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?

Not too sure on the reason, but it only takes a phone call to have me up there and get rid of a few of them for you.

We might have to do that some year Josh.

Schultz...I wouldn't sweat it...Your genetics won't change that drastically in that short a time span...I'd put money that the year to year fluctuation has to do with food, stress, disease, drought, etc....These are the tangible things that go into antlers, which can effect little bucks and big bucks alike...Early in life they are geared towards body growth with antlers as a side effect, so any of these factors could drastically reduce antlers (would be 6 pt to forks or spike)....


Just my guess, but it isn't a change in genetics of your herd, Im betting it is a year to year fluctuation in something more tangible such as a food or mineral shortage this spring/summer, perhaps a late summer drought, added pressure creating excessive stress, alot of things can effect antlers.

Take with a grain of salt, your experience is five fold of what I have, just taking a guess at it from what I have seen here. EHD demolished alot of herds last year around here, and on some farms the difference is definately noticeable.

Not to make you worry oranything (), but ive noticed that smaller 1.5 year olds (spikes and forks) grow into smaller bucks. Don't start laughing...because i have read that it doesn't matter what size a deer is when its 1.5. I believe it does though. I can tell you right now that those two droptine 3.5 year olds i have running aroundwere not spikes. I also know that a 3 point i passed 4 times last year is now a 5 point. He's still young, but he's not at the caliber of 2.5 year old bucks that im used too for my area. Most 2.5 year olds around here are 8 points in the 90-120 range (of course..my train of though could possibly be off by a year, but thats not the feeling i get).

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?

x2....I could use more meat and knife handles.....and a few capes for mounting bigger stuff...lol

We don't have no AR's In Minnesota anywhere so that's out of the question.

This has also been a thought rolling around In my head the last few weeks. We have a ton of deer In the area I hunt In. I'm guessing I've seen at least 14 different bucks roaming the neighborhood while hunting through out the bow season the last month. I know there's more then that there being I've seen a few decent bucks on the trail cams that I haven't seen hunting yet. We've got allot of doe's around, I have no Idea how many but I know there Is to many. They only give out one tag In the area I hunt In so It's kinda tough to thin the doe's out. Most of the gun hunters In the area shoot the first buck they see not caring what size he Is. I wish they gave out doe only tags to the gun hunters and bow hunters so we could do something about this. How does a guy figure out his doe to buck ratio? Pretty tough to do. Bucks are easy to tell apart, the doe's on the other hand can be tough. I wouldn't have a clue on what the ratio Is.

well it really is tough. the official wayis to do spotlight surveys until you have 1000 deer recorded. say you have 100 bucks and 900 does. 9:1 ratio. for the average person its alot harder. you kinda just hafta keep track of what you see. or call up your dwc. but yea if your doe to buck ratio is very high then that can be a major contributer to smaller racks

Thanks caveman for the Info.