Introduction about Deer Hooves

One of the most distinguished features of a deer are its hooves. This article explain about Deer Hooves that important for the hunters to know when tracking animals. Understanding Deer Hooves will helps the hunters to know the pattern of the deer and understand their behavior in the jungle.

Tracking animals based the the hooves is very valuable experience and can helps the hunter to achieve their aims during hunting journey. It should be noted here that by understanding deer hooves can make the hunters prepare for any situation that will happened in the jungle.

As a hunter there are gear hunting that should be prepare before go to hunting such as:

• Crossbow
• Knife
• Recurve Bow
• Hunting boots
• Hunting jacket
• Camping tents
• Binocular

More often than not, this is one aspect that people tend to overlook in a deer, and yet, it is what helps to set it apart from similar animals.

Similar to human beings, the deer hooves are also composed of keratin and is made up of two toes which are elongated and have been divided from the middle. Each of the four hooves has a set of dew claws which are located right behind and on top of it. There are a few other animals that share similar cloven hooves, such as the gazelle, cattle, antelope, and sheep.

This video explains about identifying deer tracks based on their hooves taken from Youtube.com

What makes the deer hooves so special?

The reason as to why deer hooves are such an important part of its body, are manyfold. We will provide you with five reasons as to how the deer makes use of its hooves to not just navigate around, but also protects itself from predators.

• For running around and jumping – The hooves provide the deer with an accelerated speed that is needed for it to put force and run, if and when the need arises.
• For hoof stamping or stomping – A deer usually does this to confirm to itself about the imminent danger that is around, or to feel comfortable that there is no threat around and it can comfortable relax.
• For defence – As shocking as it maybe, considering that a deer is a rather timid animal, if the need arises, or when attacked by a predator – human or natural, a deer makes use of its hooves to strike the predator – either from the front or back, injuring him while it makes a run for it.

Other than these, the marks left behind by the hooves of a deer are quite helpful for hunters and animal observes, who know a deer is nearby or was at a particular spot, based on the deer scraping left behind.

Also, one of the main uses of the deer hoves is for providing interdigital scent. A deer has interdigital scent glands placed right between the two hooves, on all four legs and this is considered one of the most important glands to have, for animals. It is with the scent that is dispersed from these scent glands that a deer is able to keep track of each other.

These glands are usually quite small and consists of a sparsely hairy sac, located right in-between the hooves of each foot. Each of these sacs contain a yellowish substance which is known as sebum. The scent from this gland is left by the deer in its track, every time it moves about or takes a step.

Conclusion for Deer Hooves

While deer hooves are never a topic of debate or discussion, there is no doubt to the fact that it does provide the deer a distinct feature to its overall characteristics. It is what helps it to not only move about freely but also to protect itself from any unforeseen danger.