Looks young but not too young to at least be a fork horn or better. If you have other bucks in that age class that are better I say shoot that spike.

I agree with Sapper.

I have yearling bucks that are 6-7 pointers already, not saying they are awesome or legal at that age, but they have the beginning of something, whereas this guy appears at least 2 to me, should be branching instead of just spiking...he isn't a yearling that's for sure.

Freezer filler. Let a kid shoot it if possible. If it was a yearling id say give him a year, any older than that he's a target. Everyone has their own way to handle when to shoot spikes though

I was planning on letting my oldest daughter shoot him for her first deer, it would be a crososbow shot since she doesn't like the recoil of any gun I own other than the 10/22

Dont have a 22-250, .223, .243 you can throw a limbsaver recoil pad on?

it isn't the actual recoil she is scared of, she could handle that easily, its the thought of the recoil that scares her. She is a big chicken and doesn't like to even ride a bike because she may fall. She's 17, haven't broke her of it yet and won't likely ever. So, I got a cross bow last year for me to use during archery season and she shot that and liked it. She said she wants to shoot a deer with it this year, so I think this guy would suit the bill very nicely.

But yes, I have one of each of those mentioned, and she refuses to even shoot them. Even bought reduced recoil ammo for her, still wouldn't touch the gun.

Crossbows are way more dangerous than a guns recoil. Just ask Hirogen on here he almost lost his hand to a crossbow

I know. It is her mental issue with the recoil, not a safety issue. To her, she has shot the crossbow and liked it. She has shot guns and hated it, so she refuses to pull the trigger now. Kind of a gun shy dog kind of thing. Rather than press and make a bad shot, I would rather her shoot something she is comfortable with and get addicted to hunting. Then maybe down the road we can deal with shooting a gun again.

Doesn't look old to me, JMO.

Old enough to at least be forked by now. I'd cull him. Can't help you much with the daughter other than to say just be patient and bring her along slow. Try and convince her that she really isn't going to feel anything from the 223 or 22-250. Might try taking a younger sibling or cousin out to shoot who isn't scared and watch them. My 11 yr old nephew shoots my 22-250 likes its nothing and he's a little guy.

Thats a trophy spike lol. Id take him out, but everybody's place is different. We don't get a spike that big unless it is at least 2 1/2. We have also gotten a lot of rain this year which generally has a positive effect on antler growth.

Let her watch you shoot the 223 with the butt up against your nose. That'll show her.

The buck with his head in the trough was a spike very similar to the one pictured in the op as a yearling (which is the age of the spike pictured).

He is 3 years old now. I'll bet money he'll be a 12 point main frame at 5 and score out in the 170's or 180's.

He was born in November. There's absolutely no management reason to kill that spike as a yearling.

I'd bet a lot of money he's a yearling born late in the year.

Rancher, do you think the buck pictured is a yearling? This is a LF non-protein fed place.

My experience tells me the spike pictured is a yearling, and that there is a good chance he'll make a good rack one day. Save some good close up picks of him so you can identify him next year. If he does not fork, then cull him. Of course he would make a great father/daughter buck anytime.

X-2 on the yearling.

I think he's a "wait and see". Too close to call on a 1 or 2 year old. Could have a bunch of potential.

He looks plenty young. I wouldn't shoot him. But I doubt he's one to "save" either. You aren't going to devastate your herd by eating him.

I'd lose a lot of money if he's not.

Man! You guys are some rich sons o guns. I can't afford to shoot a $6,500 deer as a cull.

Maybe some day I'll have that kinda jack. But I'm nowhere near it now.