BT spike - shoot or don't shoot?

[SteelheadTed]

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.

[kirkl]

My tag would be filled if I saw him for the late hunt.

[h20hunter]

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.

[bobcat]

That's a great question and really you're the only one who can answer it.

[Woodchuck]

Click the safety off, settle the cross hairs, let breath out slowly, squeeze...

[lamrith]

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!

[X-Force]

That's a great question and really you're the only one who can answer it.

[superdown]

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.

[pianoman9701]

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!

[elkboy]

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!

[2labs]

Deer veal

[WAnoob]

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 

[Firedogg]

 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.

[SteelheadTed]

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.

[steen]

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.

[HntnFsh]

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!

Your sure giving those bios a lot of credit!

[bobcat]

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!

Your sure giving those bios a lot of credit!

I'm not sure the biologists have anything to do with the way the seasons are set up.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I smell fresh back straps in your near future!  Yes this is my fortune cookie to you!

[Humptulips]

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!

Your sure giving those bios a lot of credit!

I'm not sure the biologists have anything to do with the way the seasons are set up.

My thoughts exactly!

[Thehowler]

Bios are yoyos, if legal, kill that stupid spike and enjoy the BBQ's!

[BOWHUNTER45]

KILL IT & GRILL IT !

[Twispriver]

Here's what I think

[Molon5labe]

The meat is more important to me than the headgear so I decided before the season started I would take the first legal deer I saw. Sure it would have been neat to have a giant rack to hang on my wall but I have meat in the freezer now and there's always next year.

[huntkah]

The whole weest side should be a 2 point zone.

Why do you think oregon blacktail hunting is so much better.

[luckyman]

People like to show off their big bucks and it's easy to start thinking there a big buck around ever tree.
Most of the deer taken are not that impressive in size and don't get bragged much.
 Take the spike if you want dinner.

[netcoyote]

The year after I got nice BT from an area that didn't seem to have a lot of pressure, I had a little spike appear out of nowhere. I froze and slowly raised my rifle. He wasn't spooked but started walking up to me. He looked at me and blinked his eyes like he was just interested in what I was. It was the first day of late season and I knew the area had some nice bucks and I had planned to hunt for a few days. I held my shot and never saw another buck that season.

Still question that non-shot and probably would take him if presented with a similar situation again. Everyone and every situation is different. Ultimately you are the one with the finger on the trigger.

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

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.

Only issue with that is the fact plenty of 4 pt bulls are as old or older then 5x5s.

[pianoman9701]

The whole weest side should be a 2 point zone.

Why do you think oregon blacktail hunting is so much better.

This is the opposite of setting antler restrictions based on biological study, and animal densities and ratios.

[bobcat]

The whole weest side should be a 2 point zone.

Why do you think oregon blacktail hunting is so much better.

This is the opposite of setting antler restrictions based on biological study, and animal densities and ratios.

Just like the 3 point minimum on mule deer.

[Tacbeav]

I grew up hunting in Oregon.  It is true that the blacktail areas there are 2 point or better, but I don't agree that the hunting for them "is so much better there".  I have killed spikes and also let some walk based on the time of the season and the size of the animal. There is a significant difference between a little 2 or 3 inch spike and one that is apparently a year older with longer spikes. The bigger ones often look like a two point when looking straight at you or away from you at first glance or a from a distance.  One argument against a 2 point regulation in Washington is that some of these would no doubt be killed by accident and left behind when the hunter realized the mistake.   

[Blacktail Sniper]

I grew up hunting in Oregon.  It is true that the blacktail areas there are 2 point or better, but I don't agree that the hunting for them "is so much better there".  I have killed spikes and also let some walk based on the time of the season and the size of the animal. There is a significant difference between a little 2 or 3 inch spike and one that is apparently a year older with longer spikes. The bigger ones often look like a two point when looking straight at you or away from you at first glance or a from a distance.  One argument against a 2 point regulation in Washington is that some of these would no doubt be killed by accident and left behind when the hunter realized the mistake.   

Much like the two points shot in a three point mule deer area and the sticker spikes shot in a true spike elk unit....

[Stein]

I shot a 1x2 feeding on irrigated land evening of opening day in MT.  Tastes delicious.


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[SteelheadTed]

The whole weest side should be a 2 point zone.

Why do you think oregon blacktail hunting is so much better.

I am not sure it is that easy, but in a micro case, that is what I am thinking about.  If I am hunting deer that are mostly cruising private land that I know no one else is hunting, perhaps I do a little bit of micromanaging of my little hunting area.

That said, for my first deer, I think I am killing the first legal deer I see.

[huntkah]

It's that simple.  Look at oregons harvest compared to Washington. With no spikes. It's no secret deer get smarter as they get older. Smarter deer live longer. Deer that live longer create more opportunities down the road.

Other major factors are does and predator control. It's truly not rocket science.

Mule deer in general have they're own problems. They need habitat. It's going away.

Look at 117/121. Nearly everyone who lived there said it improved. I saw it improve but the babies complained and got rid of the restrictions.

You want more deer then you have to make some sacrifices. Leaving the does alone and not shooting literal baby deer would be a start. I know washington has a lot of people but when your best general unit barely exceeds 30%success for deer and most arefar less than that you're managing something wrong. But no one will sacrifice for a few years to let things improve.  $ and greed.

[Big6bull]

If my freezer is full I will be passing on spikes. Freezer empty I don't think I could pass up the shot

[TheSkyBuster]

Meat!

[jtw]

I've never taken a spike, however I would have if my first deer had been one.
As previously mentioned I would shoot one of the "longer" spikes. I've seen some young spikes that were "barely legal" that wouldn't make up for the cost of the tag in meat. But, 1" is legal so your call.

[2labs]

You snuffed Bambi...

[TheSkyBuster]

You snuffed Bambi...

 


Bambi had it coming!

[2labs]

Hahaha. That's great! I never trusted Bambi or thumper!

[Thehowler]

Good job snuffing that sucker!

[fishnfur]

 

I completely agree - kill a spike if you need/want the meat, or it's your first deer.  After 5 years of tag soup, there was still no way I was going to take a spike this year.  At least that was the plan.  I may have reconsidered the plan if I was still hunting today.

[SteelheadTed]

I found my spike!  But, on the shoulders of another hunter.  The only other dudes with access where I was hunting are related to the land owners, can't complain about that, they are generous enough to share the land with me.  Was cool to see, they knew where the buck was chilling for the time of day and weather, found him and drilled him.  The lesson learned about where the deer hang out in different conditions on this piece of land was worth the trip.  A long walk in the woods on a beautiful day didn't suck either.

[Wingin it]

I have passed up many spikes in my 26 years of hunting. I have also had to eat my tag on some of those years. I shot my first spike on Saturday. My freezer is full again and he'll feed my family with good organic meat. If I had it to do over he'd be right where he is now.