Should you shoot a spike that is at least a year and a half? I have heard both ways, what is everyone's thoughts?
If it makes you happy shoot it. Personally, I hunt mostly for meat so on the public land I hunt I'd shoot it. But if I already killed a couple deer for meat I'd let him walk to grow another year. A buck is only about 25% of his antler potential at 1.5 yrs. but do what makes you happy not what other people want.
I'm not saying I think a spike is always a spike, but I have seen 3 deer walk by before that are one a half. One of them is a basket 8, the other is a basket 6, and the other is a spike. You don't think you should get him out? Yeah, I know he may have been born later, but the other deer ate the same food he did and produced baskets for their first real set of horns.
You have a 1.5 year old basket 8? Those are 3.5+ y.o where I live. a deer w/ bad genes could possibly not generate antler growth and should be culled if doing QDM. But I can't see a 1.5 year old deer showing anyone his real potential yet.
The easiest way for me to explain this to you is have you read this article from QDMA. Mis-Management Bucks | Quality Deer Management Association
No and there is no such thing as a cull buck that is just an excuse to shoot a buck that they normally wouldnt
Bucks don't grow to record sizes in every location. A lot of states have a lot of hunters and most deer one hunter will pass, the next hunter will shoot. If you have private land where you can let young deer grow for a few years, then don't. If you need meat for the freezer, fire away. Do whatever feels right to you!
No and there is no such thing as a cull buck that is just the excuse "trophy hunters" use to explain to their buddies why the buck they killed isnt a booner. Fixed that for you
I wouldn't shoot a spike or a basket rack unless that's what you want to shoot. I've read studies that suggested that the antler growth on a 1 1/2 year old deer had as much to do with when that deer was born (early vs late) and how good the available nutrition was at the time. Nothing to say a spike won't be a 150" deer at age 5 +.
I personally do not like shooting spikes, I would rather shoot a doe. I was just wondering what other people thought, because a lot of people use to say if you have a spike with 10 inch spikes on his head you need to get him because he will never be anything. KY72 where are you in Western KY I have some buddies that hunt not to far from Campbell that kill monsters?
Generally no, let him walk for another year! BUT, I do have a buck on film that was a little spike year one, an 8 in spike year two and this year is looking to be a 12inch spike year three with good bases and mass. Rarely, but sometimes, a spike is always a spike and needs to be taken out so he doesn't continue to breed the crummy genetics back in the herd. Problem in my State is spikes are protected so I'm stuck with him!
I have not seen a spike in years. We are in central farmland and 6-8 even 10's are the norm for 1.5yo. Anyone who believes they can genetically alter a herd outside of a high fence is mistaken. Remember mama is 1/2 the dna. Who actually breeds? All of them. I have many times watched 2 mature bucks square off over a hot doe while one of the immature bucks are jumping her 50 yards away.
