RE: once a spike always a spike
 

In this area you would be hard pressed to find a spike that is older then 1 1/2 years old. Spikes will generally always grow into bigger and better bucks. But on some of the ranches thatI hunt we still shoot spike bucks, WHY? Because each year we must take off an X amount of deer, both bucks and does. When ever we look around and see several 6,7,8 point 1 1/2 year old bucks, deciding to shoot a spike of the same age is a pretty easy chose.

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

DD was correct, I raise whitetails. Under natural conditions, some fawns are born very late, where herd numbers are too high, as well as in captivity. A late born fawn will be underweight going into the winter, and the following year have smaller antlers, and maybe even just spikes. He seems to always be a season behind, but he will develop, provided he has the genetics to be a big buck in the first place, good enough feed to reach his potential, and of course, lives long enough.

Another type of spike is a fawn who is born early enough and out of exceptional genetics. He might be able to produce polished spikes as a fawn that fall. Its not common, but it does happen. The easiest way to be sure is to look at the base. A fawn does not grow a pedical or rosette the first year, as the first antler, or button, is simply an extension of the pedical ramp. The following year, due to casting or shedding, he will grow some sort of pedical base or rosette.

If someone here wishes to help me out with resizing pics, I can send and post a 6 year account of how a buck goes from a spike to a 208 typical. Hey, Im with the majority here, lets not judge the skippers until they are old enough. Antlers are a true barometer of the animals health.

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

I say that for the most part if a buck is over 1 1/2 yrs of age and is still a spike with plenty of nutrition then more than likely he wont reach over a small 4 or 5 point.....

but if it does have the genentics and the right nutrition is will gradually get bigger

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

I think some people are mistakeing cow horns with spikes.Cow horns have brow tines and there antlers grow stright up.We have seen a few of these and we do try and cull them,but we never shoot spikes.

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

I believe in the old school theory a RUNT is a RUNT, meaning MOST spikes won't have the true trophy potential as say a 1 1/2 year old 6pt or 8pt.

If you where a gambler....which theory would win the most money ?
Known good genetics, meaning.... what you see is.. what you see or betting on the late bloomer ?

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

In all honesty....where I hunt in central Florida...a spike is a trophy. In the Green Swamp WMA any deer taken is a trophy.
Chuck

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

GUYS THIS POST HAS GOT TO STOP!!! Anyone who wants to know about spikes just needs to talk to someone who raises deer. Pen raised deer some in spikes, 4's, and tens, and 200 inch bucks just like wild deer. Of course some spikes are small 6's their second year and never materialize into much.....just like some 4 pointers. But yes there are plenty of spikes that whos second set of horns is 120" eight pointer, and then their third year that 140" 10 we all love to see, and from there who knows. Every spike could be the next state record in 3-4 years....thats why you let them walk. But I agree that a trophy is up to each hunter. I just hope that the guys who hunt around me let them walk....but good luck to everyone this season.

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

Bill,

It sure wouldbe pretty neatto see your sequence pics. of that 208" buck. if you don't wanna post them here maybe you can PM them to me?

As for my take on the "great spike" debate...the only sure bet that I seeis that a dead spike surely won't get any bigger (as someone already pointed out).In my area here in NYI rarely see any spikes at all...I do see a few forkies every year, but most yearlingsthat I see haveanywhere from 5 to8-pts.Do they have any better genetics that aspike would? I honestly don't think you can accurately say for certain until they reach 3 or 4 yrs. old...a age which 85-90% of the buck in this area won't everlive to see.I firmly believe that the overwelming majority of spikes out there areyearlings andtheir under-developed antlers are aresultof being a late born fawn from the previous year or they're a biproduct of poor nutrition. Theonly non-yearling spike that I've ever seen wasa buck taken on a farm a couple of miles from my house in 2002. It was the weirdest looking buckI've ever seen...I'd guess he was a 3.5 yr. old that had thick 17-18" spikes thatcame straight up from his head and it looked justlike a spike elk. Definately a genetically inferior deer. The guy who shot itsaid that the deer was standing there with most of his head behind a treeand he thought that the spikes wereactually G2's.He went running up to the deer expecting to see amonster on the ground and it ended up being just a monster spike[:@].

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

I've had a few discussions with Bill Yox in another forum, and I would agree with Doctor Death,that Mr. Yoxisa very credible source, and his opinions are reliable.

In addition, I have done the research for this independently, and without the need/waste of time to cite my sources, I can say that I agree with Bill Yox's initial response to this issue. Data collected from both radio-collared wild deer, as well as deer held in captivity correlates to Mr. Yox's above-referenced position.

Generally speaking, aspike is not always a spike, but I'm sure somewhere, someday there was/is an exception.

RE: once a spike always a spike
 

if you dont like this post dont go to it all ive got to say and that pick of a spike is clearly going toget bigger theres litlle points coming off ofit