BTW, I should have added that a lot of spike bucks were just late born fawns that will eventually catch up. Also, many goofy 1-sided bucks were just injured on the opposite side of their body the year before and their antlers will correct themselves the following year. Dang, I always seem to miss something! 🙂 I apologise for that...

Another great video! I'm 3 years new to deer hunting and learning to manage a 20 ac parcel. I had been told to cull out the spikes due to genetics, but glad I didn't get the chance. Now I get the chance to watch the "fork" and spike grow into maturity. Your videos help make me a better Hunter and land manager. Thanks!

Thanks again Jeff for another "down to Earth - No B.S." video. Seriously appreciate your time, knowledge and experience on this subject.

One of your best videos , Thanks Jeff ! I have learned a lot from you !

Great video. My favorite of all of yours so far! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

Another great video! My son’s own a taxidermy business and I see young hunters bring in young bucks to get mounted and I honestly have to say they are the happiest proudest folks that come in. We’ve got so caught up in what is considered a trophy that I believe a lot of us have sort of lost some of the things that hunting is all about!

Couldn't agree more! Grew up hunting my parents farm (southern MI) where 130-140 bucks are expected at 4 yrs or older, but not many in that age class. My brother bought 100 acres 2 miles away, 5 yr old bucks were all over the property with multiple bucks well over 150, even at 3-4 yrs old. As always, great info and fantastic videos.

Spikes can turn out to be nice, unfortunately people keep thinking that once a spike always a spike!

I don't hunt for racks. I hunt for meat. I usually leave bucks alone. Does, on the other hand, well... If she big and healthy, she's freezer bound!

I dont shoot spikes, but I never thought of the points you provided. Have a few older deer with smaller racks on cam, figured they would never grow. But I'm going to keep an eye out just to see what happens. Just started watching you about a month ago, but I've learned a ton! Thanks for you time!

I almost didn't watch this video based on the title not seeing who posted it. But im glad i did. This needs to become common knowledge throughout the industry. And kudos to the last part quit shaming people for shooting the deer that they can and enjoy. We're all in this hunting comunity together and need to support eachother.

I rolled my eyes when I saw the title but thought let's see what this person is pushing. Glad to see you base your decisions off biology and not "tribal knowledge". You cannot control genetics without a high fence. Good video!

You really know your stuff, thanks for another great video

At least you acknowledge that hunting is different things to different people. A fellow hunter should not be ridiculed by the hunting community for ANY deer he takes as long as it is a legal deer.

This snapped me back to reality! And gives me hope. I got TONS of pix of small racked bucks.. Finally the last day (in one area) I got a pic of a REALLY nice one. Which I am sure was being chased by mutts because I saw/heard them on the other side where I was. Anyway, I was considering using this as a "doe" place (bow muzzleloader) because they need thinning, but I'll continue to run my cameras year round and up my scouting. They're there, I'll find them. Great video and LOVE the new book.. Jerry

Most hunters don't know the good knowledge that you share. Excellent videos.

Great info Jeff, thanks for taking the time to share the info

Great video! Though I do not cull bucks since we don't have enough deer on or passing through our property to do so. That being said boy it's good to be back watching your videos after all the crap that's been going on in my life, thanks for being my perfect distraction from the ex-wifes deal and thank you most of all for giving me a lot of really good info to use for my last two full days of hunting here in northeastern PA!! Thank you again Mr. Jeff Sturgis, keep up the AMAZING WORK, IT IS TRULY VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

I'm glad you mentioned genetics that have been present for ages. On my property we have killed or found dead five or six deer missing ONE brow tine. Not broken, just not there. Now that would torpedo a high score but it doesn't make the deer "inferior." (other than in our preferences). Good luck weeding it out. I think we need to start appreciating a set of antlers for what it is, a prize well earned--not just measurements. Great video.

10000%. Well put. So many people need to see this and watch it through. Unfortunately though, people tend to make up their minds and refuse to admit their wrong.

Couldn't agree more!! Great piece.

I let a yearling 6 walk by me several times in early bow(granted I thought he was a 4pt till I got him in binoculars...😂) now, a couple days left of regular gun season and no tags filled... have not seen any deer since opening gun day when my Savage Axis misfired (Remington core-lokt 🙄) on a 10point 🦌... have not seen a doe since second week of early bow.... state land sucks, I would be overjoyed to have a button buck in range now... ugh frustrated in Western NY..

