Young buck dispersal and growth potential

[Andy S.]

A guy I know here in SW TN got this spike buck on camera last fall (2021). He instantly noticed the bright yellow tags in his ears labeled "45". After some research and reaching out to other hunters and academia, it was determined MSU Deer Lab had tagged the buck in 2020 when it was a fawn. The spike had traveled 5.5 miles from tagging location in Mississippi and took up residence in Tennessee. Low and behold, the guy picked the buck up again this fall on same farm in Tennessee as a 2.5 year old buck. Still sporting the bright yellow tags labeled "45".

 

[Lost Lake]

Quite a jump in antler growth.

 

[UCStandSitter]

I'd love to take a year off work and spend it volunteering with the MSU deer lab. Would be a lot of fun. Wish I'd done that when I was a young buck.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Very cool!

 

[rem270]

Awesome.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Once a spike always a spi...wait. What?

Tremendous potential right there if he has the food and a few more years.

 

[DoubleRidge]

But...but ... but.....he's a little ole spike... he ain't never gonna make nuttin.

and....

once a spike always a spike....right?

(sarcasm)

Would love to see that buck at 3½ and 4½.

The work the MSU Deer Lab does is amazing.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Once a spike always a spi...wait. What?

Tremendous potential right there if he has the food and a few more years.

We almost posted same comment at same time....I had the same thought.

 

[Andy S.]

Tremendous potential right there if he has the food and a few more years.

Ditto! Hopefully he can avoid CWD for a few years as well.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Huge jump!

 

[Newt]

How cool is that!!!

 

[tellico4x4]

So cool & great growth in a year!

 

[UpperTully]

Crazy to think TWRA allowed spikes to be killed on WMA's "managed" for bigger deer.

 

[trout]

This is awesome story with great pics! Pleased to see this spike take off with significant mass and body weight gain from improved habitat.

 

[Split Brow]

Very cool!!

 

[redblood]

Crazy to think TWRA allowed spikes to be killed on WMA's "managed" for bigger deer.

Yep. I think it was to appease the meat hunters

 

[redblood]

Ive never understood shooting a spike. Very few folks eat deer testicles and the rack has no value. A mature doe is just as big. But even in unit l, we used to have folks who would choose to kill a spike over a doe and some do till this day

 

[redblood]

I'd love to take a year off work and spend it volunteering with the MSU deer lab. Would be a lot of fun. Wish I'd done that when I was a young buck.

Id rather take it off work and hunt every day!

 

[UCStandSitter]

Id rather take it off work and hunt every day!

That would be step 2. Wanna up my bio IQ

 

[Ski]

Ive never understood shooting a spike. Very few folks eat deer testicles and the rack has no value. A mature doe is just as big. But even in unit l, we used to have folks who would choose to kill a spike over a doe and some do till this day

I know several old timers who cling to the preference of shooting a buck, even if it's a little one. Getting a "buck" is important to them.