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Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
#8728459
11/07/22 06:32 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,954
ChadTRG42
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At the end of the season, I generally have the spike buck tag left to fill. I always struggle with which spike to shoot. This last weekend, I had 2 spikes show up. One was a young and smallish deer with straight spikes about 3"-4" long. Obviously a young deer. The other spike I saw had only both main beams, but they curled outward and around to the front, like the main beam does on a normal buck. This deer was noticeably larger, probably 1.5 year old. How do you determine which spike buck is best to shoot?
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728462
11/07/22 06:35 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,535
rickym
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If the older one is still a spike and hasn’t put on anything else, then shoot that one. The other one might turn into something.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728464
11/07/22 06:36 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,213
Hudbone
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A friend told me to tag one and don't let the other one get away
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728473
11/07/22 06:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,708
603Country
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I’d probably shoot the older one, but it’s still a tough call.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728474
11/07/22 06:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,952
txtrophy85
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I wouldn't shoot any spikes this year....drought was hard on yearling deer.
the one exception would be if I KNEW FOR A FACT it was a 2 year or older deer.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728477
11/07/22 06:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,185
hook_n_line
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Which one looks most tender?
Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: Hudbone]
#8728482
11/07/22 06:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,476
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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A friend told me to tag one and don't let the other one get away That friends needs to take diversity and inclusion training. He obviously has preconceived prejudice that has since been tore apparently by sound scientific research
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728520
11/07/22 07:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 907
Erich
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If you're gonna shoot spikes i'd say always shoot the one that looks the biggest/oldest, although very likely none of them will be very big or old. we only shoot them occasionally as a means to fill an extra tag for buck harvest quota when we're not still seeing any other buck options we're wanting to shoot. the ones we might would end up shooting are 1.5-2.5yr old deer. usually a curving spike as long or longer than the ears.
Outdoorsman
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728533
11/07/22 07:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,645
QuitShootinYoungBucks
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Unless it's age is 2+, you really can't go right or wrong. If you have plenty of bucks, just pick one of the two. Is the smaller one a runt, born late, a twin, or an orphan? No way to know. Is the larger one born late but bloomed his body, born early but have bad genetics, or have genetics where his body comes first until later/maturity? Again, no way to know. The only thing about the smaller spike is that he will trail his age-class for most of his life. I've seen it in sheep and goats - they don't catch up for a loooong time, if ever, particularly if it's due to being an orphan or having a bad momma. They just don't recover from that initial ding in life.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728535
11/07/22 07:57 PM
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 778
Double AC
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The "younger" deer is still a 1.5 year old if it has hardened antler, so they are both the same age class (providing you are correct about the "older" one being 1.5) if that helps make your decision easier.
We have 10 buck tags this year and will probably only shoot 2 older (5.5+) bucks just based on what deer we see and which we feel like need another hopefully wet year, so we will bottom grade the other age class to fill out those tags. That means we will take out some spikes given the average 1.5 year old on our place has 4+ tines, even in this droughty year.
If I had a spike tag and needed mouths off the property, I would remove the smaller spike. I have personally never seen a spike older than 1.5
Last edited by Double AC; 11/07/22 07:58 PM.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728542
11/07/22 08:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260
Texas Dan
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Shoot the one that has at least one spike that's about as long as the antlers on other small deer in the area that have forked antlers. Since all the deer in the area have the same access to available browse, it becomes a matter of picking out the ones that appear to be lagging their peers genetically.
Not sure what I did with it but I once found a shed that looked like it came off a toy deer. It had the symmetry and form of an eight point but about 1/8 the size. You could hold the entire antler in the palm of your hand. It was the perfect example of what you want to let grow and how quickly good genetics can become apparent deer.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 11/07/22 08:05 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728550
11/07/22 08:12 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,708
603Country
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Deer can age and grow and survive, growing big antlers as they age and then decreasing in antler size as they get real old. Eventually their antlers can downsize to spikes. I killed such a deer many years ago. He had maybe 8 does with him, so must have still been virile. His muzzle was white and he had only a few teeth left. How he survived that long, I have no idea. And I didn’t know how to guess at age. He was not what you’d call a tender deer when we put him in the cook pot.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: Double AC]
#8728567
11/07/22 08:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,952
txtrophy85
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I have personally never seen a spike older than 1.5
It’s rare. Really rare.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: 603Country]
#8728572
11/07/22 08:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,260
Texas Dan
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Deer can age and grow and survive, growing big antlers as they age and then decreasing in antler size as they get real old. Eventually their antlers can downsize to spikes. I killed such a deer many years ago. He had maybe 8 does with him, so must have still been virile. His muzzle was white and he had only a few teeth left. How he survived that long, I have no idea. And I didn’t know how to guess at age. He was not what you’d call a tender deer when we put him in the cook pot. I've found too they begin to lose their more perfect shape with main beams that appear warped and unsymmetrical.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 11/07/22 10:34 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728595
11/07/22 09:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 161
tbgascorer
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Woodsman
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Neither. Shoot a doe instead. It's okay to have unfilled tags at the end of the season. This year's spikes are your mature buck class in 4 years.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728630
11/07/22 09:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466
freerange
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This thread may bring STx outa retirement. I hope so.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#8728635
11/07/22 10:00 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
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I wouldn't shoot any spikes this year....drought was hard on yearling deer.
the one exception would be if I KNEW FOR A FACT it was a 2 year or older deer.
Agree 100%
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: txtrophy85]
#8728638
11/07/22 10:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,466
freerange
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I have personally never seen a spike older than 1.5
It’s rare. Really rare. Agreed. I dont shoot them. Imo, you have to have an extremely intensive management program in place to even consider it.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728644
11/07/22 10:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,213
Hudbone
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We don’t start culling until 3 so no spikes.
Al Brothers always said if two out there and the same age, shoot the one with the smaller antlers.
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: rickym]
#8728647
11/07/22 10:13 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 33,974
Buzzsaw
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If the older one is still a spike and hasn’t put on anything else, then shoot that one. The other one might turn into something. this
SPACE FOR RENT
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728652
11/07/22 10:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,199
ntxtrapper
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728695
11/07/22 11:05 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,954
ChadTRG42
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That's why I have a spike tag at the end of the season!
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: freerange]
#8728719
11/07/22 11:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,476
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,476 |
This thread may bring STx outa retirement. I hope so. Maybe Feb. if my last post didn’t get him he ain’t coming out
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728727
11/07/22 11:41 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5,929
Ol Thumper
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If you want to kill a spike I’d suggest the closest one standing still, any more thought than that’s simply overthinking it. Sure sucks wondering what might have been though
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Re: Spike bucks- which spike to shoot?
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#8728729
11/07/22 11:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,546
TPACK
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Extreme Tracker
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I haven`t shot a spike since 1977. My first deer ever and first ever open morning. Saw 3 this a.m. and they all were small. Never bought into to the always be a spike myth that so many promote as the gospel. Never seen an old spike either but I know they do exist and would shoot them if I ever saw one.
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