Great video Jeff! Here in Michigan, we hear the word "cull" buck all of the time. The fact is that the word "cull" is being used as an excuse to shoot young bucks. Last year we had a buck that we recognize by a large scar on the top of his back. Last year he was a 110 inch 2 year old with a completely messed up goofy right side. The neighbors wanted him culled so he wouldn't breed. He made it. This year he was a 140 inch cemeterial typical 3 year old 10 point. He made it again! My friend raises deer. He had a 1 year old scrubby 3 point that everyone thought wouldn't amount to anything. 2 years later at 3 years old we was a beautiful typical 185 inch 12 point. You will never know the potential that a buck has unless you let them get some age.

Does can reach higher for browse than button bucks. If there are too many does, the winter is tough on fawns causing more spikes. Good video.

Late born fawns from the second rut are often spikes too.

I agree with what you say, I’ll add another bit of information. I’ve talked with high fence property owners who tracked bucks every year. One in particular was an 8 point after 2 years, 8 point at 3 years, but blew up into a massive 16point at 4 years. The ranch thinking it was going to continue to grow and since it was only 4 years old, passed it up.... crazy thing is.... from 5-7 years it went back to a 8 point and was never bigger than that again. Every year food and minerals can change drastically(especially on public land) due to drought, fires, etc. so you just never know when a buck is going to bloom.... What I do have an issue with, is when game and fish dictates what size buck I can shoot. I hunt Missouri and Arkansas and it’s either a 3 or 4 point rule(on one side mind you). So, someone like myself who doesn’t get the opportunity to hunt for months every year and who has only access to public land can’t even decide if I want to shoot a spike or fork horn..... Which might be the only deer I see that year in my limited time( which has happen a lot!).

I do have a question, what's the deal with the buck with the droopy right antler? I have 2 spikes by my this year very similar, and a neighbor shot one like that last year. Is that a genetic mutation, or are those caused by injury? About 25 years ago we had a 2 1/2 year old 8 point where his right side was like that.

Good vid Jeff! I got some neighbors that say they dont shoot anything unless its a 8pt but every year they shoot some spikes because they needed to be culled lol.

Vermont has had a "No Spike" rule for about the last 5-8 years and it seems to be working in producing bigger bucks. Always assumed a spike horn was a yearling, but maybe it is different in areas with larger populations of deer. Thanks for the info Jeff.

Great video. I clicked to see what you were thinking and I’m glad you baited in people who don’t know this information with title.

Great video thanks I’ve always had this way of thinking but in my area, we are allowed one buck of 13” or wider and one unbranched buck. I personally have one unbranched buck on our farm and this has made me think I’m just gonna let him grow he’s probably only a year or two old and I would like to see what he becomes

What are your thoughts on public land antler restrictions? I live and hunt in a high-pressure state and can only hunt public land. While I believe it’s definitely helped save the buck population, I can’t really say the rack “quality” has increased any since implementation (at least where I hunt. Hard to speak for somewhere else.) Any suggestions on how to make the most of hunting public land and taking a mature buck in that scenario?

That's a dumb notion..Where I live in north western Pa. , I have been watching the local deer herd around my property for more than 20 years..They are in my yard everyday and I have watched hundreds of fawns grow into mature bucks.. They always grow spikes in their first year, forks that sometimes can have as many as 8 small points their second year, then they can usually become small frame shooters that are 8 points and up in their third year..The best blooms happen at 4 thru 6 years if they live that long..The 8 point that I got with the bow this year was 4 1/2 years..I know this because he had been living around my house since he was a fawn..And yes he was once a spike..

absolutely right jeff.old wives tail.where I live in north central wv spikes are about half of the buck population.we dont have very many mature deer here at all.i let them all go every year and every yr they turn into young 8 pointers next season.let em go let em grow is best I believe.i think if you keep putting out minerals,food,and water year after year eventually you will improve genetics in your area

Age ...so true I had an small 8 at age 3 got his sheds from that year and the next year 19.1/2 inch spread the next not the biggest but so nice for me

Any chance I can send you a picture of the buck my son in law got yesterday?

