kshunter

I've seen on TV how spikes can grow up to be big bucks. So a lot of people say don't take out a spike because of QMD, because it hasn't reached it full potential...which is true. Well here in Kansas I rarely see a spike buck. They're almost aways have 4-7 points as their first set of antlers. So if I see a spike buck I should I assume this buck has poor genetics compared to the rest of the herd, and take it out for QMD? Antler growth has to do mainly with nutrition, genetics, and age. If these bucks are the same age, and there's more there is a surplus of food for the deer around here, then these spikes must be lacking genetics compared to the rest of the herd, right? I don't know, maybe you guys and fill me in a little on this.
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halcon

Last year we saw 9 different spikes on the last day of the season this year we had a lot of four to six point bucks in that area .some spikes but obviously young deer .I think they just need time to grow ,that would be my opinion. Kshunter I know you have bigger deer than we do so maybe a spike would be okay but here they are on the small side . We also have to have a forked horn or better on one side to be legal

JagMagMan

KShunter, even though most of the yearlings that you see have racks, doesn't meen that the few spikes you see are inferior. Most of them may be just born late, and will get better with age.
There are some "cull" spikes, but most of those I see culled are just young deer.
There are better ways to judge a cull than by "spikes." As you know, a bucks body tone and face can tell you it is an older buck. Also, if the spike buck is near other rack bucks and he is obviously larger than they are, then there is a good chance that he is a true cull spike!

6ptsika

I wouldn't cull them, they're likely from a doe bred during the second rut. At 2.5yrs old you can clearly see which ones are inferior, they're much larger in body size than the 1.5yr olds, but the racks are inferior, so...no excuses...meat!

craig

KS hunter,

Like yourself I rarly see a spike most are 4-8 points with a few really rare spikes and ten point baskets. I shoot the spikes I see.

I've always done so, as did my dad before me.

This past fall was the only time I've let a spike walk. He was just a tiny thing with 1 1.5" spikes. He was so small I thought he might be a fawn or button that had polished up his buttons. So I let him walk. If I see a larger spike next fall however he's toast.

timbercruiser

I agree on the idea of not shooting spikes, but one day this year I had a young four point in the plot, probably a 1 1/2 year old. He had three points on one side and a spike on the other. I culled him. Was this best for the herd or should he have had another year? There are plenty of good young bucks on the property.

Pablo

<font color=maroon>If you are serious about QDM, then the spike should be taken. It sounds like you have quality deer, so why let him go and take the chance of him being an inferior dominant buck? If you are in an area where there are low to mid numbers of deer, then you might let him walk, just to be able to see a buck next year.

Pablo</font id=maroon>

pabuckhunter

I watched a buck for four years once he started out as real high spike last time I saw him he was a real nice 8 or ten point usally they are not going to get good racks when they are full grown and have small spikes my cousin shot a spike this year and his father told him the deer was at least seven years old they nget pretty gray in the face as they get older to something like what an old dogs face looks like hey wait a minute ive got some grey in my <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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GoTres

ks, I posed this question on the QDM board. If you take it over there, do yourself a favor and don't mention &quot;spike&quot; and &quot;QDM&quot; in the same sentence. They blasted me for that, but the helpful answers that I got were similar to what Frank, Halcon, and 6pt gave you. I was told to let them go (even at the risk of breeding?) and see what they develop into. All that said, I saw a big spike about ten minutes after shooting this year. I wished I had waited because I would have taken him. He looked mature in the face and body. Good luck.