Spike argument won't be dead until I have STX believing he should let them live so he has more mature options in the future.

+1

Ha! I just saw this resurrection.

And how ironic, the feed truck woke me up this am filling the feeders here on the hill country ranch. I may go take some pics of the browse and grass. Incredible considering the number of animals (exotics AND wt) I have here.

And rifleman, I don't think u can fix stx's propensity to kill his trophy spikes. It's a congenital defect IMO...

Spikes are great for commercial hunting operations where they are selling all bucks for $$. If you are managing a private lease and not needing maximum buck numbers to sell you don't really have to carry the extra spike weight.

Exactly.

Mature deer tend to price out higher....

Every time.

Sold a 128" straight 6 for $2500 bucks. He was worth feeding for a few years.

I'd rather carry that than an extra doe that's going to produce offspring if it's a CC issue.

Last slick 6 I had at 3 started out as a yearling 5pt though so he wouldn't have been lumped in with the spike debate.

I have no idea what mine started as. He just showed up. You can get a pretty penny for a high scoring six.

I just wanted a big 6 and was letting him be a science project since he was so reliable when it came to corn, then he grew brows at 5 and at 6 went AWOL. Then again, both of his running buddies got shot so maybe he wised up a little.

? anyone change their mind in the last 5 years?

No, no point in it for 99.99% ranches or leases on THF.

Ask Stewart Stedman

I personally think spikes should not be legal to shoot.

Sure do taste good though

Someone said to ask Stewart Steadman. I know a little about him but don't know his opinion on spikes. Can you enlighten me.

Nah not really... on average spikes will not be what there fork antlered siblings/class mates will be at maturity. Doesn't hurt to take them out as a spike if you don't want to feed them another 5-6 years.Really depends on what your goals are.

Nope

I have to say just for fun....spikes don't develop any different...only genes will tell. Spikes will develop just like all other branched bucks. Some will grow large and some won't. Those that don't....will convince hunters that all spikes are inferior....those that do grow to maturity and grow big racks will not make any statement at all. Some hunters believe you can change the gene pool by taking out the spikes....not true as the does have a input of 60% of the genes. That doesn't say bucks will not have input ...they do pass on some genes for the horns. I love this conversation...For my lease we don't take out bucks until they are four years old. Doesn't matter if they come from a spike or not. I don't see a lot of lessor bucks. You would think that if spikes developed lessor bucks...you would have many bucks with small horns. I find age helps most to develop the best racks. All bucks have spikes as a fawn...the next year the ones with spikes as a 1 1/2 yr. old I believe will have natural normal racks. Now...this should put a few logs on the fire...lol.

If TPWD really thinks that spikes are inferior, why do they wait till the end of the season after them spunky boogers have been spreading their supposedly inferior genes, to give us a special late season for them.
I would think they would let us have an early season (September ) to eliminate them from the breeding pool.

Just spikes or are there others that should be protected as well?

I’ve never thought about it like that. Most excellent point

Why wouldnt you just shoot them opening weekend if you have a problem with them? Why do you need a special season to shoot them?