Good video!most bucks shot are around 18 months old most antler potential is there yet I've shot bucks in all age classes from antler trophies to freezer buck ! Hunting pressure an predation and winter survival pretty much determine the number bucks in the herd . It takes 3,4,5,6 year old buck to reach that 130 and beyond class of trophy. But any whitetail is a trophy whether a wall hanger or one for the freezer they are truly one of greatest animals to hunt!

It is also true that what you consider a trophy I may not. The reason hunters started managing deer is so they didn’t have to wait for a sure enough good buck to show up maybe once every 5 to 10 yrs. A lot of the hunts you watch on TV are on managed properties where the bucks with desirable traits are allowed to live and then grow to a mature age.

We run several cameras on our property we've got a good idea what's out there. Always let them little fellas walk there fun to watch I'll see the same Fork horns and sixes and Eights I call them basket racks over and over throughout the season makes for some good hunting

Can these spikes and bucks with a dagger horn,do damage/injure more bucks while fighting during the rut?

On one property where we hunt all the yearling bucks are pretty much all spikes and the other property we have permission on there are hardly any spikes, they are all forks, or small 6-8 pointers. Do you think this is genetics or the amount of nutrition and when the deer was born? What’s affecting it the most?

The term culling I think derived from big pieces of property under extensive deer management. I have worked in the hunting and deer ranching business and have seen thousands of deer harvested. Supplemental feeding has changed deer densities on properties and therefore lots of deer need to be harvested to achieve the desired numbers and quality of the animals. You are right, females need to be harvested just like males. In a “deer management program” you are always trying to freshen up your herd genetic pool. It’s like having a cattle herd, you are always trying to get rid of the older less desirable animals. I have seen ranches that cull bucks in the 170’s and 180’s because they are looking for certain traits. When supplement feed is introduced deer are healthier, raise more fawns and have better antlers normally. Then it comes down to density problems. I would say the only way to try and do your part on small tracks of land is to try and feed them good and try to keep densities at a healthy number. With marginal food supply for deer, hunters will see a good number of spike bucks. I have never personally seen a spike older than 1.5 yrs old. I have also seen 1.5 yr old bucks with 10 pts or more. If you are culling at a higher level then you would shoot that spike vs the 10 pt at that same age. It’s is also true that late born buck fawns will likely end up as a spike. I have seen many hunters shoot a spike and it be a 6 month old buck fawn with 4 inch spikes. What a tragedy, that was dang amazing for a fawn to grow 4 inch spikes.... Hunters also want to try and cull bucks that are at a more mature breeding age before shooting a spike. When you get your older bucks where you want them then you can start looking yr by yr at what you got. It takes a age classes of deer to analyze who is a cull and who ain’t as well. For instance, how many different age bucks are you seeing? Ok, sorry I have rambled on. Thanks for the video! ✌️

In our area we have as far as I can tell, one very healthy genetic group that are typical. The spikers and forks all the way to 10 points are nice. But there is a herd that has one side spike and the other is fork or all together twisted or even gone 🤷‍♂️ my kids shot 3 of them in this years youth hunt. Two are 1 and a half year old and one was a big body with the same goofy 🙃 type of rack. Is this a mistake to let them keep doing that? Thank you for your show it’s helping us learn more.

You're absolutely right I agree

Beautiful video

Thank you Jeff.!! It took me a few years to convince a few of my friends to stop shooting spikes and smaller bucks for this very reason.. the past few years have really started to show also.. during the rut I’ve seen 14+ different bucks under 4 1/2 - 3 1/2 years old and in late season I cannot tell how many different spikes..I have one picture with 4 in one frame.. I will not cull any buck unless it’s badly injured or like you said ..a bully.. thanks again Jeff.!! 👍🏻

That odd-ball spike in the beginning...I shot one, almost identical, a few years back. His right antler was a bit more "droopy" though. He had that same big lump at the base of the antler. Anybody have any idea if there is an actual cause for that? Or, is it just a case of... "odd-ball"?

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on antler restrictions on public land. My observations have been that it leads to more spikes, baskets, and odd racks than without the restrictions. For example, a 12 in spike was hit by a car in southern PA near my house. I was glad to hear you say more time would mature bucks like that- but I’m interested in your thoughts in antlers restrictions and gene pools

Jeff, what is your opinion on the forest that you are sitting in? I attended a QDMA event today with a segment on chainsawing, and they would say to go through there are cut most of those trees down to let sunlight into the ground so plants can grow up.

It would be a greater question to ask if selenium deficiencies or other minerals are the real problem. It’s like you also mention what is the purpose of harvesting a spike. If you intend to harvest or manage for trophies, spikes are a great idea in which to start the manage program you will take a few years to rid of a good portion of the genetics. The other issue to say it is okay to leave some of the inferior genetics is as mentioned you leave the option for them to dominate genetics by becoming a “bully buck”. The continued reference of it might be a cull buck somewhere else or it will still be a..... offers the validation of why to cull these bucks. Yes, at first especially in areas where genetics are poor there maybe a lot of culling. I believe the most essential piece that needed to be discussed was not. The need to take nutrient / mineral analysis of soils and realize what those minerals / nutrients affects are on the animals. One of these is selenium, if there is deficiency ruminants might be aborting, not conceiving, deer will demonstrate spike formations in early antler growth. It seems the function of this video was to argue there needs to be more deer.

I agree with some of the other comments here to me it's more about his young body size an shape then antler size or shape I believe they have to become fully mature to see there antler potential even if it's still got a screwed up rack at 5 1/2 or 6 1/2 more than likely it's going to be a big screwed up rack. and like you said Jeff it's more than likely from something else besides gens.

Whitetail habitat I have a 3.5 year old spike should I shoot him or give him another year?

I shot a cow horn this year on mistake but I did the right thing and taged it but some ppl shoot them because like u said they think they will stay a spike and they let them lay that really makes me mad or shooting any deer and letting it lay I found 4 deer 2 big bucks dropped in Thier tracks and the guy left it lay

We cant shoot spikes here in our zone,buck has to have atleast 3pts on 1 side. This has helped out alot here. Now what about a 3.5 6pt? Chances he will always b a 6pt?

Hunt for meat not the rack

0:59 Elliot: "I'm a unihorn! Don't look at me! Don't look at me! I'm hideous! I'm a monster!" 🦌

In Texas they are actually crafting the laws to encourage us to shoot a spike and not burn our only buck tag in that county for instance in what used to be a one buck county it is now a two buck county with at least having one unbranched antler and only one having an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. I am fine with antler restrictions it keeps people from shooting younger bucks and lets them get older but in my experience most spikes are just baby bucks that are on their first or possibly second rack however I have seen some really big spikes that appear to be 3 year old or more and I think those might need to go but because I an not willing to burn one of my tags I will let someone else shoot it for me. I am lucky enough to live in an area that is in a corner of 4 different counties and have a place to hunt in 3 sometimes all 4 of those counties so I have the potential to use all 3 of my buck tags on a trophy and I did just that in 2011. In 2011 I took a nice 9 point in Parker county and a few days later I took a big 10 pt in Erath County (we did not find him for almost a year but when we did his skull and antlers were intact!) I also took a huge 8 point on my ranch in Hood County it was the biggest deer I had ever shot so that is why I hate burning tags on so called cull bucks if a deer needs to be shot I will gladly let someone bring out a kid and let them take it and if they don't get it then no big deal. Hopefully by next season my oldest daughter who will be 10 will be ready to start hunting with me and as my rules dictate on my property she will be allowed to shoot anything legal since she has never killed a deer before (even a doe which is a HUGE no no on my land otherwise) and not only will I be the most proud daddy alive she will be one more huntress in the world and future NRA member helping in conservation of our improving whitetail habitat.

What about bucks in an area that genetically only grow one main beam and just a stub on the other side? I saw a six point like that on camera early this season and shot what amounted to be a three point yesterday. He had a one inch or so stub on the right and a beam with two points on the left. And no, it didn't come close to looking like it had been broke off.

My cousin always shots any deer that comes out, he says if it is Brown it’s down, and I always tell him to let’s the small deer grow big and mature. He never listens, now our privet hunting land has a small amount of bucks and lots of small does. Can i have some advice how to brings some big deer back in southeastern Massachusetts

What if you feel like you have more bucks than does- could that be a good reason to cull some bucks as well?

