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

[Bayouboy]

I guarantee you that a spike has less of a chance of walking in an A R county now than they used to. Young or old!

[JW]

High fenced on three sides. Haven't seen him eating any fences though. Food would be the same either way.

Okay ill bite. Food aint nowere near the same in a controlled environment vs a non controlled one. Ya'll are not protien feeding? Now set the hook!!!

[Jarhead0311]

I tried looking it up on the search engine but i couldn't find anything, and I couldn't open up that url. lol i didnt know i was stirring the fire on this topic, i just trying to figure this out. Oh and heres a url to my 4.5 year old spike http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...n+county+freak

[Speedgoat]

M16 does not have a lease. He has BIG deer!!

I would shoot that former spike with the bad ear, just so he isn't embarrassed when hanging out with his deer friends.

He also is management minded.

[Sippy]

no, dont kill babies

[JW]

Shoot your future if you would like.....

Yep. People with a degree in wildlife biology are such idgets. We are soooo much smarter...

[BVM]

Gotta Weigh in with a Biologist opinion

Alright guys - gotta add this since I have not seen this answer on the post.

I was talking to the biologist at Richland Chambers WMA during our hunt on Nov. 19, 2011 and she made a very good point.

She stated that yes young spikes will more than likely end up as 8pts or better as they age......BUT a spike and a fork horn at the same age...the spike will never equal the fork horn.

So a spike will be a good deer one day but never as good as a fork horn thus by taking even young spikes you take out an inferior genetics...

She also said the research shows that older deer do most of the breeding irregardless of antler size....SO if you allow spikes to get older they will breed your does..period...and pass inferior genetics.

[bowhuntntxn]

jarhead, that deer has branched antlers on both sides. so by definition it is not a spike. It is however a really funky rack.

"Every spike ive shot has been at least 3-4.5 years old."-- from your first post. Does that mean this is the only "spike" you have shot? Or have several had the same antler configuration??

BVM-- All that confirms is that even biologists can repeat the findings on the Kerr study without commiting to a real opinion.

[Speedgoat]

Alright guys - gotta add this since I have not seen this answer on the post.

I was talking to the biologist at Richland Chambers WMA during our hunt on Nov. 19, 2011 and she made a very good point.

She stated that yes young spikes will more than likely end up as 8pts or better as they age......BUT a spike and a fork horn at the same age...the spike will never equal the fork horn.

So a spike will be a good deer one day but never as good as a fork horn thus by taking even young spikes you take out an inferior genetics...

She also said the research shows that older deer do most of the breeding irregardless of antler size....SO if you allow spikes to get older they will breed your does..period...and pass inferior genetics.

I been sayin this for 17 years, but nobody gets it, well some do

[JW]

BVM to hell with a six pack you get a case!!!!

[Jarhead0311]

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

This is a very good point. Ive always thought that if the antlers went straight up those were the true spikes, but if they were somewhat branched they were keepers, especially in a dry year.

[Mike D]

I been sayin this for 17 years, but nobody gets it, well some do

I get it and agree.

[trophy8]

Alright guys - gotta add this since I have not seen this answer on the post.

I was talking to the biologist at Richland Chambers WMA during our hunt on Nov. 19, 2011 and she made a very good point.

She stated that yes young spikes will more than likely end up as 8pts or better as they age......BUT a spike and a fork horn at the same age...the spike will never equal the fork horn.

So a spike will be a good deer one day but never as good as a fork horn thus by taking even young spikes you take out an inferior genetics...

She also said the research shows that older deer do most of the breeding irregardless of antler size....SO if you allow spikes to get older they will breed your does..period...and pass inferior genetics.

that biologist is full of crap....

like i said its been beat down..

for example....
you have two girls, born on the same day, but one was premature....
one is likely to have a bigger rack at an earlier age....does this mean the rack on the premature one is always gonna be smaller? surely not....run that by your biologist and she what she says....

[chad75]

Alright guys - gotta add this since I have not seen this answer on the post.

I was talking to the biologist at Richland Chambers WMA during our hunt on Nov. 19, 2011 and she made a very good point.

She stated that yes young spikes will more than likely end up as 8pts or better as they age......BUT a spike and a fork horn at the same age...the spike will never equal the fork horn.

So a spike will be a good deer one day but never as good as a fork horn thus by taking even young spikes you take out an inferior genetics...

She also said the research shows that older deer do most of the breeding irregardless of antler size....SO if you allow spikes to get older they will breed your does..period...and pass inferior genetics.

X2

[Jarhead0311]

jarhead, that deer has branched antlers on both sides. so by definition it is not a spike. It is however a really funky rack.

"Every spike ive shot has been at least 3-4.5 years old."-- from your first post. Does that mean this is the only "spike" you have shot? Or have several had the same antler configuration??

BVM-- All that confirms is that even biologists can repeat the findings on the Kerr study without commiting to a real opinion.

It is a spike because its only a 1/2 inch point on his left beam. Theres technically only one point on his left side making him a spike, but I agree the main definition of a spike having both antlers unbranched. And I shot another spike when I was younger that had 11.5 and 13" antlers that was about 3 years old. I wish I had pics of that one.