Button Buck Identification

[wztirem]

]Each year many hunters harvest buck fawns, commonly called "button bucks," on antler less deer licenses. Though legal, harvesting these deer may reduce the number of antlered bucks the following year. By learning the difference between adult does and buck fawns and observing the following suggestions, hunters can make a conscious choice about whether to harvest a buck fawn. 

• Look at body shapes of deer. Adult does are different in shape from juvenile deer. The mature doe is rectangular in shape with a long neck and face. Fawns are square-shaped and have a short neck and face. 
  

• Button bucks often travel alone, but adult does rarely do. Consider this when you observe a single antler less deer. 
  

• Wait until more than three deer are together; then harvest one of the larger antler less deer. 
  

• If two juvenile deer are without an adult, one will probably be a button buck.
  Normally the young male is larger than the female and may be mistaken for an adult doe because of its larger size. Look at the head of the deer. A doe's head normally is more rounded on top between the ears, and a buck's head is flattened by the base of the antlers. 
  

• Look closely with binoculars for the antler bases on button bucks. 
  

• Wait until the deer are standing or moving slowly. It is easier to identify sex and age when deer are not running or moving fast. 
  

• Shoot with good visibility. Poor light and heavy cover make it difficult to determine sex and age.
  

  This topic was widely discussed on the Old Empire Forum and remains as important now as it was then.

[wztirem]

Should We Protect Button-Bucks? « Dave Richey OUTDOORS  Some whitetail authorities question whether protecting button-bucks during the hunting season is right. I admit to some mixed feelings on the topic. ...

daverichey.com/.../should-we-protect-button-bucks/ - Cached - Similar    The attached link serves as some food for thought pertaining to button bucks.

[outdoorstom]

Well, if you like letting bucks walk until they get older, let it go. If you like super tender meat....shoot away.

[wztirem]

Well, if you like letting bucks walk until they get older, let it go. If you like super tender meat....shoot away.

Point taken!

[Mr VJP]

Actually, I killed a button buck a few years ago and found the meat to be rubbery.  I expected it would be tender, but that was not the case at all.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

VJP---you sure you accounted for all the latex gloves you used to gut it?...

[steve863]

VJP---you sure you accounted for all the latex gloves you used to gut it?...

No, I think he meant that the button bucks MEAT tasted rubbery.  The latex gloves only FELT rubbery after his last visit to the urologist. 

[Mr VJP]

Real men don't use latex gloves........for either of those things!

??? ;D