Note: To every one about button bucks.

[Russ]

After a few people I have talked to recently and a few post I have read I wanted to make every one aware that if you shoot a button buck you must use a buck tag not a antlerless tag

Some people believe that a buck must have 1in antlers in order for you to have to use a buck tag. This is not true whatsoever! You will get a ticket and a buddy of mine knows from personal experience.

If a buck has hard antler that pokes thru the skin, then you screwed up and it cost you a buck tag. There is no way around it. The one my buddy shot you actually had to move the hair out of the way in order to see the tiny buttons, but regardless the 1/4in buttons result in a need for a buck tag, and therfore he got a ticket.

So make sure you don't get a ticket if ya mess up and shoot a button this year.

Happy hunting to all, and stay legal!!!

[Cur_Dog]

If horn is a showin, use a tag.

[flywise]

good advice

[Codie]

why would anyone think that they could tag a buck, no matter how long the spikes are with a doe tag? (now a buck without horns - I could understand)

Doesn't common sense make that decision for you?

Sorry your buddy learned a lesson using the expensive route

[Txjourneyman]

Game Animals, White-tailed and Mule Deer
DEER (READ THE REMAINING SECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY)
•A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. A "spike buck deer" is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER. A spike buck must be tagged with a buck deer tag from the hunter's hunting license or applicable permit.


From the TPWD Outdoor annual

[Russ]

why would anyone think that they could tag a buck, no matter how long the spikes are with a doe tag? (now a buck without horns - I could understand)

Doesn't common sense make that decision for you?

Sorry your buddy learned a lesson using the expensive route

Check in the Game managemnet section and you will see several older and knowledgable hunters posted that they thought the min was 1in. And my buddies wasn't what anyone would call a spike, most would call a nubbin buck. I just don't want anyone to learn a lesson the hard way.

But if it is a buck and the nubbs don't break skin then you can use a antlerless tag, FYI.

[Codie]

Game Animals, White-tailed and Mule Deer
DEER (READ THE REMAINING SECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY)
•A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. A "spike buck deer" is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER. A spike buck must be tagged with a buck deer tag from the hunter's hunting license or applicable permit.


From the TPWD Outdoor annual

I wonder what "hardened antler" is considered?

What if you have a buck that only has 1 spike and it remains in velvet all winter until he drops it in the spring? A doe? or a buck since he has no hardened antler?

I would consider it hardened even if it has velvet just because it is still a hard antler, it just has velvet on it, but their wording makes me wonder WHY they put the word hardened in there!

[rubydog]

Check in the Game managemnet section and you will see several older and knowledgable hunters posted that they thought the min was 1in. And my buddies wasn't what anyone would call a spike, most would call a nubbin buck. I just don't want anyone to learn a lesson the hard way.

But if it is a buck and the nubbs don't break skin then you can use a antlerless tag, FYI.

This is what I have always called a "button buck" in the first place..

Good info ...

[Bill M]

The tag is "anterless deer", not doe.

[IDAHO_BOWMEN]

Did this last year. Thought I was shooting a doe. Got up to it and it had nuts. Had to Use a buck tag.

[Russ]

Ya Codie that is kind of grey. Never thought about it that way.

[Bustin' Scales]

Did Duwayne shoot a button buck? lol

[Russ]

The tag is "anterless deer", not doe.

Thats why I am defining antlerless for people that don't know what the state considers "antlerless". This is what causes some people confusion.

[Biggun]

I thought u only had to use ur tag if it was protruding through the skin?

[Russ]

Did Duwayne shoot a button buck? lol

Nope, it was a buddy down south. I thought it was common sense as well, but since the horn wasn't visible without moving the hair out of the way he tagged it with a antlerless tag and he got a ticket.

Then several people on here mentioned you could use a antlerless tag if the buck didn't have a point over 1in long purtruding thru the skin and I was just trying to clear that up for any one else that though the same.