At what age do you shoot spikes?

[halfrack]

Just wondering how long you guys let your spikes go before culling them out of the herd. Will a 2-1/2 year old or older spike ever put on any rack at all?

 

[Oklahomabassin]

I haven't ever seen a 2.5 year old or older spike.

 

[MoBoost]

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/antlers_inherited/

From what I understand - a spike will always be "inferior" - I generally cull 'em.

 

[AllOut]

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/antlers_inherited/

From what I understand - a spike will always be "inferior" - I generally cull 'em.

Thats not true... though a lot of people think it, there has been many studies done showing that a spike can turn out to be a great deer but if its still a spike at 2.5 he probably wont be worth keeping around

 

[ElkStalkR]

Thats not true... though a lot of people think it, there has been many studies done showing that a spike can turn out to be a great deer but if its still a spike at 2.5 he probably wont be worth keeping around

Thats correct. The study qouted above was done in TX and is good for Texas, or at least the region/habitat it was conducted in.

HOWEVER, as stated other studies have shown that 1.5 yr spikes can produce "trophy" sized racks. Therefore I do not cull 1.5 year old spikes. 2.5 plus spikes do get the bullet though. I have seen and killed them before.

 

[RidgeHunter]

I haven't ever seen a 2.5 year old or older spike.

This.

Thats not true... though a lot of people think it, there has been many studies done showing that a spike can turn out to be a great deer but if its still a spike at 2.5 he probably wont be worth keeping around

And this. Our yearlings are either spikes or forkies. No telling what they may become.

I try for does and 3.5+ year old bucks (trophy bucks to me with the hunting pressure in my area) if I can. If I'm hard up with the bow or something I might shoot a dink buck. Otherwise I try really hard to let them all walk.

 

[WNM]

I'm guessing 27, because I'm 28 now and this is the first year I was able to pass on a spike that presented a shot.

 

[300WSM]

I'm with WNM, but for me it is 29. This is the first year i've let one walk and it was a forkie.

 

[Coltcombat]

I believe they must have 3 inches of antler above the hairline

 

[Tyson C.]

I'm guessing 27, because I'm 28 now and this is the first year I was able to pass on a spike that presented a shot.

that one made me read over and over thinking i have never heard of one living that old.....LMAO!!! (we all have our blonde moments )

as for the topic--- are you able to watch the same "spike" threw out its years of growth to determine if it is the same, to tell if it progress'. i made the minor mistake one year thinking i was thinning out an odd ball, but to find out one side had 3points (main beam two off it) and the other was a tall tine....come to find out the "2" missing were busted off and it was his main beam...this has always been my problem since, do i or don't i. we have one staying around now that is about 1.5yrs and has one side that is tall and has a small split on it's ends and the other side straight up. both sides look healthy?? but just unsure if he got a busted side or if he is a retard spike....both sides are about 6" tall.....might just see how he turns out for next yr?????

good question you got going.....