Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting How much antler does a buck need to be "antlered" in your state?

Here in Nebraska, the definition of "antlerless" is any deer without any antlers or with antlers less than 6" long.

So, a buck isn't legally "antlered" unless he has at least one (1) antler that is 6" long.

I have eight (8) "antlerless only" tags that I'm going to try to punch and divide between family, friends, and Hunters For The Hungry.

How do the regs define antlered vs. antlerless or buck vs. doe in your state?

Here in Michigan if a Deer has Antlers 3" or longer its a Buck! or has to Be taged with a Buck tag!

Visible above the hairline

3"+ in Colorado

I believe 4" in Montana

Oregon's west side is at least one fork. East side used to be visible antler.

Idaho requires at least 1 antler of 3" or longer.

4 points on 1 side in some counties here in Missouri, or 1 antler 3" or more in a few of the urban counties.

Va is above the hairline, Wva is 3".

This is an interesting question. Some states are not reasonable.

For TX "A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin." Lived there once, and due to this definition had to tag a button buck that anyone would have shot as antlerless as a buck. You could not SEE the "hard antler" without parting the hair on the buttons, but sure enough, there were 2 tiny hard antler buttons about the size of a child's fingernail. Legally I burned a buck tag. Dumb rule.

In WY "Antlered” means a deer, elk, or moose that has visible antler growth plainly protruding from the skull." They don't say from how far away or with what magnification it has to be visible. If you need to shoot antlered, you had better be sure there are some and vice versa.

In Arizona it is an antler fully erupted through the skin and capable of being shed or something along those lines.

In La. it is "at least 1 hardened antler naturally protruding through the skin".

3" protruding

breaks the skin.

Depends on what GMA you shoot him in, how young you are, whether you are disabled or a Veteran on active duty. In some situations, he may even be considered a Doe.



http://old.post-gazette.com/sports/outdoors/20021124deer5.asp

One horn over 3" is a buck.

However, much of the state is adopting a rule of a shooter as an animal with having at least 3 points of at least an inch or more on one side.

-Ken

In Utah,

"A 'buck deer' is a deer with antlers that are longer
than five inches (R657-5-2(2)(e))."

"A 'bull elk' is an elk with antlers that are longer than
five inches (R657-5-2(2)(g))."

"'Buck pronghorn' means a pronghorn with horns that
are longer than five inches (R657-5-2(2)(f ))."

1" in Maryland.

But if I screw up and shoot a spike or something with only 1" horns, it gets checked as an antler-less. If I'm donating it, they tend to get in a fight with my 22 oz. claw hammer and they get broken off.

3 inches

Same rule in NY.