It’s the time of year when deer are in their prime and hunting season is in full swing. Many hunters will be out looking for that trophy buck, but what about those smaller bucks? Should you shoot spike bucks?
Here are a few things to consider before making your decision. The first thing to think about is why you’re hunting. Are you looking for meat or trophies?
Shooting a spike buck is an acceptable option if you’re after meat. They may not have the most enormous antlers, but they can still provide plenty of venison. But if you’re primarily interested in trophies, you might want to let the spikes walk and wait for a more giant buck.
Another consideration is the size of your hunting grounds. If you have a small piece of property, chances are good that any deer you see will be a young one. In this case, it might be best to take whatever you can.
But if you have access to more extensive tracts of land, there’s a better chance of encountering an older, more mature buck. Ultimately, whether or not to shoot spikes comes down to personal preference. Some hunters believe every deer is worth taking, regardless of size or age.
Others prefer to wait for that elusive trophy buck. Whatever your decision, make sure you follow all the rules and regulations set forth by your state’s wildlife agency.
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Should You Shoot Spike Bucks?
There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding whether or not to shoot a spike buck. Some people argue that they are nothing but trouble, while others believe that any deer is a good deer. Here are some things to think about before making your decision:
The pros of shooting a spike buck are that they can provide you with meat for the table. They may not be the biggest or best-tasting deer, but they can still be used for food. Additionally, their antlers can be used for crafts or other projects.
The cons of shooting a spike buck are that they can be difficult to process and clean. Their small size means less meat to work with, and their antlers can be tricky to remove without damaging them. Additionally, many believe it is better to let them grow into bigger bucks before harvesting them.
Is It Ok to Shoot Small Bucks?
Whether or not it is “OK” to shoot small bucks is a personal decision that depends on the individual’s hunting goals and preferences. Some hunters prefer to only shoot mature bucks, while others are more interested in harvesting any deer that meets their size requirements.
There is no right or wrong answer, but it is essential to be aware of the pros and cons of each approach before making a decision. The main advantage of shooting smaller bucks is that it can help increase the overall number of deer in the population.
This can benefit hunters and non-hunters alike, as a healthy deer population provides many ecological benefits and offers recreation and wildlife-watching opportunities. Additionally, harvesting smaller bucks can provide meat for the table and help control local people of deer.
However, there are also some disadvantages to shooting smaller bucks. For example, if too many young bucks are harvested, it can lead to an imbalance in the sex ratio of the deer population, which can impact breeding dynamics. Additionally, small bucks often have less developed antlers than larger ones, which may be undesirable for trophy hunters or those who enjoy seeing impressive racks of antlers on their prey.
Ultimately, whether or not it is “OK” to shoot small bucks is a personal decision that each hunter must make based on their own objectives and values.
Do Spike Bucks Ever Get Bigger?
Spike bucks are a type of deer with antlers with a single point, or “spike.” They are the most minor and common type of deer in North America. Mature spike bucks typically weigh between 60 and 120 pounds.
While spike bucks can get bigger, they typically don’t grow much more significant than they are when they reach adulthood. However, their antlers can continue to grow throughout their lifetime. Antler size is determined by several factors, including genetics, age, nutrition, and health.
So, while a spike buck may not necessarily get more prominent as he ages, his antlers could continue to grow larger.
Deer Antler Growth Chart
Deer antler growth is a fantastic process that occurs each year. While the exact timing of when a deer will start to grow new antlers varies depending on the animal’s species, age, and health, deer generally begin to grow new antlers in late spring or early summer. As the days lengthen and temperatures warm, a hormone called testosterone rises in male deer.
This increase in testosterone signals the body to start producing a substance called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1). IGF-1 is responsible for stimulating cell growth and differentiation, which leads to the production of new antler tissue. During the early stages of antler growth, you may not be able to see much difference in the size of a deer’s rack.
But as summer progress and IGF-1 levels continue to rise, Antlers will begin to grow at an accelerated rate. By fall, most bucks will have reached their full potential for antler size for that year. While all this is going on internally, you can see evidence of new antler growth externally.
Frequently Asked Question
Do Spikes Turn into Big Bucks?
The simple answer is no. Spikes are not worth very much in terms of money.
However, if you are lucky enough to find a spike made of gold or silver, it could be worth a fair bit more. The value of a point also depends on its size and the quality of the metal.
Does a Spike Deer Always Stay a Spike?
No, a spike deer will not always stay a spike. A spike is defined as a deer with two unbranched antler points on one side of the head, and they can grow into full-fledged bucks with giant racks. However, if a buck loses its antlers early in the year, it may remain a “spike” for the rest of its life.
Last Thought
If you’re a deer hunter, you’ve probably thought about Should You Shoot Spike Bucks? At some point. But is it really worth it?
On the downside, many hunters believe that killing spikes are detrimental to the herd’s health. That’s because they often don’t live long enough to reach their full potential, so they don’t have a chance to mate and produce offspring. As a result, some argue that killing spikes actually decrease the overall genetic quality of the herd.
So what’s the verdict? Ultimately, it’s up to each hunter to decide whether or not to shoot spike bucks. There are valid arguments on both sides of the issue, so it comes down to personal preference.
