Spikes.

[bloodtrailer28]

How are so few doe producing an out of control population? I am not a biologist and even if I was I think there is not enough info given to determine what the right course of action is.

I was just trying to offer a perspective from a similar situation. Although there are probably more contrasts overall than similarities between the situations...just a guess.

Was wondering the same...seems to me if you have a bunch of young deer and good deer numbers they are coming from somewhere.

[Speedgoat]

Good article for reading.

http://www.tecomate.com/content/index.php/site/comments/spikes_the_debate_continues_part_v/

[nursejenn]

How are so few doe producing an out of control population? I am not a biologist and even if I was I think there is not enough info given to determine what the right course of action is.

I was just trying to offer a perspective from a similar situation. Although there are probably more contrasts overall than similarities between the situations...just a guess.

I wonder the same thing. We have 900 acres and see very few does, a tons of bucks and a bunch of spikes... The neighboring property that runs lengthwise of ours is not hunted... Guess they all hang over there... We will see what the next couple years brings since this is our first year here...

[panhandlehunter]

We have plenty of bucks that meet AR but they are young 2 1/2- 3 1/2 year olds who barely meet AR that I, personally, refuse to shoot... I would rather let them grow. BUT if the population is too out of control, something has to give somewhere... And it isn't with does on our place at the moment...

Do you have any mature bucks on camera? Sounds like the lease members/neighbors are whacking every legal buck they see.

[bloodtrailer28]

Good article for reading.
http://www.tecomate.com/content/inde...tinues_part_v/

great read thanks for posting.

[nursejenn]

Do you have any mature bucks on camera? Sounds like the lease members/neighbors are whacking every legal buck they see.

I can't speak to what has been shot in the past as this is all of our first year on this place. This year it's not been kill anything that walks. We are all family so I have seen every one of the 3 bucks killed... Yes we have several mature bucks on camera as well throughout the whole place. One I have been hunting exclusively this season. I'm not killing anything other than him and if he doesn't give me the opportunity, he will just grow bigger next year...

[nursejenn]

Most of the pictures I have are on my computer and not with me but this is the one from my camera.... the only one I have around that I would consider shooting... the rest need another year or three... could he be more mature for some of y'all to shoot, probably... But he's much bigger than most of the rest around. I've had 2 encounters but no shots... We actually have 3 that look a LOT like him with some minor differences...

[SB09]

That's a nice buck Jenn! Should be easy to track his progress with the left ear notch he has. That is, if you don't get a shot on him this year.

[TopNoc]

Yep, that's a really nice buck Jenn. Even a P&Y heifer should be proud to shoot that one.

[GhostSkull]

Good article for reading.
http://www.tecomate.com/content/inde...tinues_part_v/

So basically that article states that the killing of spikes is only beneficial in extremely controlled situations such as high fence penned deer where not only are the spikes taken out of the equation but the spike producing does are removed too......
I completely agree!

[Speedgoat]

So basically that article states that the killing of spikes is only beneficial in extremely controlled situations such as high fence penned deer where not only are the spikes taken out of the equation but the spike producing does are removed too......
I completely agree!

It is hard to justify killing spikes only to better the herd. I have never been an advocate for that. I am a staunch supporter of herd management through age, density, genetics, and supplemental feeding. An out of whack buck/doe ratio will do more harm than a few spikes that are allowed to walk. For the record, we do not shoot all spikes. It is also true that doe carry more residual DNA than bucks do and that they have a tremendous impact on herd genetic structure. Nobody has the gospel word on it, although many share success with their programs. Kudos to those who MANAGE their herds at all.

[solocam_aggie]

One thing for certain in deer management, there are no certainties. Let this spike walk, he turns into a booner. Let that spike walk, he turns into trash. Well I take that back, you are certain that if you shoot a spike, he's not going to get any bigger!

[bloodtrailer28]

So basically that article states that the killing of spikes is only beneficial in extremely controlled situations such as high fence penned deer where not only are the spikes taken out of the equation but the spike producing does are removed too......
I completely agree!

[bloodtrailer28]

One thing for certain in deer management, there are no certainties. Let this spike walk, he turns into a booner. Let that spike walk, he turns into trash. Well I take that back, you are certain that if you shoot a spike, he's not going to get any bigger!

My way of thinking as well.

[WCB]

Why don't you kill the doe who had the spike also??