What is a button buck?

A button buck is a term used to describe a young male deer that has small, button-like antlers. These antlers are usually less than three inches long and have not yet branched out into multiple points. Button bucks are typically around one to two years old and are still developing their antlers.

Button bucks are often seen during the spring and summer months when they are growing their antlers. They can be mistaken for female deer (does) due to their small antlers and lack of defined features. However, their behavior and physical characteristics, such as body size and bone structure, can help differentiate them from does.

In some hunting regulations, it is illegal to shoot a button buck in order to protect young males and allow them to grow into mature bucks with larger antlers. Hunters are encouraged to correctly identify and only target legal deer to help maintain a healthy deer population.