wtnhunt Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Can you really tell just how big a deer is by its tracks? Found this set in one of our plots(1st pic) while walking over the weekend and then also found what I believe to be the same deers tracks in the woods(2nd pic). The ground is pretty firm, and these tracks in comparison to most others I saw are considerably larger and are a lot deeper. For around here these are pretty good sized tracks. My boots are size 13 extra wide, about 5 inches wide at the bottom lace. Anyone have any ideas what kind of size the deer making these tracks might be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master_Chief Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? I don't know but if that is a dew claw in the 2nd photo it's a nice one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? I've read in several magazines that tracks are not a good indicator of a deer's sex or size. The deeper the track could indicate a heavier deer, but I don't think the overall size of a track is a good indicator. Those are good tracks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 20, 2006 Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Over the years, I have seen and heard all kinds of claims about deer tracks and it's surprising how many of them contradict each other .... lol. The only thing I could say is if there are other tracks in the area that are about the same age, then comparison of penetration into the dirt should be indicitive of weight. I think also when you run into a track that is unusually larger than the others, that could indicate a larger sized animal. But remember, just like people, some deer just simply have bigger feet than others. I have also seen claims about the sharpness of the points, with the more worn tips belonging to older deer. A whole lot of the qualities of a track can vary because of the deer's gait. A bounding track will impact the ground harder than a walking track and will therefore appear deeper. Beware of slight skidding that will tend to elongate the track. Some of this stuff may actually have some merit, but few of the so-called experts ever really commit their theories to paper where the average hunter can read them. When is the last time you ever watched one of these hunting videos and had the guy stop and have a short discussion on tracks. When was the last hunting magazine where they had an article on track interpretation. I really wish these guys wouldn't shy away from such info. My suspicion is that as soon as they publicly make statements on such things there will be 50 other experts that come out of the woodwork and contradict what they say .... lol. I would like to know more about tracks and their interpretation. It sounds like track interpretation is a pretty in-exact science. If anyone knows of a good reliable and credible source of information, maybe you could do us all a favor by pointing us toward it. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? [ QUOTE ] I would like to know more about tracks and their interpretation. It sounds like track interpretation is a pretty in-exact science. If anyone knows of a good reliable and credible source of information, maybe you could do us all a favor by pointing us toward it. [/ QUOTE ] Will second that. Would be very interested in reading some good reliable information on tracks. I could most certainly stand to learn more about tracks and tracking. These particular tracks as I said are considerably larger(wider and longer) than others in the same soil. The soil is pretty firm. With most of the other tracks in the area the soil the ground was indented, but not breaking the ground like with these tracks. Leads me to believe this is a considerably heavier animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
123 4/8 P&Y Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Looks to me like you have some elk size deer running around on your place! You should put out a trail camera and let us know what you find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Bigger tracks don't necessarily mean a bigger deer, because some deer have big feet and some have small feet, kinda like us. However, with that said it doesn't rule out the possibility of it being a bigger deer either. Deep tracks could mean heavy body also, but that depends on the softness of the ground at the exact time the tracks were made. Older more mature bucks tend to drag there feet a bit, which can be seen in snow and sometimes mud. It really is hard to tell, but there is always a little hope and a prayer, that goes into judging the size of a deer by it's track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? it looks to me like the deer was runing... unless I can see the rest of the tracks up to that point its anybody's guress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Martin beat me to it. Those tracks indicate a running deer. Think about it. When a deer is running it has to bring its entire hoof down, bringing the dew claw along with it. Leaving those two imprints after the actual hoof imprint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? You guys know more about tracks than i do exept what buckee said older more mature bucks tend to drag there feet and is noticeable in snow and mud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
py_archer Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Good question! It’s hard to say by looking at a your picture and no one can tell for sure (by looking at just one track) but generally speaking a big bucks track is definitely bigger than a doe track. The way those toes are splayed and the depth of the dew claws would also lead me to believe this is a considerably heavier animal. Width is more important than length and from your picture it looks to be almost two and a half inches wide. Like Buckee said "Bigger tracks don't necessarily mean a bigger deer, because some deer have big feet and some have small feet" but a wide track is a better indicator of a big buck. Older bucks walk more flat footed than a smaller buck from the extra weight and will show mor of the dew claws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tunkhannockbowhunter Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? there is a lot to learn from deer tracks.Catologing deer tracks can be a very valuable scouting tool with a lot of practice and a lot of time spent looking at tracks. one of my biggest hobbies is following/studying tracks(deer bobcat bear fox coyote) in the snow all winter long, and whenever i find some in the dirt or mud. i could write all day about all the different clues that animal tracks can give you about an animal's size and habits,however we dont have time for that. I will say this a- big track is almost always a big deer, that doesnt always mean it is a buck though, there are other way to tell if it is a buck or not... If anyone wants to learn more about deer tracks and what kind of a role they can play in hunting deer on bare ground or in snow i suggest any of the benoit brothers books and videos, also there are many quality tracking books that have a lot of information, books and videos are helpful but spending