Spikes...Too shoot or not to shoot???

[Jarhead0311]

Ive always had this question and just recently did a little reasearch. Apparently some biologists say that Spikes are usually only abt 1.5 year old bucks that were born late and have had poor nutrition. Given the right nutrition on a wet year they usually become 8pts and so on.
I don't know how true these statements are, I mean ive always been one to try and age a deer before I shoot it, whether it be a doe or buck. Every spike ive shot has been at least 3-4.5 years old. In my opinion its better to take them out early so they don't spread those inferior genes. Also if killing spikes really was a bad thing don't you think TWPD would of put restrictions on that like they did with the 13" rule??? What does the Green Screen say????

[SB09]

I've seen only one spike in lifetime that was old, he was a spike on one side because he broke his front leg somehow and had lost all use of it . The other 100's of them I've seen have been young deer. Don't know what they turn into after that, but I just don't see hardly any spikes that are older or matured.

I don't shoot them.

[PSD Ryan]

Over the last 15 or so years, here's how it's been on our ranch.
Got the ranch, tons of spikes. Killed every spike seen for about 5 years. Stopped shooting spikes about 4 years ago, now starting to see a lot of spikes.

[chrisgunguy]

popcorn is ready.

[systemnt]

the answer lies in this URL:

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/search.php?searchid=4041991

[dwright8]

shoot em

[trophy8]

OH MY GOD!!!!

please dont stir this up again, do a search and read the millions of threads already posted, beat down, brought back up and beat down again!!

your new so you dont know, but this has been pounded into the ground on numerous occasions..

but to answer your question, they are your deer do as you please....but if you want to kill bucks with potential dont shoot young spikes

close the thread!!

[SB09]

the answer lies in this URL:
http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...archid=4041991

I guess that about sums up the debate on spikes... Dead end.

[muley4x4]

Over the last 15 or so years, here's how it's been on our ranch.
Got the ranch, tons of spikes. Killed every spike seen for about 5 years. Stopped shooting spikes about 4 years ago, now starting to see a lot of spikes.

You saw a spike the other day that exceeded the 1 1/2 year old rule.

[Txjourneyman]

I have a small spike coming in every day and I won't shoot him even though all I have killed this year was my opening day doe. I will let a youth shoot him but I'll pass.

[Speedgoat]

You will get a ton of replies. Some for, some against. A first year buck that has spikes instead of nubs is a keeper. A buck on his second set if a spike is a shooter. Genetics enable a deer to better handle the lean years and range conditions while still being able to produce maximum bone. Branched antlered deer in this year's drought are the keepers. Spikes will be more than spikes, but will NEVER have the same opportunity and potential as a branch antlered buck of the same age, if all variables dealing with habitat, food, water, and nutrition are the same. IMO

[JW]

Ya'll wait. I gotta make a run to the beer store. Anybody want one?

[TexMax]

the answer lies in this URL:
http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...archid=4041991

That made me lol


Aaaaaand im in

[bowhuntntxn]

if you truly have shot nothing but spikes that were really that old it is a fluke. here is a thread with 4 pages of post, and maybe 3 pictures of spikes older than 2. maybe you could show us some pics of the 4YO spikes you have been shooting.

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249433

[systemnt]

Ya'll wait. I gotta make a run to the beer store. Anybody want one?

one? ...cheap bastage....