Once A Spike........?

[Ron Wilson]

Been getting a few pics/sightings of spikes on our hunting land. These are 130-140 pound deer that are clearly not yearlings. Not an avid deer hunter, but do enjoy taking 1-2 a year. Is there any truth to the statement that "once a spike, always a spike?"

Here's a recent pic of a spike on our lease. We are thinking about thinning out these spikes - been letting a lot of bucks walk the last few years in hopes of maturing into something respectable, but wonder if we are letting them simply create more spikes or less than desirable bucks.

[Flint River Pirate]

That's a huge spike!

[Ron Wilson]

My buddy shot two already that were the same size (body weight). Got a feeling we should have been doing more culling.

[DeanMac]

Been getting a few pics/sightings of spikes on our hunting land. Is there any truth to the statement that "once a spike, always a spike?"

Many studies that disprove that statement.

IMHO, that spike is 1.5 years old, mature is the key to management, we don't take any buck under 3.5 years.

If you shoot every spike you see, more than likely you will never get a mature buck. Fill the freezer with does.

[Gulf Coast]

[Jumptrout51]

Do your cameras show more rack on other bucks?

[Ron Wilson]

Been getting a few pics/sightings of spikes on our hunting land. Is there any truth to the statement that "once a spike, always a spike?"

Many studies that disprove that statement.

IMHO, that spike is 1.5 years old, mature is the key to management, we don't take any buck under 3.5 years.

If you shoot every spike you see, more than likely you will never get a mature buck. Fill the freezer with does.

That's been our method over the last few years. Only a couple bucks have been shot on the property in the last 4-5 years and one of them was an older 10-point with a palpated rack on one side. Have been conservative on the does as well. What is interesting is that for years, the folks who have had the lease have pretty much worn the deer out on the property and some nice bucks have been taken off the property. I joined about 5 years ago and since we have starting managing what we shoot, over the last few years, we've seen very few nice bucks. It's only 200 acres, surrounded by some fields and other wooded acreage, so I can't imagine where we have many deer taking residence on the property as much as we have transiting deer.

Do your cameras show more rack on other bucks?

Not really, but we haven't been active in putting out the game cams. Need to have more than 1 out on the property. I'm sure we'll make some adjustments this year.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Ron Wilson]

Meant to add. Didn't want to give impression I was the reason for better management. I don't know much at all about deer hunting and usually only take 1-2 deer a year (does preferrably). The guy who has the lease has been good at ensuring we are trying to manage the deer.

[DeanMac]

Really hard to see results on 200 AC, when you can't control what happens around you, if the neighbors are "brown its down" or take every deer with bone on its head, you are fighting a loosing battle, trying to manage for mature deer.

We manage 950 AC and it has taken nine years to really start seeing results. We have only taken 5 mature bucks during that time. The membership has to buy into the concept and be patient. I have not taken a buck in 7 years and I am fine with that.

I went to pick up the buck that came from our place this year from the taxidermy shop today. Their were deer from Tx, Kentucky, Ill, Ohio and several of the quality counties of GA. I turned to the owner and said, our deer in the most impressive buck in here, He Said, you are correct, that sure gave we a good feeling.

[Gulf Coast]

DeanMac, that must be a goodn ! Post some pics. If you had him scored, don't say, lets see who can score him from the pics.

[DeanMac]

Here is the orginal thread:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=29566&p=240448#p240448

Not officially scored, the guy that did the mount put a tape on him. Should be the biggest Muzzle Loader buck on record for our county. GON ranks our county in the bottom five for GA on producing a quality buck.


Here is a couple shots of the mount I picked up yesterday:

[DeanMac]

sorry for repeat

[Gulf Coast]

From the pics I'm going to guess 128-130 ?

[DeanMac]

Gulf Coast your good, I went back to see if I had mentioned the green score in the thread.

129.5 unoffical

[Ron Wilson]

Nice deer!