F.I.R.E Week 6: Species & Sex Identification

Shoot the Right Animal Every Time

Week 6 of the Carnimore F.I.R.E. System blog series.

This is Where Things Start to Get Real

In the Find phase of the F.I.R.E. System, we covered how to locate game efficiently. But just spotting an animal isn’t enough. You have to be absolutely certain that what you’re looking at is:

The right species
The right sex
A legal, ethical target

Out here, there are no do-overs. One bad ID can ruin a hunt, destroy trust with your guide or hunting party, or worse, lead to a legal and moral nightmare.

Here’s the system I use, one that’s saved more than a few hunts from disaster.

Don’t Just See the Animal, Know What You’re Seeing

At 400 yards in fading light, a cow elk can look a lot like a young bull. A spike mule deer can blend into a herd of does. And in the heat of the moment, adrenaline clouds judgment.

That’s why you need to train your eye before the shot’s on the table.

Species ID Basics

If you’re hunting in mixed-species country (and many of us are), the first question is:

Is that what I’m actually hunting?

Body Shape

Elk vs. Deer: Elk are longer and taller with more visible neck stretch and a flatter backline. Deer (especially muleys) are compact and boxy.
Bear vs. Elk (in timber): Bears are low-slung and roll with their shoulders. Elk walk like horses, smoother, more upright.

Movement Pattern

Predators slink, shift weight, hesitate.
Ungulates walk with rhythm, usually in groups, following known trails.

Behavioral Cues

Browsing (deer)
Grazing (elk)
Tearing bark (moose)
Alert or feeding casually?

If you can read movement and posture, you can often ID a species long before you can count antlers.

Sex Identification: Antlers Aren’t Always Obvious

When I’m helping hunters, I always ask:

“Could you make this shot without antlers as your reference?”

Because truth is, in early seasons, thick cover, or bad light, you might not see the rack.

Head and Face Shape

Males: Broader forehead, heavier snout, deeper-set eyes.
Females: Slimmer, more angular, lighter muzzle.

Body and Neck

Bucks/bulls have thicker necks, especially during the rut.
Heavier gait, deeper chest, wider step.

Urination Posture

Bucks/bulls urinate forward between the legs.
Females urinate straight down or slightly behind.

Time of Year Changes Everything

Early Season: Bucks/bulls still in velvet, herded up, use body size and bachelor group behavior.
Rut: Vocalizations, sparring, chasing. Bulls are more visible, does/cows more skittish.
Late Season: Solo bucks or post-rut bulls appear sluggish and alone. Antlers may look uneven or broken.

The ID Thought Process (Field Checklist)

Species, What am I looking at? How do I know? Does it meet my expectations?
Sex, Antlers or not, what other clues confirm?
Legal, Is this a legal shooter under our tag?
Ethical, Will I be proud of this shot, clean and confirmed?

If there’s any doubt, we wait.

Real-World Mis-ID (and Recovery)

I once watched a beautiful 4-point desert mule deer buck all day. Spotted him heading to bed in the morning, then again midday. I decided it was go time.

After an hour’s climb to get above him, I saw him bedded between two palo verdes at 63 yards downhill. Perfect. I nocked an arrow, started my draw. He stood. I froze. He stepped behind the tree. I held.

Here he comes, I see antler, shoulder passes clear, I release… clean shot, 65 yards.

But it was a fork horn.

Tunnel vision made me run through the checklist, but not all the way. I never even knew Forky was there. I’m grateful for the meat, and the lesson in patience.

That’s why I say: slow is smooth, smooth is lethal.

Joel’s Field Tips for Better ID

Use binos before the spotter, train your quick-read eye.
Practice “ID reps” with real-world footage at home.
Talk out loud with your spotter or guide.
Re-confirm before ranging, ranging the wrong animal locks your brain onto it.
Don’t rush. If the shot’s gone, it’s gone.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter how good your gear is if you’re aiming at the wrong animal.

Species and sex identification isn’t just about avoiding mistakes, it’s about hunting with integrity. Being the kind of hunter that others trust. The one who makes the right call, even when no one’s watching.

Next week, we’ll go deeper into trophy judgment and age class, when to shoot, when to pass, and how to tell the difference.

Until then: slow down, glass hard, and trust your instincts, but only after you’ve trained them.

– Joel