Spike Debate

[nolanspawn]

This has probably already been posted i just couldnt find it on here, but today while i was at the Barber Shop I saw the November issue of North American whitetail and found this article in it

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/huntingtactics/NAW_nutrition_1109/index.html

My brother recently had a run in with our neighbor over the fact we refuse to shoot yearling spikes. I had done my research and came to the conclusion that it was not going to benefit us to shoot them. Now don't get me wrong if I see an older spike he will get a dirt nap no doubt. However not a yearing spike. Now we haven't been seeing as many spikes over the years since he bought his place however I also thing the number of bucks overall is lower (obviously). What intrigued me about this article was the fact our neighbor specifically said he did his management of spikes based of the Kerr Wildlife program, which Dr. Kroll specifically calls out in this article.

Any thoughts?

NOTE: Also, my brother reminded me to point out our neighbor also shoots any yearling with less than 6 points because he considers them "**** heads".

[nolanspawn]

Also, my brother reminded me to point out our neighbor also shoots any yearling with less than 6 points because he considers them "**** heads".

[Eason]

i have seen some good debates on here in the past, but I agree with not shooting yearling spikes.

[huntingfanatic]

Great article...... We never shoot spikes. Too many factors like drought, nutrtion etc to figure in. Now if I new for certain that a buck was 2.5 3.5 and was a spike would i shoot him. ? Probably. Can't tell you the last time I saw a spike that was 2.5. Dang sure have never seen any I would say are 3.5 +. I would have to say then they are true genetic spikes. Just my .02

[aaronm]

i won't shoot them until 3.5!

[Johnny Dangerr]

It depends where you hunt and what your goals are. On our place an 18 month old 5 pointer is a cull. Spikes are in the super cull class. We have lots of 18 month old 6 pointers and better and a high buck to doe ratio. Our cull program does not work on a high fenced ranch or a 35 acre ranchette.

[MooseontheLoose]

There's been several loooooong threads about that on here before. I think one of them was in the last year or so. You might be able to find them using the forum search. Be sure to prepare snacks and drinks ahead of time!

[Shane]

I don't care to shoot a yearling spike either, but I'd wack an older one in a heartbeat.

Funny that this came up. I pulled a cam card yesterday and got pics of this spike that I haven't seen before. How old do y'all think he is. He's either a studly yearling or an older deer that should be culled. I can't decide.

[Codypatt1]

I would say 3.5-4.5

[Shane]

His neck and body, to me, looks like 2.5 or 3.5. His tarsal glands are clean and white. Maybe he's got hormonal issues or something. I also wondered if it could be a doe.

[bsills]

I don't care to shoot a yearling spike either, but I'd wack an older one in a heartbeat.

Funny that this came up. I pulled a cam card yesterday and got pics of this spike that I haven't seen before. How old do y'all think he is. He's either a studly yearling or an older deer that should be culled. I can't decide.

Yearling just puffed up cause it's cold. No color in his hocks either.

I also do not shoot 1.5 yr old spikes.

[passing thru]

We take spikes at 3.5 and older. Not to steal your thread, but take a look at this 115# 2.5 yr old nubbin buck my daughter took this weekend. I will be sending the teeth off to deerage.com to make double sure.

[nolanspawn]

We take spikes at 3.5 and older. Not to steal your thread, but take a look at this 115# 2.5 yr old nubbin buck my daughter took this weekend. I will be sending the teeth off to deerage.com to make double sure.

I was about to ask where this nubbin was taken because it looks like Junction, and then i saw you hunt in Junction. All I needed to see was that dang cedar.

[leasecommander]

We are in western Mason co. on 4400 acres, we shoot as many spikes as we can for the following reasons:
1. We only get 10 bucks and have way too many, therefore we harvest spikes as our culls.
2. Fred Bryant at Ceaser Kleberg trapped about 60 spikes and ALL were 1 and 1/2 years old.
3. A recent article stated that wherever a deer is at 1 and 1/2 years old there is a 90% chance that is where that deer will spend the rest of his life.
4. Another recent article stated that 1 and 1/2 year old deer make up about 20% of the male breeding population, so we don't want spikes breeding.
5. That's how it is where we are, obviously going to be different where y'all are.

[skeeter]

We take spikes at 3.5 and older. Not to steal your thread, but take a look at this 115# 2.5 yr old nubbin buck my daughter took this weekend. I will be sending the teeth off to deerage.com to make double sure.

congrats on the backstrap. That Mohawk is a sweet little rifle!

We dont shoot yearling spikes, but 2.5 or older get shot.