Oh, the plan is still to cull trash bucks. We have been shooting spikes and other assorted crap head bucks for 3 years now and it is paying off. This is one of many 2.5 year olds that look similar, we have on the property that are doing great as a result of our efforts.
Proper deer management does not happen in a season, it takes a few years.
Good management there. What do they charge to shoot an Axis in your neck of the woods?I am doing the exact same thing this year too. So far shot this older 6pt with 19in spread. Really nice deer for Fredericksburg minus the low pt count. Also shot a spike. This year I am donating all the meat to families in need. My freezer will be full when I shoot an Axis in a week.
Nope. All low fenced. Not even feeding protein. Just keeping the numbers as close to the carrying capacity of the property and getting the crappy deer dead( and maxing tags on does) you can get awesome bucks on low fence property, just takes some work and willingness to burn your tags on less desirable antlers for a few years.Hoji, are y'all under high fence? That one in velvet looks like you been injecting them with 'roids. LOL
We are getting quite a few that look like him. Another couple of years and we will be neck deep in them.We definitely do a lot of tag "burning" and the efforts are paying off, but nothing like that one deer you showed. Not yet, anyway. Unfortunately, their are neighbors who aren't following suit.
Don't spike bucks grow and potentially turn into larger bucks? Just wondering why you guys are shooting them.
No. They grow into mutants with mismatched antlers, generally less dense antler growth and pass on those weak genetics. That is another good reason to thin your doe population out, less opportunity for them to breed. The spikes( and older mutant 5 pointers they grow into) will get beaten into submission by a healthy, mature 8point or bigger. If you have an ultra high doe to buck ratio, the trash bucks do not need to fight to breed, and will find easy pickings with does in areas not populated by healthy normal bucks.
No. They grow into mutants with mismatched antlers, generally less dense antler growth and pass on those weak genetics. That is another good reason to thin your doe population out, less opportunity for them to breed. The spikes( and older mutant 5 pointers they grow into) will get beaten into submission by a healthy, mature 8point or bigger. If you have an ultra high doe to buck ratio, the trash bucks do not need to fight to breed, and will find easy pickings with does in areas not populated by healthy normal bucks.
the thought of once a spike always a spike died several years ago
Please elucidate. I have worked in wildlife management for years professionally ( and now do it recreationally and some contractually) and the accepted consensus of all of the wildlife biologists I have worked with( USFW, TPWD, County, City,University, and Private Sector)is that spikes do not grow into trophy deer. This corresponds with years of observations I have recorded on several herds of white tail deer through surveys, harvests, and other monitoring.