What do deer tracks in snow tell you?
- Thread starter nrowles
- Start date
H20fwler
5 year old buck +
For me they let me know what's in the area as far as numbers and the size of some (or at least that somebody has big feet!). Also lets me see what they are doing which means a lot if I'm not tagged out yet.
The end of March is when I really look over trails good, they are very easy to spot at that time of year. I also look over rub lines/scrape lines/bedding areas and trail intersections to see if I need to update my stand locations.
The end of March is when I really look over trails good, they are very easy to spot at that time of year. I also look over rub lines/scrape lines/bedding areas and trail intersections to see if I need to update my stand locations.
Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
The deer puzzle never ends ....... That's what makes it fun !!
Tap
5 year old buck +
When you want to follow a fresh deer track in order to learn patterns, BACK TRACK the tracks if you want to know what an undisturbed deer has been doing. Especially for the tacks that were left during night time hours when the deer was traveling/feeding/bedding (presumably) not disturbed.
If you FOLLOW deer trails in the direction of travel, and you do disturb them, that will help you figure out their escape patterns.
AND according to Wensel, trails with tracks that go in the same direction tend to be near bedding areas, whereas trails with tracks in BOTH directions tend to be located in transition and feeding areas...my opinion on that concept is that, like a lot of deer habits, you needs to analyze your particular situation, cover, terrain, etc.
If you FOLLOW deer trails in the direction of travel, and you do disturb them, that will help you figure out their escape patterns.
AND according to Wensel, trails with tracks that go in the same direction tend to be near bedding areas, whereas trails with tracks in BOTH directions tend to be located in transition and feeding areas...my opinion on that concept is that, like a lot of deer habits, you needs to analyze your particular situation, cover, terrain, etc.
Tap
5 year old buck +
Also pay attention to what the wind was doing when you think the tracks were made. An unusual wind pattern can lead to an unusual travel or bedding pattern. Tracks, in of themselves, are a tiny piece of the clues. How those tracks relate to wind, cover, and terrain are more important than the tracks themselves.
Also pay attention to the direction the beds face. And how beds relate to each other. Doe groups tend to bed together, while bucks tend to bed alone. When you start learning where the bucks bed in relation to doe beds, then the direction of tracks will reveal a lot about the travel patterns.
But keep in mind that a later winter pattern on snow (when feeding is the main activity) will be different than what you see on snow during a rutting pattern.
Also pay attention to the direction the beds face. And how beds relate to each other. Doe groups tend to bed together, while bucks tend to bed alone. When you start learning where the bucks bed in relation to doe beds, then the direction of tracks will reveal a lot about the travel patterns.
But keep in mind that a later winter pattern on snow (when feeding is the main activity) will be different than what you see on snow during a rutting pattern.
