Spikes

Shoot them on sight or no? I'm in an AR county and had a 2.5 yo, 8" spike on both sides inside of 50 yards today. Wasn't wanting to let a shot go at 7AM with the rest of morning to sit. Wondering if I should have made some "grind" out of him. What say THF.....

I generally shoot a spike every year, we have good number of 1.5 year old bucks so I don’t see any harm in it.

I think this is where camera's are very useful to monitor the deer population in your are to see what the pattern is.

I shoot them as my 2nd buck tag almost every year that I see them

I shot one yesterday there’s one more hanging around by friend named him sausage and may not make it past today.

I don't target them, but if one shows up when its time to fill the cooler, then...

Since 1997 I have hunted all over state and have only seen one spike that wasn’t a yearling. Shoot them if you want but there is a 99% chance you ain’t shooting a 2+ year old deer. It’s debatable if a yearling spike is inferior, but very rare to find a 2 year old spike. That’s coming from someone that spends more time in the woods in 1 year than most do in 5 years.

Since I am not in an AR county I would happily shoot 2 spikes a year. Haven't cared about antlers in decades. I hunt to fill the freezer.

I am not particular, anything that shows up gets the opportunity to fill the freezer.

I will usually take my spike being in an AR county depending on how many I’m seeing sitting and on camera.

A 2 year old spike I'm definitely shooting.

I’m in AR county and I shot a spike on one side. I need some meat.

Same here, they still eat good.

I shoot everyone I see - don’t care about the old debate that they will turn into something. Have too many other nicer 1.5 - 3.5 year old deer that are 8+ and not going to wait on a spike.

I didn’t shoot spikes, most of them around here are super young. I will shoot one that’s extremely long or has something unique/interesting going on. For instance this year there’s a spike on our place that is a normal spike on one side, but the other side come out for his pedicle and splits right at the head and the spilt side is probably only 3” long something different I might put a tag on later in the season if we need another deer for the freezer.

JCB, you have expressed my opinion on spikes better than anyone ever has. I could elaborate some but youve covered 90% of it.