Last weekend of doe/spike only season we had a guy shoot a buck that has already dropped his antlers.

How are you suppose to tag it? Antlerless or use a buck tag?

Anterless.

man that sucks

Nobody knew the answer and we still don't. I guess I could try to call my local GW and ask him?

That does suck.

I have been told if shot antler less then use antlerless tag and if you shoot an antlered doe that you are supposed to use a buck tag.

Never noticed before, but the tag does say buck or antlerless, it doesnt say antlered or antlerless.

I would think the safe thing to do would be to use a buck tag. Right or wrong I think a warden would give you the benefit of the doubt in that instance.

matt

I'd get ahold of the GW next time and ask him/let him know what happened.

antlerless tag, same as a nubbin.

Since what you killed was "antlerless" tag it as a doe as per TWD regs:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/deer/
Game Animals, White-tailed and Mule Deer
DEER (READ THE REMAINING SECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY)
•A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. A "spike buck deer" is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER. A spike buck must be tagged with a buck deer tag from the hunter's hunting license or applicable permit.
•White-tailed Deer - Except for deer taken under MLD permits, no person may take more than five white-tailed deer or more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year. Bag limits in individual counties may be less (see County Listings).
•Mule Deer - The annual bag limit is two mule deer with no more than one being a buck (all seasons combined). See County Listings for antlerless permit requirements.
•SPECIAL ANTLER RESTRICTIONS:
•Antler restrictions apply only in certain counties (see County Listings). In these counties, the bag limit is two legal bucks, but only ONE may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. In these counties, a legal buck deer is defined as having:

.a hardened antler protruding through the skin AND;
.at least one unbranched antler; OR
.an inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater (does not apply to a buck that has an unbranched antler).
•In these counties it is unlawful to take more than one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater.
•To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13 inches, look at the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip on a buck with ears in the alert position (see illustration).
•Does not apply on Level 2 or 3 MLDP properties.
•Definition of a point: A point is a projection that extends at least one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.

You might get a ticket if you play it safe and tag it with a buck tag, if you cannot prove it was a spike. It was antlerless when it was shot and should be tagged as antlerless.

It was tagged as anterless but with so many different opinions on the lease I was just curious. I kept referring back the outdoor manual that said:

"A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. A "spike buck deer" is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER."

Thanks for the clarification. I cant wait to go back and tell the doubters I told ya so. lol

Agree with most here, antlerless. Same as shooting a doe with antlers=buck tag. Nubbin buck=antlerless tag.

Where are they already dropping their horns?, mine are still holding strong.

Antlerless. Same as a button buck.

If it is the last day of season, what difference does it make what tag you use. You can't use it next year. Oh, the answer on any other day would be Antlerless. The deer had no antlers.

I will be sure to tell the game warden it doesn't matter what tag I use since its the last day of the season. LOL..

Thanks for all the input guys and gals.

Down here on the coast, there are a lot of bucks shedding right now.

Olney. Most bucks are holding strong but this dude dropped a little early.

happened to my girlfriends dad once and he contacted the gw, he told him antlerless

If I had one antlerless and one buck tag left, I would just use the buck tag.

Better safe than sorry!!!

We can debate all day here but that GW may see that as a buck whether it has horns or not. Just my 2 cents

It was in doe/ spike season. Button bucks are bucks also but can be tagged atlerless.

I called the local GW yesterday and he said the same thing.. He basically quoted "A "buck deer" is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. A "spike buck deer" is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER."

Deer with dropped antlers do NOT have "a hardened antler protruding through the skin" therefore "ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER."

I'm tagging it the way the GW said.
Whewww... Glad we got this all cleared up.

Well here's a novel idea.....Binoculars.

Ouch!

Another novel idea....Probably should've made this call first!

What a great idea!!! I will look into it.. I don't really know how to operate them though so I have always been hesitant. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have talked to a gamewarden in the past about this and he said a buck that has dropped his antlers is an anterless deer. He said the definition of a buck deer does not mean "male" and the definition of an anterless deer does not mean "female" (doe). Antlerless deer are deer that have no hardened antler protruding thru the skin and shed antlers no longer are protrusions thru the skin. Any deer that had shed both antlers would be properly tagged with an antlerless deer tag.