be upon the does, if you're shooting for meat! The rut will determine who are the big guys in the neighborhood. I have set a personal minimum of 8 point or better. If I don't see one, then I'll take a doe. But I WILL NOT SHOOT A YOUNG BUCK! If when the rut starts, if a doe is not inseminated immediately, she will continue to come into estrus until she is inseminated. If these young bucks are frequenting your food plots, you should be getting a good look at them on a regular basis and therefore in about 2-3 months you should get a better idea of their age. They could be genetically inferior, but the chances of both of them being that way are extremely remote. I'd let them go, they'll stick around the area and might make you a good buck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad dryden Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 Re: Question about a button buck.... I wwould let them pass till next year or so if he has NO improvment then he would need to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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