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sshunter

Its absolutely possible,deer get bigger with age.Given enough nutrition a deers antlers will grow.That old adage "once a spike always a spike" is plain old ignorant.I have personally seen 1 1/2 year 8 points.

timbercruiser

With the right nutrition and genetics it is very possible and most probable a buck will have six, eight or even more points. Your friend is very wrong on this subject.

kshunter

Yep, whoever told you about a spike is always a spike was way off. I've seen pictures of spikes that have grown up to be big non-typicals. It just takes age and nutrition.
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bennettredneck

I have a deer that was born in my old barn he is all most white all over he is (free) to come an go ! 1 year he was a spike 2 year 6point but we feed him ever day he is all most tame.he is a 10 point now .I will post pictures at a later date.

Everson

my opinion is that most spikes were fawns born later in the year. They go into their first winter alot younger and aren't as thrifty their first year but are quite normal by their second year.

farm hunter

Why does this question always come up. I've yet to read one study, or hear one testimonial that "once a spike, always a spike".

Robb92

ITS POSSIBLE. IT DEPENDS ON GENITICS AND THE ENVIORMENT AND THE FOOD IN THE AREA

halcon

A spike is usually a yearling and after that it depends on the feed and generics what he will be .We had a spike last year that was a 5 point this year . Easy to recognize he has a radio collar around his neck thats kind of hard to miss . I personally have never seen a real old deer that was a spike ,I'm sure there could be , but not as a rule .

boltman

It's very possible to have spikes one year and a six point rack the next. The "once a spike, always spike" line is an old wives tale and is born of stupidity, not anyone who knows anything about game management. Genetics are rarely the cause of spike racks in the vast majority of the U.S., lack of proper nutrition and age are the main reasons. Proper nutrition can be taken care of by keeping populations under control thus allowing more high quality food for the remaining deer, and by planting supplemental high quality forages. Age can be taken care of by letting young bucks walk and only shooting mature bucks. Until your deer get a steady diet of high quality food and you allow them to get some age on them it's stupid to try and cull spikes since you're not seeing anything about their genetic potential, just their lack of age and nutrition. It's like complaining because your one year old champion bloodline lab puppy only weighs 40 lbs when you've fed him 1/2 a cup a day of ol' roy dog food.

Edited by - boltman on 02/11/2002 02:07:21