Spikes.
 

I keep hearing people posting about culling spikes. I thought this myth has been proven wrong? On game farms some spikes turn into book deer. The hunter has to make sure the buck is not last years fawn because he may be "culling" his next trophy.

RE: Spikes.
 

Personaly ... I wouldn't take a shot at a spike , not even a four pointer or a young six .
My theory is "let'em go and let'em grow" , sure it has caused me to eat tag soup some times but thats my personal opinion.

RE: Spikes.
 

I agree with not shootin a spike. Sometimes spike bucks are truly bigger deer, possibly the rack got damage in the "growing" period. I also think that in order to shoot a trophy buck, you have to sit and let some bucks that are possible shooters go for next years crop.

RE: Spikes.
 

I don't think there is any way to know for sure. I have a spike buck in my yard that is almost 7 years old (that I know of). All he did was get bigger spikes every year until it looked like he was wearing a halo (2 curled main beams about 18 inches long with no points). He would be a vote for a spike is always gonna be a spike. Deer farms have examples of spikes that have sprouted into monsters but that is in a controlled environment and under supplemental feeding so who knows what that means in the wild.

I don't think there is a definite answer either way but if he is 2 1/2 (and especially 3 1/2) and he is still a spike then I would say he won't ever be anything but.

RE: Spikes.
 

I trust the wildlife biologist...Dr. Kroll. He says we don't know a deer's full antler potential until after his 3rd rack.

By that time.....he may still be a spike.....but a deer that old is also a trophy.

RE: Spikes.
 

Spikes all have one thing in common, they go down great with a nice gravy. ;)

RE: Spikes.
 

It would have to be something wrong with it before I would take a shot at one. I can say I have never saw a mature spike.

RE: Spikes.
 

Cant argue with that!:D

RE: Spikes.
 

There are spikes with good genetics and bad genetics. An example of a deer with good genetics that is still a spike at 1 1/2 years old could have been born from a1 1/2 year old doe (the previous year)that did nothave her first estrous cycle in November(northern). If this were to happen she would then come into estrous inDecember, possibly earlyJanuary. Thus putting the fawns birth back a month maybe two. If this were to happen the fawn may not get thenutrition or the time to produce a quality rack. Another scenario is that the buck-to-doe ratio is way out of wack, this means that there are not enough mature breeder bucks to breed all the estrous does (otheryoung bucks may attempt to breed but are often unsuccessful due to inexpirience). If this happens the does that are not bred will come back into estous something like 28 days later, postponing the fawns birth causing the afore mentioned affects. But in the case that a spike has been a spike for 3 1/2 years that is a deer that most likely needs to be culled.

Hope that helps a bit!

RE: Spikes.
 

the best way that this has been shown was in a 2003 issue of i think north american hunter magazine they had caught by a net a spike and tagged the ear of the deer and then let him go. The spikes were almost 6" long and the next year the deer was captured again and that deer was sporting a main frame 8 point rack with a 12" spread. So it was proven right there.

RE: Spikes.
 

what difference does it make, they all eat the same. You cant eat the antlers anyway.

RE: Spikes.
 

The part that I have a hard time believing is that "Clyde" had those antlers at 18 months.

RE: Spikes.
 

I agree, i have seen spikes at a year and a half that have grown nice racks at 2 and a half. The only way to tell is to let them grow up and see. Im sure there are a couple of instances where a spike has remained a spike but imo i think thats the exeption rather than the rule.

RE: Spikes.
 

i dont think you can tell by a 1 1/2 but none of those deer are even spikes and they feed them all the nutrions they need to get big. i can hardly belive the forks rack at 2 1/2 he is like a 115 the next year.

RE: Spikes.
 

and sauteed onions

RE: Spikes.
 

North American Whitetail did a bigseries on thislast year. They took spikes and four points of the same year and ear tageed them and watched them grow over the years.The spikes turned out just as big if not biger then the four points over the years.

RE: Spikes.
 

I don't think it makes a differences. It is usaual there first set of antlers.

RE: Spikes.
 

hey can u post the site u got this from, im intersted in seeing a better pic ;)

RE: Spikes.
 

SPIKES?.......Killed plenty of-em.

RE: Spikes.
 

It's been consistently proven thatover the vast majority of the whitetails range, spikes can and will mature into large healthy animals.I can't imagine for the life of me why ANYONE would want to shoot a yearling buck? You've got to let 'em go! Good luck and goodhuntin'

RE: Spikes.
 

I have taken a couple spikes over the years, until I get in to a spot where I might see more than 10 deer a year. I hunt close to town and you really have to put in your time to get a shot. To date, I have never taken a fawn though.
I started hunting a spot late in the season last yearthat looks like it may hold more promise. I passed on a couple 4 pointers and a small doe and seen a couple nice ones!
crutch

RE: Spikes.
 

I don't make a habit of killing spikes Cornfed, but I have killed plenty of-em in my lifetime, as well as many shooters. My first buck was a spike, and who knows maybe my sons first deer will be spike. It depends on what opportunity presents itself. We all love trophybucks, but I don't want my son to lose thought of the real meaning of hunting. I don't know if you noticed where I reside, but it's in South Jersey, overpopulated and overpressured woods. Things are a little different out here. I've been bowhunting in Illinois before, in fact I'm going back for the 2nd time in Nov. It is truely night and day compared to Jersey. The first day I passed up 2-125" eight points, and really nice 10 point later on in the week, but it still wasn't quite the shooter I was looking for.Needless to say I went home without a buck, but I'm going back for redemtion. I've seen what's there.....So I can definately see where your coming from. You guys have it made in Illinois. Have a little compassion for us North Easterners, we have to struggle a little. ;);)

RE: Spikes.
 

I agree with this post 110%...I give not two poops about whether a deer is a spike, a 5, or a 10. If I want meat in the freezer and that deer is standing in my shooing lane, he has the possibility of ending up DEAD. With that said, if I knew there was another bigger bucn in the area, I might hold off, but if the season gets near the end, I am killing that spike...
I hunt for meat and pleasure, not to build my ego and character by the size of my deers rack.

RE: Spikes.
 

I believe I got it off an article on The Whitetail Institute of North America (whitetailinstitute.com). I got it awile ago and hung it up at our cabin to encourage everyone to let the little guys pass. On the side of the image it states "Antler Collection Courtesy of Steve Porter's Trophy Whitetails" -Lake Bronson, MN.

RE: Spikes.
 

Thats fine, its your preference. Some of us put alot of time in the woods, see alot of deer, and like to let the youngins grow up before we harvest them. (I hunt for horns, but I also to eat um too) This post was in reference to some people posting on culling spikes to benefit the herds trophy potential. If your meat hunter fine, then this post doesnt concern you.

RE: Spikes.
 

I also agree with not shooting spikes. How will I ever get a chance at something nice if I shoot the spike or 4 or 6's? I let em go and if I need meet that what the does are for. The only thing that sucks here in Jersey is if you let it go it will walk another 300 yards and some other jackass will shoot it. Oh well!