Next Year Spikes?
 

This year on my Step dad's land (80) acres. I've been passing up spikes. He has nothing planted on it, but am going to start planting this spring. Last season I shot a spike and a four point. This year I have decided to let them walk. If I plant this year, what should I expect to see next year? A four point is the biggest deer I've seen this year. I know there's bigger deer there, but can't seem to catch them. Next year I plan on letting the 4 and 6's walk, but can't make any promises. I like to pull the trigger. :) So will these spikes next year be 4 and 6's?

Chad

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

Those Spikes & Forks could (should) be nice sized 6 or 8 point bucks next season - and they should weigh 20-40 lbs more.

Its good that you are consdiering voluntary restrictions - I wish more people would - It would be good all the way around.

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

Hi Chad,

There is really too many variables at work here. You can't really predict how many points a spike will have the next year. Genetics, forage avaiability, disease, weather, minerals and many other things all play a part in antler growth so I would just plant your food plots and see what happens.

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

BA -

Don't you think that "Generally speaking" - Young bucks that survive thier first hunting season - will increase antler size/points and add weight?

Sure some examples of exceptions are around - but...... Generally speaking...... ?

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

One thing is for sure,if you shoot them, they will never get any bigger. Why not just shoot a doe if you want meat. You have to sacrifice if you want to see bigger Bucks.

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

Yes I do. But they won't be 4 or 6 points the next year... unless he means 2 x 2 as a 4 point. Damn you eastern folk and your screwed up antler counting. I thought he meant a 4 point as in 4 x 4. Generally a spike will add points the next year but not always. But at least some of them should.

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

I wished the guys on the surrounding property would do the same. I'm gonna try to talk to them if I ever see them. I hear them shot every now and then, and I just hate to think they're shooting these young deer.

Chad

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

i would shoot the spikess and not worry about it, but then i don't care to practise qdm, either. but, here's a question for you to think on.. i remember my grandfather telling me how one year, he shot a spike, yet when they measured the longest horn, it was only 2 and 7/8" long, 1/8 too short to report. so, he put it in the barn, and since he did slaughtering for the neighbors, he had a scale. when they weighed the deer, it pushed, field dressed, 198lbs. the following year, believe it or not, same deal, spike killed, horns only 2 and 3/4" that year. this one weighed in at 195. so in a case like that, and i admit that those were two exceptions to the rule, do you let them walk, and in which case they most likely would never be more than what they were, or take them? by the way, the spike i got this year weighed in at 130lbs, fieldressed, larger than the six i took two years ago by 4 pounds.

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

Used to shoot every spike I saw. But that was when I was young and listened to all the advice. Have formed some other opinions by now with some added age to me....

Bottom line having killed many many many spikes, I have rarely seen a spike that was age 2.5 or older. Sure I've shot some. But I don't ever recall shooting one that was 3.5 years old. And I've seen many shot on a place I guided for a number of years. Same thing.

I'm not saying they are/are not inferior but after guiding I choose to cull deer on an age basis. Believing fully that most bucks don't get much of a chance to breed till they are 2.5 -3.5 years old and by then I can guage quality.

On the other hand I've also seen a 13 point that was 1.5 years old. Such a tiny rack but many points already. Main frame 10 with stickers. So 1.5 year olds can have more than spikes.

All I've offered is only food for thought.

BTW if I were you I'd talk to some of the surrounding folks in the off season- don't bother them close to or during season. Kinda feel them out and tell them your intentions. Sometimes you can even start a wildlife coop that way. Which is good whether you meat hunt, trophy hunt or both. FWIW does have always eaten very well for me....

Jeff

RE: Next Year Spikes?
 

Lets not let this wander to a shoot or don't shoot spikes debate. There is already plenty of info in other topics were this has been pretty heavily debated.