collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?  (Read 9189 times)

Offline SteelheadTed

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 414
  • Location: Wandering Southerly
BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« on: November 20, 2015, 01:16:32 PM »
I'm a relative newb.  I have less then a day to hunt the late season MF season in SW Washington (hunted general season for 4 days).  I know where a spike is hanging out and I feel like I have a decent shot of finding him again.  I haven't seen anything else but there is lots of sign. 

Does anyone hesitate to shoot the spike if you are in my shoes?  At this point in my hunting life I care more about the meat than the antlers, but since I'd like to hunt this area in the future I don't want to take a short term gain if it hurts the long term.  Part of me says that is WDFW's job.  The other part of me says, "manage the deer yourself".  This particular area doesn't appear to get much hunting pressure only saw one guy around during the general season.
I know I've lost it, let me know if you come across it

Offline kirkl

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 2723
  • Location: Somewhere
  • USN Veteran- USS Nimitz CVN 68
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2015, 01:18:11 PM »
My tag would be filled if I saw him for the late hunt.

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20872
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2015, 01:18:40 PM »
Kill it.

I like eating deer meat. If you have a tag, room in the freezer, and are looking to fill some of that room...shoot it.

Take a look at Bknilvr's little blacktail spike in his thread. I helped dress it out, good amount of meat, and darn is it good eating.

Offline bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 39203
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2015, 01:21:08 PM »
That's a great question and really you're the only one who can answer it.

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2015, 01:21:21 PM »
Click the safety off, settle the cross hairs, let breath out slowly, squeeze...
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

Offline lamrith

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 2161
  • Location: Tacoma, WA
    • https://www.facebook.com/pelletpeddler/
    • Pellet Peddler LLC
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2015, 01:23:15 PM »
Having passed on a spike opening day, never to see another legal deer the rest of my hunt in AZ.  If it is legal, it is going down unless I know for a fact (have seen) there is better right there in the area, or it is a known big buck producing area.    Once guns start going off, legal deer have a knack for knowing they are the target and vanishing until the end of the season.

Young deer tend to be more tender and less gamey anyway!

Offline X-Force

  • Solo Hunter
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 5567
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2015, 01:27:05 PM »
That's a great question and really you're the only one who can answer it.
:yeah:
People get offended at nothing at all. So, speak your mind and be unapologetic.

Offline superdown

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 2045
  • Location: Sumner
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2015, 01:34:02 PM »
I also like the meat better than antlers.I shot my smallest buck this year just a 3-4 inch spike on both sides and am very happy with the fact that i have some meat in the freezer a nice neck shot and no meat wasted.It is a great memory i got to share with my fiance' and a tag filled. :tup:

Offline pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 44795
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • John Wallace Mortgage
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2015, 01:48:43 PM »
If spikes are allowed in that unit, that means the biologists have determined that killing spikes, and any other deer legal for that unit, will contribute to the overall health of the herd, sexual mix, and sustain the habitat. Boom!
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman https://linktr.ee/johnlwallace https://valoaneducator.tv/johnwallace-2014743

Offline elkboy

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 1808
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2015, 01:50:38 PM »
Hey Ted-  My first deer was a blacktail spike near Toledo, Washington.  I was incredibly grateful for that deer- his body actually was not that small, and the meat was incredibly good.  His rumen was full of apples from old homestead orchards, and I swear you could detect that delicate flavor in his venison.  So, given that you appreciate meat as much or more than antlers, I think that I would go ahead and fill your freezer.  And if the unit is designated "any buck", then the WDFW has determined that young buck survival isn't really a big constraint on the herd.  GOOD LUCK!

Offline 2labs

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 2299
  • Location: Graham
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2015, 01:52:48 PM »
Deer veal :EAT:
Dino was robbed
Habitual Rock Poacher
Do these "attack" pants make my ass look big?

Offline WAnoob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 263
  • Location: bellingham
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2015, 02:52:55 PM »
Like others said this all depends on you.  I would probably take it being late season.  The more experience you get you realize you can run a risk of not seeing another on a long hunt, regarding if you pass on an animal or not.

My first deer was a spike, I am not the lucky one who shoots a bruiser my first time.  My deer tend to get bigger each year I put the work in  :chuckle:
AK 907

Offline Firedogg

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 987
  • Location: Eatonville
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2015, 02:56:28 PM »
 Early in a season with late hunts to go a spike gets to walk, late season with limited days to hunt I'm bringing home any venison I can harvest.
There is no greater respect to have for wildlife than to harvest an animal fairly and use it's flesh to feed your family.  ~me

Offline SteelheadTed

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 414
  • Location: Wandering Southerly
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2015, 06:20:41 PM »
Thanks guys.  I was leaning towards shooting the first legal deer I see, given the short, late season and the fact I didn't get one in the general. 

h20hunter: the spike I saw looks pretty much like the one in your buddies thread, glad to hear it could be a good eater (might also be the spike feeding on my in-laws apples, which would be cool).

In terms of Elk, a friend mentioned he wouldn't shoot anything less than a 5 pointer just to make sure there are always young bulls replacing the old ones.  His thought is to sort of micro manage the heard if you are hunting in a low pressure area, leave yourself bulls for the future.  I didn't think it held true for deer in quite the same way but thought I'd ask.
I know I've lost it, let me know if you come across it

Offline steen

  • Women's Board
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 1789
Re: BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2015, 08:04:36 PM »
The one time i passed on a spike I did not fill my tag that year. I had my young daughter with me, and in hindsight I would have taken the shot just to share the experience with her. I was also okay with letting him go.
I like my venison, this year I took the first buck I saw. Not to shabby, 75 lbs. of meat in the freezer. I'm just glad he was a good sized mulie.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

3 pintails by metlhead
[Today at 04:44:03 PM]


1993 Merc issues getting up on plane by Happy Gilmore
[Today at 04:37:55 PM]


A lonely Job... by AL WORRELLS KID
[Today at 03:21:14 PM]


Sauk Unit Youth Elk Tips by Kales15
[Today at 02:10:11 PM]


Unit 364 Archery Tag by buglebuster
[Today at 12:16:59 PM]


In the background by zwickeyman
[Today at 12:10:13 PM]


A. Cole Lockback in AEB-L and Micarta by A. Cole
[Today at 09:15:34 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by hunter399
[Today at 08:24:48 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by Threewolves
[Today at 06:35:57 AM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 09:02:04 PM]


Selkirk bull moose. by moose40
[Yesterday at 05:42:19 PM]


North Peninsula Salmon Fishing by Buckhunter24
[Yesterday at 12:43:12 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal