Times Have Changed

Over a decade ago when I started hunting, the belief was that spike bucks were inferior bucks. The standard practice was to harvest spiked bucks because genetically they could alter the herd negatively. In the August issue of Deer and Deer Hunting, an article discussed the new research in regards to spike bucks. New research indicates that spike bucks are not genetically inferior, in fact, environmental factors cause bucks to grow spikes in their early years. The article pointed out that poor nutrition and the mom’s nurturing habits impact the young males ability to produce testosterone. When there is little to eat, the deer’s body first concentrates on making the buck body bigger to survive the first winter. If the buck succeeds in this early enough in the summer, the buck’s body will begin to make testosterone which intern will produce antlers.

The yearling buck that only grows spikes, does not indicate future antler growth. The article pointed to a study that showed in a controlled situation, three bucks in later years actually grew very big racks. So if you haven’t heard of the new research, next time you are in the woods and see that spike buck, think twice about harvesting it. If you pass it up, you might be producing that trophy buck in the years to come.