For seasoned whitetail deer hunters, the ability to interpret deer tracks is an indispensable skill. Quickly distinguishing between front and rear hoof prints, understanding track patterns, and most importantly, gauging the size of a deer based on its track dimensions are crucial for successful hunts.
Just like the experienced hunters of the past, today’s whitetail enthusiasts should master the art of reading Deer Hoof Prints. The length of these prints provides valuable insights, allowing hunters to differentiate between whitetail fawns, yearling does, yearling bucks, adult does, 2.5-year-old bucks, and mature bucks aged 3.5 to 6.5 years. Deer hoof prints reveal the territories of specific deer, indicating their home ranges and breeding grounds, feeding locations, bedding areas, water sources, and preferred trails. They can also signal whether deer are in a state of alarm or relaxed, and their escape routes when startled. Furthermore, hoof prints can reveal the presence of bucks following the pheromone trails left by does in estrus. The information gleaned from deer hoof prints, combined with knowledge of deer movement patterns, forms the bedrock for consistent success in whitetail hunting, especially during periods when deer are most vulnerable to skilled tracking.
Doc Nordberg measuring a deer track to classify the deer and identify potential trophy bucks
Dr. Ken Nordberg, having measured hundreds of thousands of deer tracks, possesses an unparalleled ability to read them. He emphasizes the importance of precise measurements for classifying deer and identifying trophy-class bucks, a practice he continues even at 79 years old.
Accurate identification of whitetails through their hoof print lengths necessitates the use of a ruler. Despite over 27 years (now over 40 years) of experience in this field, Dr. Nordberg still relies on a ruler to ensure correct deer identification based on tracks. He also measures deer beds (ranging from 30 to 56 inches) to pinpoint individual deer and their bedding zones, making a six-foot retractable steel tape an essential tool. For hunters primarily targeting adult bucks, like Dr. Nordberg, this steel tape is particularly vital. Consistently differentiating adult bucks from other deer through precise hoof print measurements is key to regular success in buck hunting.
The following hoof print lengths, accurate to within plus or minus 1/8 inch, are tip-through-dewclaw measurements for Minnesota whitetails during the fall and early winter. The dewclaw is the smaller, hoof-like projection behind the main cloven hoof, which leaves a triangular impression in soft ground or snow. When only the main hoof print is visible, adding half of the hoof length to the total hoof length approximates the tip-through-dewclaw measurement. These measurements are generally applicable across Canada and many northern U.S. states, including Montana, the Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and the Upper New England states.
- Fawn (70–90 lbs. live weight): 3–3.5 inches (length varies depending on birth month: May, June, or July).
- Editorial Note: A fawn’s birth month is closely linked to when the mother was bred the previous fall, typically during the primary breeding phase in November (Rut Phase III). Later breeding phases occur in late December (Rut Phase V – Supplemental Breeding Phase) and January.
- Yearling Doe (120 lbs.): 4 inches.
- Yearling Buck (140–150 lbs.): 4.5 inches (tracks not accompanied by fawn tracks).
- Adult Doe (140+ lbs., 2–14 years old): 4.5 inches (tracks usually accompanied by fawn tracks).
- 2.5-Year-Old Buck (165–185 lbs.): 5 inches.
- 3.5–6.5-Year-Old Buck (195–310 lbs.): 5.5–6 inches (few bucks survive beyond age 7; some Iowa bucks can have hoof prints up to 7 inches).
It’s important to note that whitetail deer size varies geographically, generally decreasing towards the south. Therefore, these measurements may not directly apply to regions south of the states mentioned. Hunters in these areas will need to adjust the track length estimations to accurately identify deer classes in their specific hunting grounds.
Two methods can help determine appropriate track length ranges for different deer classes in southern regions. The first method involves using the average known weight of an adult doe in your hunting area or state. For example, if adult does in your region typically weigh 120 lbs live, their hoof prints will measure approximately 4 inches tip-through-dewclaw (or about 2-5/8 inches for hoof-only prints, calculated as 2/3 x 4 inches).
The second method involves directly measuring the hoof print of a deer accompanied by a fawn. Bear in mind that yearling does can also have fawns, so it’s advisable to measure multiple tracks of deer with fawns in different locations and use the larger measurement for greater accuracy. While doing so, also measure the fawn tracks for reference.
Once you have established the Adult Doe Track Length (ADTL) for your region, you can estimate the hoof print lengths for other deer classes in your hunting area using the following ratios:
- Fawn Track Length Range: ADTL x 0.67 to 0.78.
- Yearling Doe Track Length: ADTL x 0.89.
- Yearling Buck and Adult Doe Track Lengths: Tracks of yearling bucks (not with fawns) and adult does (with fawns) are similar in length. If two deer with adult-doe-sized tracks are accompanied by fawns, one is likely a yearling buck.
- 2.5-Year-Old Buck Track Length: ADTL x 1.11.
- 3.5–6.5-Year-Old Buck Track Length Range: ADTL x 1.22 to 1.33 (bucks in the 4.5–6.5-year-old range are often trophy-class).
By memorizing these measurements and regularly using a steel tape to measure deer hoof prints, you can move beyond simply guessing at the deer population in your hunting area. You’ll gain concrete evidence of the types and sizes of deer present. You’ll learn about their habitats, feeding and bedding locations, water sources, and preferred trails. This detailed knowledge transforms you into a proficient buck hunter, capable of selectively targeting adult bucks throughout the hunting season.
