Whitetail Deer Signs

If you are new to hunting, learning how to identify basic Whitetail deer signs, will give you an idea of whether or not there are deer in the area you wish to hunt.

Some of the most definite signs are tracks.

They are easier to spot in the snow, or if your area has received a lot of recent rain.

Adult deer tracks are between 2&1/2 to 4 inches long.

Obviously, the smaller the hoof print, the smaller the animal, but these signs will at least give you an indication if any are hanging out in the area.

Other signs to look for are paths or trails.

Though other animals will use the same trails, it is good to notice if there are distinct paths winding through the woods.

If so, these routes may lead between bedding areas and feeding areas.

Setting up between those areas, are always a great place to hunt.

On these trails, you will probably see deer poop, or scat, which is it's official name.

This is similar to, but a little bigger than, rabbit poop.

The more droppings you find, the more Whitetails there are.

Whitetails eat a variety of foods, but since they do not have front incisor teeth, they do not make a clean cut when they feed.

You may be able to determine whether or not any are feeding in your area by the way in which plants are torn.

Some of the most exciting deer signs, are those made by bucks, as they are entering into the rut, or breeding, phase.

Bucks will leave rubs on trees and often times, the size of the tree used for rubbing, will give you a good indication of the size of his rack.

Rub signs can be detected by the marking and shedding of the tree, that the grating of the antlers cause.

Another sure sign of Whitetails being in the area, are scrapes.

Scrapes are an area where the buck paws at the ground.

A buck scrape will have a branch above the area that has been pawed.

The buck uses this branch to leave his scent on it, by way of chewing, licking, and rubbing his glands onto it.

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