ORIGINAL: Schultzy
I am seeing way to many of these this year!! I know the biologist people say It Isn't a big deal being these same bucks could turn Into great bucks down the road which I'm sure has some truth to It. To be honest though I'd much rather see these spikes and fork's be 6 pointers Instead. 10 years ago In the woods I hunt (my dads woods) I hardly ever seen spike's and once In a while we'd see a few fork's through out the year but this year 90% of the bucks I've seen are spike's and fork's, I'm a little nervous about It. I've seen one decent mid 120's buck that I gave a pass on otherwise I've seen In the neighborhood of at least 10 different spike's and fork's. The land my dad owns Is about 120 acres, 70 acres Is corn or beans (depending on the year) and the other 50 acres Is woods and a small patch of swamp.
What's the reason for the big Increase In the spike's and fork's?
ok here is why that happens. yes it could be a change in genetics, although that is unlikely, it is possible if your state has a minimum antler requirement which could possibly let bucks with poorer genetics be safe from hunting and therefore saving the poor genetics while simultaneously reducing the good genes.
the more likely answer tho is that you have a skewed buck to doe ratio. this will cause more does to get bred during the 2nd or even 3rd estrous cycle. this in turn creates fawns born later in the year. this will cause them to be slower developing but does not mean that you have bad genetics.
what in your opinion, is the buck to doe ratio in your area? do you see a ton of does compared to a few bucks?