Yeah your right brother I agree. Great video as always. Thank u for sharing wthh us GOD BLESS. That spike could be the next Pope and Young to. Have a blessed today Amen.

So can you answer this question... if I'm 12 years old and I havent shot my first buck yet but I've shot does, should I shoot a spike or wait? Please I'm desperate

There is also the rarer case of spike bucks getting older and not developing. My first buck was a HUGE spike buck, 4 1/2 years old with 10/11 inch spikes. That deer had to be got...

Jeff ,i started deer hunting in Michigan when i was 17 years old, at that time 1 buck was the limit for the season bow or gun. Culling deer was unheard of at that time.Hunter success was 20 % we were all meat hunters ,antler size did not matter many hunters my self included were happy to get ANY buck .Snob hunters have made antler size their most important aspect for killing a buck while forgetting the reason we are given the right to hunt is controlling wild life populations!!

I like leaving all those little bucks and letting them grow. Started doing that on my property a few years ago and ever since I’ve been able to take bigger and bigger bucks year after year. And now instead of one or two bucks wandering around I have lots of bucks that are all up and coming with lots of good hunting in the future and lots of bucks to maintain a healthy diverse population.

Our neighbor has a cull that lives on his property. I jokingly named him Eliot (off of open season) because he only grows one antler, the 2nd antler always stays a spike. but the thing is he always disappears during hunting season and reappears after. It's pretty worrying cause that means his genetics are possibly being passed on. It's not an injury, he's been around a few years. Never fails, one antler barely grows.

When it comes to genes people seem to forget that does also carry both good and bad genes for producing a trophy. That being said kill all the ''cull'' bucks you want to but you will never knock those genes out completely but may just increase chances for better bucks to do most of the breeding. Also a trash deer to one man is another man's trophy. I'm all for killing a big deer but i'm middle aged and have a lot of deer under my belt. I used to kill a lot of smaller bucks but still was very happy and we still at venison at my house so i'd never knock a man for killing a smaller buck. I do wish more people would have trigger finger discipline but to each their own and i'm just happy to see folks enjoy the time in the woods. This trophy thing has sort of gotten out of hand and there comes a point it takes the enjoyment out of hunting. To each his own and happy and safe hunting!

I just learned something here. I've always thought spikes were just young immature bucks and that all bucks start out that way....thanks!

I thought the 1.5 year old bucks were chased from the area by the does anyway. So you would really be shooting the bucks that would mature elsewhere. I don't shoot yearling bucks anyway and would take a doe instead but would it really hurt your mature deer when they likely come from a different area.

thank you

Google images of spikes from the Muey Grande in Freer TX. You'll see some pics of huge spikes that went unchecked for years.

I keep seeing some bucks every year that have one antler and the other antler is deformed at the base and it only grows an inch or two. I have shot at least 10 of them, yet every year another one or so shows up. So, I guess you're right, I can't eliminate a bad gene. Some real nice bodied deer that had to be at least 2.5 or 3.5 years old continue to grow this mutant antler, they don't seem to out grow it.

I pass on a lot of spikes and even forkers and small eights but over here in my part of Marathon county there is too many people that are meat hunters. If they would let them small bucks go we could have some booners. We have great genetics over here but they don’t get to reach that prime age.

I like having Spike bucks walk past my stand, they're fun to watch and it helps the big boys come past you, because they feel more comfortable once a little ones go first.

I passed up one deer and it was a six point buck maybe eight it was hard to tell. Plus I hunt by a thick plot of Oak and Birch with a Field by it so I see lots of things. Stupid woodpecker last season I was in my stand and I heard a racket below me I couldn't tell what it was I did know if it was. A skunk, Wood pecker, or deer.

To JT noted your comments the point I was making is that the anti hunting crowd can use trophy hunting to argue their case to shut down hunting . Any whitetail is a trophy no matter size or sex it's all up to the individual hunter on what they decide to take . I've hunted whitetails for 57 years and have taken over 70 bucks in that time to me they are all trophies an thru all age classes! Whitetails a no doubt one of the greatest animals to hunt! Hunting pressure , predation and weather have great influence on deer herds. Bucks making it to breeding maturity have to survive a lot.the largest age group of bucks harvested is 18 months which puts them in the spike ,fork horn , small 6 pointer or basket 8 class for a buck to make it 4,5,6 years and 130 class or better a lot of factors are in play for this to happen.

so I have heard the term cow horned Spike used a lot, A big deer with very thick and rather long spikes. Will these deer ever be anything other than a spike ?? the argument I have heard is they will not, but I really don't know if that's an excuse to shoot a buck you should have let walk.

