urine in the snow

[Washburn]

While walking to my stand yesterday afternoon I noticed brownish spots in a relatively fresh deer track. I was walking on an old skitter trail with about 4 inches of snow on it. I grabbed a couple handfuls of the snow and gave it a good whiff. Yep, urine alright.

The trail of urine, with a distinct brown dot every couple feet, continued for a good 80 yards. A couple of scrapes were opened on this same trail and there were lots of tracks and trails crossing the road.

I can't determine if the urine was a possible estrous doe, a buck marking the road, or an older deer in need of a dose of Flomax.

Thoughts?

Washburn

[Jawbone]

Sounds like a question for LLR.

[Woods Walker]

Based on what you said, it was most likely a buck, because you mentioned that there were new scrapes in the area, and rutting bucks will urinate on their tarsal glands as a way of scent marking their scrapes. The drops that you saw in the tracks were left over on his tarsal glands from when he marked his scrapes.
 
The fact that the urine marks were brownish also indicates that the tracks were at least several hours old too.

[Washburn]

My guess (hope) was the track was left by a buck. Thanks for the input.

Washburn

[Patriot]

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe bucks will often "dribble" urine as they walk. 

[danesdad]

I've heard that too, about bucks.

[dxthunter57]

well if you got a buck and a doe tag it doesnt really matter what it was right
hahahah jk
i dunno ive never heard of that
i guess you learn things everyday