time in the woods and really analyzing tracks and visualizing the animal that made them is the best way to get good at understanding tracks. sorry this is so long, i just really like following deer/animal tracks and think more people should try it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PAT_PATTERSON Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? I was taught as a youngster to track deer, looking at your track you have a running track. Due to the splayed toe and dew claws hitting the ground. I was also taught looking at walking tracks to pay attention to the back foot and where it hits in relation to the front foot. Most bucks and I say most will almost or sometimes step on their track where most older doe's will step wider than their front foot. This is by no means scientific but just what I was taught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PAT_PATTERSON Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? wtnhunt, where in west Tenn do you hunt? I go up to Tenn. every year to hunt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutbuster Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? good point tunkhanockbowhunter,, the Benoits books and videos are great for learning about the tracks or tracking, to me those guys are awesome a good indicator is a track going 3" wide of course weight plays a big part of the track also depending on soil conditions or snow, chances are very good that track will be from a buck a buck will have more stagger and a longer stride of course the bucks the Benoit family hunt are heavy weight 200# or heavier dressed I like to study deer tracks ,,if there is some snow, watch a buck and then go pick up on the tracks and follow them a while , especially if the deer has any size to em study em or check out some doe tracks look how the track looks after , I'll bet you will find a difference I'm no expert , but studing tracks have helped out some if you live in an area with a good deer population get out in the woods or riverbottoms and study away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doughboy1956 Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? It is extremely difficult to tell the sex of a deer by its tracks. A normal stride for a white-tailed buck, from toe tip to toe tip, is 18 to 19 inches. however, a big doe would have about the same stride lenght as a small buck. If there is a slight snowfall-less than 1/2 inch-a buck's toes will leave drag marks at the front of the tracks as he takes the next step; a doe's tracks will lack these drag marks. Once there is more than 1/2 inches of snow, all the tracks will show drag marks. Usually a real big mature buck will be heavy and their hindfeet tend to land on the rear portion of the tracks made by their forefeet, because of their longer body lenght. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master_Chief Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Very good thread. Lots of good reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted March 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? [ QUOTE ] wtnhunt, where in west Tenn do you hunt? I go up to Tenn. every year to hunt? [/ QUOTE ] West Tennessee. We have a couple cameras out, and had some pics on our stealth cam back in December of a buck I would have aged at 3.5, very likely a 180 plus pound deer, quite possibly over 200. I thought he probably got killed on a neighboring property though, maybe a mature buck survived the season or another one has moved through? When looking at the first pic, keep in mind my boots are size 13's, the distance between the track above my boot and the next track at the top of the pic are probably only 14 or so inches apart. The second track in the first pic shows no dew claws. These tracks are probably close to or maybe just a little over 3 inches in width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Once again, I'll have to take a look at this when I get home William. My school blocks your picture site, but I will say a big track around here is about the size of my hand from dew claw to the front, and anything with a 1/2" splay in it is good sized too. So much depends on type of ground and whether the deer was walking or running/jumping. When possible, I always try and find the corresponding left or right print to try and get a feel for how broad the chest is. A deer that puts its hind foot into the front print is an average deer, but if the hind is inside the front, that's a broad shouldered deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whttlbucksteve Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? I have noticed that old deer hoofs are rounded in the front from wear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDNKHNTR77 Posted March 21, 2006 Report Share Posted March 21, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? [ QUOTE ] I have noticed that old deer hoofs are rounded in the front from wear [/ QUOTE ] u beat me to it steve. i was kinda surprised no one had said ne thing about the wear of a hoof. u can sometimes tell if it was an older deer by looking at how pointed the hoof is. older deer will have more wear, therefore making them more rounded. the opposite for younger deer. other than that, i think all has been said about tracks one could hope to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutbuster Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? Usually when a track is splayed out the deer is running or jumped I have taken a deer leg removed when deer was processed and pressed it into the dirt or snow and the hoove would splay out ,,But also I am putting different pressure on the hoove than a deer would just wondering if soil conditions make the difference if the hoove is splayed or not when the deer is walking a deer living in rockier terrain or is a ridge runner will have chipped hooves and as you guys have said older deer will have more rounded hooves I have noticed not all bucks leave drag marks in snow ,,,, deeper snow yes happy tracking............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BCBOY Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? 99% of the time Big Bucks leave Big Tracks. If I find a track that my 300 Win Mag shell drops into it's worth tracking out. Here's a couple pics of some Hawg tracks with a 300 Win Mag shell to give the size comparison. 1st pic is in crunchy snow, the 2nd pic is in powder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted March 22, 2006 Report Share Posted March 22, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? that seems big to me, but there is alot of things that could cause a larger then normal trck such as deer body weight muddy and running ext. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutbuster Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 Re: Tracks-how big is big? That's a dandy track another way is lay a 30-06 shell crossways on the track, and if the shell fits, its a pig of a deer if you lay that 300 shell crossways, boy oh boy with a track like yours ,,that a deer that will dress 200# or better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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