Spikes

[keatonskidmore]

Do spikes actually stay spikes throughout their lives or do they branch out? I've heard both sides. If anyone has any information please help. We took three off our place last year and now I'm wondering if it was a mistake.

[Br'er_Henry]

They will branch out after 200 posts I believe.

Here comes a long thread!

[Fightinaggies]

95% of spikes are 1.5 yr old deer and will branch out in their next set of antlers.

[canny]

95% of spikes are 1.5 yr old deer and will branch out in their next set of antlers.

Exactly, I've seen several examples of spike bucks actually turn out to be something worth keeping around. When asked I always answer that no judgement needs to be made on a yearling bucks potential untill he has had a couple years to show what he's made of. Those spike antlers his first year could be resulting from several variables, especially drought.

[shunter14]

Can O worms. Alot of great people here who will be able to answer your question properly and some that cant. I keed

[FIRSTSHOT]

Let 'em walk!

[Sippy]

we have some that branched and some that never have, but we have never had a spike turn into a shooter buck

[tookeymonster]

They will branch out after 200 posts I believe.

Here comes a long thread!

lol, you called it

[elhefe]

ditto what hog killer said. If you don't have many bucks, let em walk. I do on certain properties but heck, what do I know. I'm no expert and I hunt in E. Texas!!! ha!

[NBK75]

If its the last hunt of the season, then it will always be a spike..... just sayin

[Mac]

We let yearling spikes walk but anything older than that gets taken, and like others have said I have never seen a spike turn out to be a shooter later on in life

[bowhuntertex]

if the deer is 1.5 then there is a good chance the antlers will branch.........I never shoot spikes in the hill country and have yet to see one that is 2.5 or older. Most I see have spikes that are 3" or less...............

[canny]

Here is a scientific study conducted in South TX that shows evidence that at 4.5 years bucks that were spikes were equal to other bucks that weren't spikes.

[JMG]

Here is a buck my daughter killed last year that was a spike, 5 years ago. The year before he was in the 140s but with drought last year, he dropped to ~135. Not bad for a spike his first year. He hurt his left back leg as a yearling and always walked with a limp so he was easy to determine which buck he was. Here is what I have gathered on spikes. Most spikes are just bucks that were born late. They will generally catch up to the other bucks at 3.5 or 4.5. Now if you are in a high fenced place and can control genetics, shoot away if you want. But if you are low fenced and neighbors aren't on the same management plan, you are just shooting young bucks. Now if it's a 2.5yo or older spike, roll him.

[Fightinaggies]

Here is a scientific study conducted in South TX that shows evidence that at 4.5 years bucks that were spikes were equal to other bucks that weren't spikes.

I didnt open the link but judging by what you said I'm assuming it is the Kroll study. There are studies that show both sides of the spike controversy. The Kerr study was believed and followed religously for years until Kroll published his and people were very hesitant to accept anything other then the shoot all spikes theory. I have personally seen spikes as 1.5 yr olds grow to be 150" deer.