Just shot a 130 ish 8 point. Been a huge couple years in central ohio.

Vealison is on the menu!

My first deer (last year) was a 1.5yr buck. I was so proud of myself, but now I regret it and I might take his cap off of my wall. He had great "spikes" for a young deer. My second deer (this year) was a 2.5yr buck with MESSED UP antlers. His skull was malformed, and one of his antlers grew misshaped. It probably hurt him, based on the "crack" down the middle of it. Is THIS a culling buck? I'm proud of that archery kill but again, not sure if I want to mount his ugly cap!

Glad you hit on the top reason, Venison in the freezer! There's lots of deer I'd pass on early season, that I wouldn't hesitate to shoot at the end of the season if I hadn't had much success.

I had some friends come over and cull a few spikes. Mostly the deformed ones. The herd I manage had several spikes very deformed. Among them were a lot of older 8 pointers who's racks were smaller but weighed over 200 pounds. I put out minerals this year and seen much better racks. You cant remove the gene pool but you can cut it down.

Thank you for this. Hopefully a lot of hunters see this and stop spreading misinformation. Spikes are just babies!

Also the reason does come into heat then run miles before bedding down with a buck is to get her scent in front of the best genetic buck in the area. In areas where all the bucks get shot at 1.5 years old or the buck to doe ratio is really out of whack then yes small bucks may breed does. In a more typical situation it's unlikely a big buck won't show up and kick the little buck out before the doe is ready to be bred.

And I've seen some big body spikes into three pointers

soo let spikes go? or let 2.5 yr old 8 pts go? shoot forkhorns? which buck should be shot to be beneficial to the herd?

So spikes as you call them are like spikers (red deer)?

This year I shot a double spiked buck that was shot in a spot where it did not damage any meat

Boy pa where i hunt they had antler restrictions for years and now you hardly even see a buck. Before that you seen slot of bucks of all sizes

one time i saw 3 smaller bucks all at the same time that were identical, all missing the left side of their antlers. they HAD to be brothers.

I haven't shot a deer yet. I'll take the first one that presents itself to me

My problem with the UPs quality deer manglement is the fact that we are practicing antler point restrictions instead of age class restrictions, so we are killing 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old 6s and 8s and leaving spikes to do the breading. We had a lot nicer deer when we only had 1 license per year, most people can't age a Buck just by looking at him especially if you hunt thick cover JMO.

Why would you cull out spikes anyway because every buck starts out like a spike and becomes bigger

I'm 14 killed my first buck at 11 it was a nice 8 point. Then the 2018 season I wanted to get one with a bow if I remember I think I let 2 spikes walk that day but it was late afternoon I had a spike 10 yards infornont of me so I took because it was gonna be my first kill with a bow

One strange thing we see here is bucks that have good spread and length with no G-1s rack starts at G-2. Some will have 4 points and no brow tine.

Your right Cull bucks will get big when mature..... If you're talking 150 gross and boone and Crockett. My 9 years practicing qdm... 1 out of 10 bucks will grow 150 inches to a boone and Crockett rack. Most bucks at 4 1/2 reach their antlers at 95%. 5 1/2 and older their racks reach at 100% or more... I had a buck that's 6 1/2 yrs old. massive 8pt probably in the 120 range and his racks still the same when he matured at 4 1/2. Not all mature bucks will grow into a huge tall wide antlerd deer.

Thank you I can't stand when people use the phrase "once a spike always a spike" I've been watching a buck on Texas public land since he was a spike he will be 5.5 next year if he makes it through the spring and summer months and he was a 4.5 9pt and around 130".

You can't remove the gene pull completely but you can cut it down by culling

The percentage of people that don’t understand or don’t want to understand deer is ungodly. I’m VERY fortunate to be able to hunt every day of the season if I want. You learn when to let them walk.

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