Spikes.

[nursejenn]

If you have a ton of young bucks every year, its because you ( or lease mates/neighbors) are killing deer before they can mature.

Manage your doe herd, get your nutrition and habitat where it needs to be, hold off on young deer.

Once that is done, you will have fewer spikes and more mature deer.

Considering this is our first year on our place, I'm gonna say the issue is not us...

Culling bucks shouldn't even be on the mind of someone dealing with poor herd structure.

No one said anything about culling.... it's always argued, if you want meat take a doe... We appear to have more spikes alone than does so how does kill a doe apply to my situation is what I was asking... Now that this is turning into an argument, y'all have fun with it. Some of y'all obviously missed the point I was trying to make so I'm done....

[barnett77859]

agdave112 your right on the money if people would just take a step back and look at the whole picture common sence tells you that ever deer has to be a fawn before it becomes a trophy its easy for me to see let those baby deer have a little time all you are doing is cheating your self by not letting them grow to see what they will turn into.
what you got to lose by letting them grow another year.

[nursejenn]

Spikes.

When you say poor herd structure are you talking buck to doe ratio? Or, age structure of the bucks themselves?

Both.

So if we have an 5:1 buck to doe ratio, how do you suggest getting that to an appropriate number? We are in an AR county...

[SB09]

So if we have an 5:1 buck to doe ratio, how do you suggest getting that to an appropriate number? We are in an AR county...

MLD is the only way I know to get around AR rules.

Leave the does. Shoot the bucks. Like you mentioned, you guys have a large population in the younger age class. Therefore, shoot them to get the ratio closer to what it should be. One of the times where shooting a young deer would be a good thing. That's just what I would recommend at this point, given the information provided. I could be wrong though. Would'nt be the first or the last time.

[SB09]

agdave112 your right on the money if people would just take a step back and look at the whole picture common sence tells you that ever deer has to be a fawn before it becomes a trophy its easy for me to see let those baby deer have a little time all you are doing is cheating your self by not letting them grow to see what they will turn into.
what you got to lose by letting them grow another year.

Very little to lose in my opinion. Once again, people say 1.5YO bucks breed. I'm sure that happens. But, that's the exception not the rule. I personally would much rather risk them getting ahold of a doe, then shoot them before I have any idea what they can potentially do.

[Sippy]

Considering this is our first year on our place, I'm gonna say the issue is not us...




Now that this is turning into an argument, y'all have fun with it. Some of y'all obviously missed the point I was trying to make so I'm done....

Sorry if that is how you took my posts, it was not meant that way at all.

Let me get to work and then ill reply to everything else.

Sorry jen!

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

Time to start a argument.
I, all my life have learned spikes are culls and all spikes need to be taken out. That is just what I was taught growing up but now I've done some studying.

That spikes are just a deer that came from a doe that got pregnant later than most. Most likely in the 2nd rut if the area has one. There for they were born later not giving there horns time to grow enough before it is time to shed there velvet off. Leading to only having spikes coming from the beginning of his main beam growth. If this is true why shoot them if they are just late bloomers?

The correct title should be Trying to Start AN Argument.

Seriously now, If it is a very young deer it will get a pass from me. If it is a 100 pound deer, it will be put on the ground.

[Fishndude]

Jen, try this... consult with someone who has actual experience in your situation.

[boh347]

agdave112 your right on the money if people would just take a step back and look at the whole picture common sence tells you that ever deer has to be a fawn before it becomes a trophy its easy for me to see let those baby deer have a little time all you are doing is cheating your self by not letting them grow to see what they will turn into.
what you got to lose by letting them grow another year.

Sometimes they grow into this.

It's all game of chance. Sometimes they do grow into big B&C, sometimes they grow into mediocre bucks, and sometimes they grow into trash bucks.

[Huggybear]

Just get everybody to post up the old spikes they have been killing. 98% weigh 60-110lbs and have milk on there lips=1.5yo

[nursejenn]

Jen, try this... consult with someone who has actual experience in your situation.

Will do!

[SB09]

Sometimes they grow into this.
[ATTACH]680487[/ATTACH]
It's all game of chance. Sometimes they do grow into big B&C, sometimes they grow into mediocre bucks, and sometimes they grow into trash bucks.

I agree. But, I'll take out the trash in the older age classes and let the good ones walk. That way, i end up with more meat from a bigger trash buck. Plus, hit the outside chance those young spikes become something special. It's like having your cake and eating it too.

The con being the outside chance they breed at 1.5. Which I re-state as being the exception not the rule.

[SB09]

Just get everybody to post up the old spikes they have been killing. 98% weigh 60-110lbs and have milk on there lips=1.5yo

They still justify that by saying they've watched the spike for 27 years and he's always been a spike. he was so small because he was the oldest deer ever to live.

[DuramaxDude]

http://www.qdma.com/corporate/mis-management-bucks

http://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/news/news-item/article/south-texas-buck-study-reveals-interesting-results-on-culling/

These are some pretty good reads that came from a similar thread. Pretty good studies done.

[sjaaaz]

Jen, try this... consult with someone who has actual experience in your situation.

I thought everyone on here was an expert