Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
12-20-2003, 09:03 PM
#23
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: OLD TAPPAN NJ USA
Posts: 533
RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
Let em walk. If you need the meat then shoot a nice doe. As for genetics, there have been studies saying there is no correlation between spikes and inferior racks in the future.
The part that stinks in Jersey is that I let em walk and then other guys shoot them during gun at my club--go figure.
Bob
The part that stinks in Jersey is that I let em walk and then other guys shoot them during gun at my club--go figure.
Bob
12-21-2003, 05:34 PM
#24
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dahlonega Ga. USA
Posts: 1,626
RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
A lot of conjecture here from a lot of folks that have seen and done a lot of hunting. There is however a lot of research that has been done on this topic as well. In the North American Hunting Club book, "Whitetail Wisdom" the consensus is to take those spikes out of the herd as a matter of good QDM. Studies conducted in Texas and Louisiana back up the findings of hunters in the field. The primary factor in spikes is genetics, not diet although malnurished bucks in their early stages of development will be more prone to being spikes. Get the book, it is a good read.
12-21-2003, 05:55 PM
#25
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Canton MI USA
Posts: 118
RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
I use to shoot them on a regular basis, now that I'm a little older and wiser (?) I let them walk for something bigger. I've alway's been under the assumption that the spikes were just young deer that will grow bigger if they survive.
If I'm down to the last day's of the season and I haven't put venison in the freezer I might still take one.
If I'm down to the last day's of the season and I haven't put venison in the freezer I might still take one.
12-21-2003, 09:37 PM
#28
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Lehigh County Pa
Posts: 180
RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
Its a no brainer for me, here in PA spikes walk unless I want the fine. Here in my section of PA it is 3 points to a side to be legal. Before the antler restrictions though we wouldn't think twice of not taking a spike buck. If we didn't take it, the neighbors and locals would. Have a safe holiday everyone!
12-21-2003, 11:35 PM
#29
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southeast Central Illinois USA
Posts: 6,969
RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
Deer and Deer Hunting magazine ran an article with pictures a few years back. In it was an indepth series about spike bucks and included were some photos of pen raised bucks that grew to be super bucks when older.....I am talking monsters! I letem walk, I can take a doe for meat anytime.