Note: To every one about button bucks.

[whitetailfanatic]

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.

stay legal!!!

he's done in a 1 buck county,
That happened to me several yrs ago at dark, I swore I'd never try and shoot at a doe at dark again!!
I was done my 3rd week bowhunting !

[Russ]

he's done in a 1 buck county,
That happened to me several yrs ago at dark, I swore I'd never try and shoot at a doe at dark again!!
I was done my 3rd week bowhunting !

That would suck!

Thought I'd bring this too the top again since every ones trigger finger is itching! LOL

[Speedgoat]

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!!!

If it is broken through it is a spike and not a button buck

[Speedgoat]

Learn to Identify "Button Bucks"

Each year many hunters harvest buck fawns, commonly called "button bucks," on antlerless 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 antlerless deer.
Wait until more than three deer are together; then harvest one of the larger antlerless 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.

Definition for "spike buck":
A spike buck is a young male deer in his first antler bearing season. When he is young his first growth of antlers will consist of two antlers (spikes) that protrude through the skin and reach to four inches in height, one on each side of his head. Subsequent years will bring larger growth and a branching of his antlers.

[USMCGRUNT1967]

What do you tag a antlered doe with?

With an antlered tag.

[SPUD]

What's funny is Illinois considers an "antlerless dee" a deer with no antlers or a deer with antlers less than 3".

Tagging a spike with a "doe" tag is just weird.

[Storm]

So glad I dont reliey on just my eye glasses have always used binos to look at all that i've shot.

[Txranger]

Thats a good question!

[Richard]

Can you see nubs at 40 yards? Thats how! For that matter can you see nubs at 30 yards, especially if there covered by fur? It can happen pretty easily.

Yep exactly! If you use Bino's well then there is no excuse.

The law should be changed. If it has nuts tag it a buck if not,tag it a Doe!

[Speedgoat]

Yep exactly! If you use Bino's well then there is no excuse.

The law should be changed. If it has nuts tag it a buck if not,tag it a Doe!

Or cut the limits down to two deer per season, either sex in every county. Deer numbers would boom and folks would be more selective. My point is this, rules rules rules rules, then there is always the exception and somebody getting their feelings hurt because they did not follow them.

[Artos]

This doe had nubs...hair was covering them and really small but you could actually feel & see where the bone barely passed through the skin on her skull. (yes, I did a horrible job with the picture but they were there)

Can't see them in this pic & certainly not at 200yds even w/ the 20 power...it was a sick feeling until I checked the plumbing. She got a doe tag...nobody at camp believed it until they petted her. Run across weird things in the wild.

2nd deer is a cull that was part chupacabra...

[Loreva13]

I am glad this got posted, I have to show my grandfather to prove a point.

[HighCountry]

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

I know it sounds silly but here in Illinois you can shoot a spike with 3" spikes and tag it with an antlerless only tag.

[rocky]

I know it sounds silly but here in Illinois you can shoot a spike with 3" spikes and tag it with an antlerless only tag.

But Texas law is pretty specific in the handbook. "hardened horn protruding thru skin"
I'm a little shocked that this has to be explained, but I guess with new hunters it needed to be clarified.

[Skinny]

Get yoseff sum betta bunoculars!!!!!!!

Skinny