Why not to shoot a spike?

May 2024 · 7 minute read
If a high percentage of yearling bucks are spikes where you hunt, it's a sign they need better nutrition. Shooting them only perpetuates a poor buck:doe ratio and low buck age structure.  Takedown request View complete answer on deerassociation.com

Why you shouldn't shoot spikes?

Protecting spikes will insure that you will have spike bucks in the herd in the future, even if the one you protect produces fork antlers the next year. Consistently removing spikes from the herd will eventually improve the antler quality if the range is in good condition.  Takedown request View complete answer on tpwd.texas.gov

Is it ethical to shoot a spike deer?

Spikes do not have the potential of same aged forked bucks, but given time, they can grow to be respectable. If you wish to manage a tightly controlled operation for trophy bucks, shoot spikes. But if you hunt on a small, low fence parcel, let that spike walk and hope you see him again when he's five.  Takedown request View complete answer on americanhunter.org

Should you shoot cow horn spike?

A healthy looking 4-inch spike could possibly turn into a small basket 8-point within a year, assuming he gets the proper nutrition and minerals. Hunters should consider shooting larger, more mature cowhorn spikes if it looks like their racks aren't consistent with their ages.  Takedown request View complete answer on louisianasportsman.com

Will a spike turn into a buck?

The vast majority of bucks that start out as spikes will grow a nice rack of branched antlers if they get enough to eat, have little stress, and can survive enough hunting seasons to become mature. Few yearling bucks with spike antlers are genetically programmed to remain spike bucks at maturity.  Takedown request View complete answer on oleantimesherald.com

Why Shoot A Spike Buck?

Are spike bucks inferior?

No, they are not inferior as animals. They may be undesirable as breeders, but inferior, no. So let's stop using the word inferior and superior, they may be desirable or undesirable as breeders and only then if the trait you wish to change is genetically controlled, i.e. coat color, body weight, antler points, etc.  Takedown request View complete answer on tpwd.texas.gov

Should you shoot a 6 point buck?

By all means shoot the first legal buck you see. Hopefully it's a big 8- or 10-point, but if it's a small 6 or even a spike that's okay. Killing that deer will take your mind off things for a bit and make you happy.  Takedown request View complete answer on realtree.com

Is it bad to shoot spike bucks?

If a high percentage of yearling bucks are spikes where you hunt, it's a sign they need better nutrition. Shooting them only perpetuates a poor buck:doe ratio and low buck age structure.  Takedown request View complete answer on deerassociation.com

Will a 8 point buck always be an 8 point?

No. Health and nutrition, and probably a little pure chance, are big influences. A yearling may have six or eight tines, and have eight or ten (or an odd number) the next year. A fine ten point three year old may have a bad spring and summer, to be a less than impressive seven as a four year old.  Takedown request View complete answer on quora.com

Does burning cow horns hurt?

This procedure is extremely traumatic for young calves, who are often just a few weeks old when their horn buds are burned or cut out. Older cows fare even worse.  Takedown request View complete answer on peta.org

Why do people shoot spike deer?

Some have said to shoot them because they have poor genetics. Others thought young bucks should be given a season or more to see what they develop into. I also think that taking spikes out of the heard helps contribute to the buck - doe ratio being out of balance.  Takedown request View complete answer on forums.bowsite.com

Where to never shoot a deer?

Where Not to Shoot a Deer Takedown request View complete answer on fieldandstream.com

What is the most humane way to shoot a deer?

Aim for higher on the deer near the chest cavity so that the bullet penetrates the heart or lungs. If the deer is not necessarily directly below your stand and a little ahead of you, aim through the shoulder blades so the bullet hits the spine and other nearby vitals.  Takedown request View complete answer on pelican.com

Is a 120 inch buck big?

By comparison, most hunters consider a buck whose antlers score 120 inches in B&C system to be desirable. A 140-inch buck is a slammer, and a 150 is the buck of a lifetime for about 99 percent of today's hunters.  Takedown request View complete answer on ithacajournal.com

Is it better to shoot a buck or doe?

Conversely, taking a buck eliminates only that deer and not necessarily potential offspring because other bucks will breed in its place. Doe harvesting helps balance the buck-to-doe ratio, which makes it easier to hunt trophy bucks.  Takedown request View complete answer on petersenshunting.com

Will a whitetail spike always be a spike?

Not usually. A spike is usually a year and a half old buck. They lose their antlers every year and grow a new set of antlers. Their antlers usually get bigger with more points each year.  Takedown request View complete answer on quora.com

Has there ever been a 30 point buck?

An Iowa Hunter tells the story of how he nabbed a 30 point buck with his shotgun.  Takedown request View complete answer on northamericanwhitetail.com

Is there a 9 point deer?

Jake Hasbrouck's 2022 Iowa bow buck could be the highest net-scoring 9-point of all time. And the story of the hunt is just as impressive! During the summer of 2022, Iowa resident Jake Hasbrouck saw a photo of a buck his friend had on trail camera.  Takedown request View complete answer on northamericanwhitetail.com

Is there a 10 point buck?

typically in Montana, one would say, “Look, there is a 4 by 4” this means that the deer has 4 points (antler branches) on each side of its head! In other words, you could call it a 4 point buck. in other places across the US, a “10 point buck” would a deer with ten total antler points on the entire head.  Takedown request View complete answer on quora.com

Why is it bad to shoot a deer in the head?

There's simply no margin for error around a deer's relatively small brain (about 3 inches on the average deer, as much as 4 inches on a large adult buck). If you don't read any further, get that into your head: No margin for error. Plus, a deer's brain is a deceptively small target.  Takedown request View complete answer on outdoorlife.com

Why am i only seeing spike bucks?

Age, or the lack thereof, is the main reason why a whitetail buck will grow spikes as its first set of antlers. Most spikes are just late-born fawns from the previous season entering their first growing season.  Takedown request View complete answer on antlerxtreme.com

Should you shoot cull bucks?

Once again, a buck's genetic potential for growing big antlers can never be judged by his first rack! Attempting to cull yearling bucks is a bad idea because there are far too many variables involved. If a buck suffered a major setback as a fawn, it might take him a while to catch up with others in his age-class.  Takedown request View complete answer on northamericanwhitetail.com

How old is a buck with 10 points?

The number of antler points a buck has does not correlate with the buck's age. Yearling bucks have been known to grow antlers with eight or 10 points when the habitat and nutrition are good. The spread of the antlers can offer a clue to a buck's age. Yearling bucks rarely have antlers that grow wider than their ears.  Takedown request View complete answer on wildlifedepartment.com

Is there a 24 point buck?

The 24-pointer Haack shot Nov. 17 in Jasper County green-scored 222-7⁄8 inches. It was one of the 76,232 deer taken during the 2023 firearms season, and it came with a story that began with “stick-to-it-ism” and ended with a reminder that deer hunting isn't always a glamorous endeavor.  Takedown request View complete answer on outdoornews.com

What is the biggest buck ever shot points?

With a gross score of 337-1/8 points and a final score of 327-7/8 points, the Brewster Buck is officially the Pope and Young World Record non-typical whitetail and the largest hunter-killed whitetail buck in the Boone and Crockett Records.  Takedown request View complete answer on crazycanyonjournal.com

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