by Carlos Riojas | Sep 25, 2017 | Bowhunting, How To, Hunting, Podcast, Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RSS. You can spend all day or just a morning or evening hunt. Make a contribution to keep WildBuck producing quality content. for 1 day, Free Many agree that yearling (1.5 year old deer) spikes should not be shot. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. While we are patiently waiting on the buck we let walk last year, guess who walks out first – Mr. Spike. Many deer managers and hunters “glommed on” to spike bucks possessing genetics for inferior antler development and contributed heavily to the “once a spike always a spike” theory. At 1 1/2 years old, buck Y-34 produced six points. Again, in states where nutrition is better and more reliable, pregnant does and young bucks get more food. All you have to do is activate your access. Spike bucks Weishuhn tagged and were able to follow for several years, all in time produced “acceptable” to big racks, provided they got adequate nutrition. Few yearling bucks with spike antlers are genetically programmed to remain spike bucks at maturity. His favorite animal is the Whitetail Deer. What causes a Spike to be a Spike? Each tract of land has its own management needs and determining factors of when and why to harvest spike bucks. We used to hear it said often, “Once a spike, always a spike.”. Thank you for signing in! This happens every season. Winds light and variable. You get the chance to harvest 1 doe or spike or hog for $300. Advertise The value of spike deer to a herd continues to be a topic of friendly debate, especially among wildlife biologists. It is VERY rare for a spike to stay a spike beyond a 1.5 years old. To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. Thus, the importance of being sighted in properly and taking a good shot. “Once a spike, always a spike” is one of deer-hunting’s oldest and most-incorrect beliefs. Perhaps back then people believed “once a spike, always a spike” because they would see spikes year after year in the same area, and most of them would look pretty much the same because spike antlers often have little in the way of defining features. However, remember these are really young deer with a lot of growing left to do. “The overall genetics of a deer herd simply cannot change that fast.” However, the real meat of this landmark spike buck study goes well beyond the question of how many spikes and 3-pointers are in the herd. Once a Spike, Always a Spike: Deer Hunting’s Big Myth. Learn more about Deer & Wildlife Management, Holistic Habitat Management and Restoration, Hunting Lease Management along with other wildlife services that help you maximize wildlife on your property by visiting: www.springcreekoutdoors.com, Cover Photo: © Hardy Jackson | Campos Viejos Ranch – South Texas, WildBuck Original Chocolate Antler and Buckskin Hats – Click Here, How Cottonseed Can Help Grow Bigger Bucks With Biologist Macy Ledbetter [PODCAST], A Protein Chat With Double Down Deer Feed Creator Brett Holden [PODCAST], How To Grow Big Bucks On Low Fence Properties [TIP]. However, a very high percentage of spikes killed were 1 1/2 yrs. Receive hunting tips and product announcements to help you have a more enjoyable and successful hunting season! You can do everything right to keep your diabetes under control — eat a smart diet, exercise, take medications as prescribed, and follow your doctor’s instructions for blood sugar monitoring — and still wake up in the morning with unexplained blood sugar spikes. Thus, you may consider a spike as an investment for a Product Ownerto figure out what needs to be built and how the team is going to build it. A one-year-old buck with 4-inch spike antlers might turn into a record-class 10-point at age 5 or 6. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. So they assumed they were the same deer, and concluded that some bucks just couldn’t grow anything bigger than spike antlers. With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Now we know a spike buck almost always grows branched antlers — if he gets beyond his first hunting season. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The caller has usually read an article that says it is genetics or nutrition or being late born that causes deer to produce spike antlers. 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. Spike bucks don’t always remain spikes, but when they do, they can achieve some pretty impressive sizes. Thank you for reading! “We divided all of the yearling bucks we captured into two categories,” Dr. Kroll continues. About 2 weeks for the entire herd to complete it's estrus cycle. Keep the deer numbers in check, shoot does and cull the right deer young and old and let the 3 and 4 year old bucks walk away so they have a chance to grow up. 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