EXPERIENCING THE OUTDOORS - Recognizing Button Bucks

(12/07/2015)

By Cory Boothe Coryboothe@hotmail.com Button bucks are this year's male fawns. Typically, they have very small antlers that are nubs not projecting past the hairline. At a distance, they can be confused with does. These deer will carry their first set of true antlers the following year. It is beneficial to reduce the amount of button bucks in our doe harvest. The less button bucks taken in a year, the more antlered deer next year. So how do we keep from harvesting button bucks? 1. Button bucks, or fawns in general, have a short face no neck. Adult does have longer faces and necks. 2. Button bucks, or fawns in general, wander more during mid-day and act less cautious than an adult doe. 3. If you see two small deer together, one is almost definitely a button buck. Wait util you see three deer together and shoot the largest one. 4. The obvious is to look for slight nubs past the hairline. With a scope you might be able to identify the buttons. 5. Button bucks wander alone. Adult does rarely do so. Please use these key steps to identify button bucks. Button bucks typically provide 20 or so pounds of meat. Adult does should double that meat amount. Good luck hunting and identify your "doe" before you shoot.

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