Came across a set of tracks in the fresh snow - only about an inch. Noticed that some of the steps were dragging the legs. Sometimes alternating legs on each step. Don't think it was shot. Could it be just tired from the rut? Some of the steps go for a while with no dragging. The deer made a huge loop to check his scrapes doing this. Any ideas?
Like people, some deer are lazy walkers. I've seen perfectly healthy fawns, does and bucks drag their feet in minimal snow.
I've always been told that bucks drag their feet in shallow snow and does do not. Both will in deep snow. Not sure how true this is but I've heard it many times.
What Ruger said is what I have always heard. The bigger older bucks will drag there back legs, and a heavy buck you will see his dew claw marks hitting just behind his track.
I have read the same but am also leery when somebody uses the word always and whitetail buck in the same sentence. I read that bucks tend to drag their feet and is rut related possibly because they spent the last 2 weeks running 30% of their body weight off.
