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Started By
Message
Deer Age? Choot em?
Posted on 9/25/24 at 8:53 am
Posted on 9/25/24 at 8:53 am
These are south Mississippi deer, we have 150 acres, these are two spots pretty far apart. First year we have owned this and trying to put together a plan. Not sure which to shoot or let walk, looking for some management advice.
Also, any tips on identifying them?
First up, this guy, how old ya think? Thin little horns, no mass.
Next up, this tall skinny spike, just shoot him to get him outta there?
Now these guys, hard for me to tell who’s who, but what ya got?
Also, any tips on identifying them?
First up, this guy, how old ya think? Thin little horns, no mass.
Next up, this tall skinny spike, just shoot him to get him outta there?
Now these guys, hard for me to tell who’s who, but what ya got?
This post was edited on 9/25/24 at 8:55 am
14
Posted on 9/25/24 at 8:56 am to Theboot32
Shoot the spike to get out of gene pool .
Posted on 9/25/24 at 8:57 am to Tigre85
Yeah that’s what I was thinking
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:05 am to Tigre85
quote:
Shoot the spike to get out of gene pool .
If you want to shoot spikes, go ahead. You're not going to improve genetics in a wild herd on 150 acres by culling spikes or any bucks, though.
Those all look like really young deer IMO.
This post was edited on 9/25/24 at 9:19 am
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:20 am to Theboot32
Those are all probably all 2.5 year old deer.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:21 am to Theboot32
The cow-horn spike most likely will be nothing more than that its entire life. Take it out
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:21 am to Theboot32
It ain’t gonna matter if you shoot any of them or not on low fence.
The way I look at is if it makes you happy then shoot it or if you need to shoot some bucks to keep your ratio in check then go ahead. Most people don’t have the ratio problem because everyone wants to shoot bucks
I just try to shoot mature deer and let the rest walk.
The way I look at is if it makes you happy then shoot it or if you need to shoot some bucks to keep your ratio in check then go ahead. Most people don’t have the ratio problem because everyone wants to shoot bucks
I just try to shoot mature deer and let the rest walk.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:22 am to Canon951
quote:
Those are all probably all 2.5 year old deer.
No way those are all 2.5
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:25 am to Rize
quote:
No way those are all 2.5
Considering it's South MS, maybe not. But they are not much older than that. None of those bucks are old.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:36 am to Theboot32
No idea what your goal is but all those deer are young.
Shooting spikes cause they are spikes is just dumb. Not knocking anyone but anyone who believes that needs to do a little research to educate themselves.
If you wanna shoot any of those bucks then pop them, who am I to tell you what to shoot on your property, we all have different goals.
Shooting spikes cause they are spikes is just dumb. Not knocking anyone but anyone who believes that needs to do a little research to educate themselves.
If you wanna shoot any of those bucks then pop them, who am I to tell you what to shoot on your property, we all have different goals.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:39 am to tigerbait703
Just curious as to how many 3.5 year old spikes have you shot?
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:44 am to WillFerrellisking
Well I appreciate it but I’m looking for advice, what would yall do?
Again this is a brand new property and we will have it forever probably, also trying to buy a couple hundred acres that are attached.
Goal is to have a healthy herd, and grow some larger bucks, kill a few a year
Again this is a brand new property and we will have it forever probably, also trying to buy a couple hundred acres that are attached.
Goal is to have a healthy herd, and grow some larger bucks, kill a few a year
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:46 am to Tigre85
People still don’t understand a spike isn’t genetically inferior…..he’s just a late born buck. And yes, there’s tons of MS State research that shows spikes growing into nice bucks.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:48 am to Theboot32
1.5
My advice (this worked for us) is to not shoot any of those bucks. Even the spike...I had a spike that looked like that and ended up having a great rack.....not a great spread but very tall and thick.
Shoot the HELL out of some doe's this season. Shoot like 10. You'll notice that will add mass to the bucks antlers more than anything.
If there are too many doe's (this is a problem everywhere) the bucks dont have a need to grow big antlers in South MS. They dont need to compete for them.
My advice (this worked for us) is to not shoot any of those bucks. Even the spike...I had a spike that looked like that and ended up having a great rack.....not a great spread but very tall and thick.
Shoot the HELL out of some doe's this season. Shoot like 10. You'll notice that will add mass to the bucks antlers more than anything.
If there are too many doe's (this is a problem everywhere) the bucks dont have a need to grow big antlers in South MS. They dont need to compete for them.
This post was edited on 9/25/24 at 9:51 am
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:54 am to The Levee
quote:
I had a spike that looked like that and ended up having a great rack.....not a great spread but very tall and thick
Dumb question, but how do you keep track of them from year to year? Like how did you know that it wasthe same deer?
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:56 am to Theboot32
He was ugly rack....I'm 90% certain its him....Plus I leave my cameras out 365 days a year...they are Spartan's.....that's why I buy Spartan Cameras....they are tough as nails. 5 years running straight
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:00 am to The Levee
The truth is it’s going to be hard to manage anything on 150 acres. Shoot what makes you happy.
I hunt 600 acres and I haven’t shot a buck in 7 years. My kids have shot several good ones. I simply don’t care to shoot a buck unless he’s a wall hanger, but I seem to always have a kid or two with me.
I’d rather shoot a doe and save the bucks for the kids. However, that doesn’t mean everyone has to do that. If it makes you happy then do it.
Too many people create drama in their life over what’s supposed to be a hobby. I’m not going to lie I was guilty of that before I had kids. Now I just enjoy being out.
I hunt 600 acres and I haven’t shot a buck in 7 years. My kids have shot several good ones. I simply don’t care to shoot a buck unless he’s a wall hanger, but I seem to always have a kid or two with me.
I’d rather shoot a doe and save the bucks for the kids. However, that doesn’t mean everyone has to do that. If it makes you happy then do it.
Too many people create drama in their life over what’s supposed to be a hobby. I’m not going to lie I was guilty of that before I had kids. Now I just enjoy being out.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:01 am to The Levee
Yeah mine are Spartans also, love them, also leave them out all year
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:04 am to Theboot32
What are your neighbors shooting? What kinda management program are they on? Will they get on board with what you wanna do? If they shooting everything with legal antlers then you are kinda in a bad situation.
Plant good plots, do a little timbering to get bedding areas where deer feel safe. Like stated earlier 150 acres isn’t a whole lotta land so your kinda stuck with what neighbors are doing.
Plant good plots, do a little timbering to get bedding areas where deer feel safe. Like stated earlier 150 acres isn’t a whole lotta land so your kinda stuck with what neighbors are doing.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:25 am to Theboot32
If you want old, mature bucks, then don't shoot any of those deer. Give the place 2-3 years of just watching them. Plant summer plots like vetch, and winter plots like clover. And watch them get bigger.
Or if that's not a big deal to you, then blast them.
There's no right or wrong way to do it. There's only the way that suits you.
Or if that's not a big deal to you, then blast them.
There's no right or wrong way to do it. There's only the way that suits you.
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