How to Identify Shed Bucks

Midwest Whitetail • January 24, 2024

Here are some tips for identifying shed bucks late in the year so you can avoid shooting one! Not shooting a shed buck helps enhance your management goals and keeps that target deer alive for next year.

Pedicles

Pedicle on a buck
Pedicle on a buck

The first thing we look for is the pedicles. The pedicle is where the antler meets the head. After a buck sheds his antlers, he'll have a bulbous, circular bump on his head where the antler used to be attached. Sometimes, the pedicle might be a bit bloody or healed over with a scab, depending on how much time has passed since the antler was dropped. Generally, the larger and more distinct the base, the more mature the buck.

Roman Nose

Romanesque buck nose
Romanesque buck nose

Additionally, mature deer develop more of a Roman nose as they age. You'll see almost a bridge below their eyes before it meets their nose. Of course, having a Roman nose doesn't indicate whether the deer is a shed buck, but it helps you identify older age-class deer.

Body Size

Large-bodied buck
Large-bodied buck

Another way to identify a mature whitetail buck is by observing its overall size compared to nearby deer. With or without antlers, mature male deer are usually noticeably larger than the younger bucks and the females. If you see large-bodied whitetail, take an extra second to check for shed pedicles.

Tarsal Stains

Dark stain on tarsal gland
Dark stain on tarsal gland

In addition to checking a large-bodied buck for shed pedicles, you can also check the stains on his tarsal glands. As bucks make scrapes throughout the year, urine drips down on the back of their legs to the tarsal glands, right where the knee bends. There are two distinct patches of fur on the insides of their back legs, and bucks will form stains on these patches that become dark brown or almost black over time. That tarsal stain lasts well into the following year, and the more mature and dominant the deer, the darker and more severe that tarsal stain. Sometimes, a mature buck's hind legs will be dark brown or black all the way down to the hoofs from that tarsal gland.

Behavior

Buck with one exposed pedicle
Buck with one exposed pedicle

One last thing to look for is behavior. Whether or not the deer is a shed buck, they still often exhibit the same behavior. Mature bucks have a noticeable "bully" demeanor about 'em. They'll push around other deer, whether they have antlers or not. They'll often lay their ears back at other deer. You don't typically see a mature doe out there pushing around a 3 to 5-year-old buck. They just don't do that. So, if you see some of that aggression coming from a deer with no antlers, it just might be a shed buck.

Take these things into account and take your time before making a harvest in the late season; when you're sitting far away from deer, maybe gun hunting, you can really lower your odds of shooting a shed buck late season. Good luck out there!

--Midwest Whitetail