Size of a deer track

[NYarcher]

Just came back in from resetting my trail cam when I came upon a huge set of prints on very solid ground. I left an impression 1/8 inch deep.(I weigh 215 lbs.) The deer track was alittle deeper up to a 1/4 inch deep. Tips were 3 inches apart. Main pads were about 3 inches long, 5 1/2-6 counting dew claw. The stride was about 18-24 inches apart. How old do you think this deer is?

[cdn1]

Unless I see the lower jaw couldn't honestly say. I have an awful time trying to age deer even when I get a good look at them. All I can tell from a track is if it was buck, doe or fawn, and if its a really big track its likely a buck.
Cdn1

[msbadger]

NYarcher...I came across a set of tracks yesterday that...well I just stood and stared at them for 10min...I mean I walked away and had to come back and look again!...Damn NY ..for our bow season starting so late[>:]...but the possibilities....[:D]

[ranwin33]

Impossible to say by track size, but you can say it's a big deer.

[DeanoZ]

Actually there is a chart out there based on the hoof size that can show approximately the age of the deer...I'll see f I can locate it and post it...but it is a general guide and studies have shown that lower jaw measurements are more accurate.

[buckhunter21]

This is a tough question, because was it running, walking, was the ground wet...Lots of factors! 

[DeanoZ]

Here is the link I spoke of:  http://www.whitetails.com/deer_info/deer_tracks.cfm

based on your description it appears to be a heavy deer of at least 3.5 yrs old.  When yuo say the "tips" were 3 in apart...you mean the toe spread?

[cutngut85]

There was also an article in D&DH quite a few months, maybe even a year ago on APPROXIMATING the deers age by the hoof.

[adirondackhunter]

If the dew claws are outside of the track (width),It's a mature buck.

[NYarcher]

Yes the 3" tip to tip measurement I was refering too was toe spread. Ground was dry and hard not soft at all. It was on more of a road the farmer uses between his two fields. And MSbadger, I did the same damn thing, just stared.[8|] Last deer on this property that had a track that size was harvested 2 yrs ago. 16pt. non-typical. Main frame 10 with kickers. Scored 164 and change. Wow. Hope I get this sucker on cam. (Or better yet on the meatpole![;)]) Tracks were found where a green bean field and a butternut squash field meet. Too bad the season is 1 1/2 months away.[:(]