Buck or Doe?

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

Tracked a deer yesterday. Along the way, several trees were urinated on, culminating in a small clearing below a ridge, where pretty much every tree around was peed on. Big cluster.... Very few other sign, though (one rub along the way, but none around the clearing, no droppings but that could have been snowed over.
Doe or buck (or inconclusive?)

Does it make sense to revisit such an area (e.g. do they tend to come back?)?

[Keta1969]

Sounds like you were in snow? Tracks should tell the tale. Also this time of year there is often flecks of blood in doe urine. They will want to leave their scent if hot or getting close. I have watched does get all hunched up with their legs underneath and then piss all over their back legs and rub them together. If it was a buck and there are does around he may turn up again otherwise he's on the move searching.

[markt308]

You talking Mule deer? If so then definitely worth revisiting. This is getting into peak rut so it really does not matter if what you saw was buck or doe sign because where there are does, there will be bucks close by at this time of year. Good luck

[warnniklz]

If you find beds, inspect closely. Grab the yellow bits of snow and melt them in a water bottle. Natural deer scent.

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

This is getting into peak rut so it really does not matter if what you saw was buck or doe sign because where there are does, there will be bucks close by at this time of year. Good luck

That's actually a good point, and thanks

[Bugle M In]

Well, tracks should be distinguishable, imo.
Generally by the length of stride for starters on long stretches, not just short jaunts where either gender can pick up pace for a short time.
Bucks drag in snow more so and tend to have bigger tracks, but i get it, it can be hard to tell from size at times.

Also, as the rut starts, a buck will "B-Line" and will be single and then hit a Doe (you will see how well they find each other over time), there will be a
small dance, as the buck tries to get the Doe to urinate to see if she is in heat.
If so, he stays.
If not in heat, he moves on again, and finds the next Doe and the cycle continues until he finds one that is.

Followed a buck the other day (MD).
He found 6 separate Doe in a mere 500yards of walking.
He got all 6 to pee within seconds of getting to them.
The 7th Doe did pee "Heat".
Thats the one he stuck with all day.

RUT IS ON IN R3....fyi.