Question??

[dustman]

I went hunting yesterday evening and at one point I had 8 deer walking around me within 30 yards. I was propt up against my fourwheeler just watching them. I took my bow but hadn't planned on shooting anything, I was just out for the nice evening and wanted to see some deer. One of the deer that was walking around was a spike. My question to everyone is it true about what they say, Once a spike always a spike,. I hate to kill him but if he is never going to amount to anything I will. Thanks

 

[cooperjd]

not true at all, depending on age. if he is a young deer and this is his first set of antlers (sounds like it was if they were 30 yards from your atv) let him go. he may have been born late and just be a smaller deer this year. i believe that you cannot tell much about a buck from his first set of antlers, most 1.5yr olds have spikes, 4 points, some may have little basket racks, but a lot of them all look about the same.

my personal rule is if its a 2.5+ yr old deer without proper headgear, then i take them out. last year i took out 2 management deer, both 15-16" inside, one a big 4 point (with a tiny bump of a brow tine) and one a 6 point with large brow tines... i want 8 points walking around by the time they are 2.5.

 

[dustman]

Thanks cooper I have been trying to manage my property for the last 5 or so years better and I am starting to get alot of big bucks on it. That spike just through me off because I have been seeing so much bigger bucks in person and on my camera's. He was very young also. As far as the atv, its neat to watch the deer. They don't pay it no mind but all year long I ride the property and I believe they are use to it. Last year I shot a big 8 pt. that walked right by my fourwheeler before I took it down. Its pretty neat when you spend so much time on your property that your scent and the four wheeler are something the deer are used to and it doesn't scare them off.

 

[churly]

You never know if that spike will get any bigger if you kill him. Shoot only mature bucks, keep the does in check, provide good nutrition, and keep pressure at a minimum; Nature will take care of the rest!