Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

NOT TRUE!!! I was watching an episode on tv (can't remember the show). It showed a buck lifes...from birth to death. The buck at 1.5 was your typical spike about three inch daggers. At 6.5 the buck peaked out at a 169 inch giant. At 7.5 I think it droped 7 inches and was at 162 inches. Then around 11.5 the buck sported the same rack it had when it was 2.5 years of age. Then a sad thing happend when the buck died of bone cancer. But it goes to show you...Keep those spikes around.

About 15 years before my father and I got serious into hunting we took six spike bucks off our farm. We always thought once a spike always a spike. And our goal was to keep the 6 and 8 point basket racks around. Well maybe that wasn't a great idea but who knew 15 years ago.

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

If anyone doesn't know that a spike is NOT always a spike and can grow into a real trophy if given a chance, than that said person is still living in the myth of the past. I'm hoping most of our members here realize that.

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

Would you cull this deer?

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

I agree. I don't shoot the spikes, forks or scruby looking 1.5 year olds myself. I usually say by the 2nd year if they aren't coming out of it there going to get an arrow.

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

Here's why you don't;)

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

Wow that thing is NASTY! So is the buck

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

Was this a free range deer or a captive deer?

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

I saw a chart in a book that hada buck peaking around 6 and by the time it was 10,11 and 12 it was reduced back down into a spike. Maybe it was in Outdoor Life? I cant remember for sure but i do know that it was a spike in its first and second years and scored around 150 at 6.5 years of age.

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

Jeff, how do you know that's the same buck. Not pushing any buttons here, just asking;)

RE: Get rid of the spikes!!!
 

I'm pretty sure I saw that same show, and I believe it wasDeer and Deer Hunting's TV show. They also mentioned that a buck's body concentrates on building up body weight/musclemass and bone density (not so much antler growth)during the first 2 years.