Spikes

[Rdavis]

What's every ones opinion on the thinning of spikes to increase the quanity of quality deer? I once was in a club in Ga and their policy was to shoot every spike one saw.I had heard this also. Please chime in..

 

[warpheagle]

I don't believe you can "cull out" the spikes from a herd by trying to shoot them all. How about the mother of the spike, she donates 1/2 of the genetic makeup of the deer, too - and you can't know which doe she was by looking at her. Better to try and learn to age the buck " on the hoof", and shoot the more mature bucks. Just my opinion.

 

[Rdavis]

I agree with you. I since have googles this and found an interesting study conducted:


http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publication ... 0_0247.pdf


This study was done in Texas!

 

[SNAG]

I agree with Warpheagle. I had 4 yearlings on cam last year that were spikes, this year 2 of them are nice basket 6 points, one is a 7 but on the other hand 1 is still only a 4 point. We did however add 12 acres of crops more this year from last. And we plan to add another 3 acres this year which will put us at 27 total acres of food plots. And the leased part of our farmland plants 55 acres of beans this year and corn the next.

 

[Chaneylake]

kill all the spikes you want, someday you will look back and see the forrest

 

[JohnnyDollar]

To kill a spike for deer management (I feel) is an ineffective way to manage the "bucks" on a piece of property. Just because he is a spike one year doesn't mean that he will be a spike for ever. If that were true then imagine how many 4 1/2-6 1/2 yr.old spikes would be killed every year! A spike can blossom into a pretty 8pt. the very next year. So to call a spike a "cull buck" is absolutely absurd. The only exception I can possibly see in calling a spike a "cull" would be if the spike was a mature deer then he would be considered a "cull"

Just my .02

 

[BSK]

A spike buck is nothing more than a young buck. Kill all the spikes and you've killed all you future old bucks.

In the Southeast and in woodland habitat, it is not uncommon to see 50% of yearling bucks sporting only spike antlers. Yet that same population of bucks in 2 or 3 years will all be "normal" 8-10 point bucks.

 

[Rdavis]

Thanks for the replies..we didn't shoot any this year but could have shot a bunch. The funny thing about the Ga club I was in a few years back is they wanted to shoot all the spikes but would not shoot any does. The place was over run with does.

 

[Football Hunter]

nope,dont do it,wont work

 

[HMHunters75]

The majority of the 1.5 yr. old bucks on my farm are spikes. It appears as though they turn into 115-125 in. 3.5 yr. old bucks-( although there is undoubtedly some dispersal ).

 

[Lawrence]

Not us
thin the does for a quality deer heard

 

[Rdavis]

Not us
thin the does for a quality deer heard

Agree!

 

[doubledownranch]

I like my spikes, they are dumb and fun to mess with.

 

[Phil1979]

Shoot does.

 

[Bucket]

I kept seeing one particular spike this year hunting back home and got several trail cam pics of him. He had an antler curvature that was unique from most spikes and I hope to be able to recognize him in future years because of that. It would be neat to document his growth if he sticks around.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

i have heard the same theory on spikes my entire life.a neighbor had a spike at his house in a low fence.the next year the spike was a beautiful 8pt.i dont listen to those theories anymore

 

[Diehard Hunter]

Here is a great example of what can happen between 1.5 and 2.5 years of age.

I am absolutely sure they are the same deer.

1.5

2.5

 

[Rdavis]

Here is a great example of what can happen between 1.5 and 2.5 years of age.

I am absolutely sure they are the same deer.

1.5

2.5

Thanks. Picture worth a thousand words!

 

[SNAG]

These are a few of my spikes. And I think they will turn out just fine with time.

 

[SNAG]

Here is the 3rd one. Sorry for the double pic.