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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: littlebuf on May 24, 2009, 02:37:34 PM


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Title: spike in velvet
Post by: littlebuf on May 24, 2009, 02:37:34 PM
this popped up in random pics, what time of year can you get a elk in velvet? they should be all bone by the time archery rolls around shouldn't they? maybe this is your pic id like to hear the story
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: bobcat on May 24, 2009, 02:57:49 PM
Could be from a state other than Washington, possibly Oregon. The archery season there starts the end of August.
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: rackattack on May 24, 2009, 03:22:26 PM
Depends on the year and the area.  Last year during early muzzy season I saw a majority of the spikes still had velvet.  About 10 years ago I saw a spike down in the Wind River Unit (any elk, so spikes are legal) that was still in velvet during rifle season.   Seems they run about a month or more later here in the SW. :dunno:
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: hunterofelk on May 24, 2009, 03:57:20 PM
I think it depends on the testosterone in the animal.  Spikes are a year and a half old, so they might not have it all.  I killed this spike in late October and the dried strands of velvet where still clinging to the antlers.  I found a spike shed that still had velvet on it.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi3.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy94%2Fhunterofelk%2F100_1786.jpg&hash=d9cf9d0145dcc5f7569e6de705cd1ae4094ef31c)
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: littlebuf on May 24, 2009, 07:29:54 PM
well you learn something new everyday. being a wet side hunter we dont even pay attention to spikes, there not really a option over here
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: TheHunt on May 24, 2009, 08:54:56 PM
It has not been to long ago that Oregon elk hunting started the second week of August. 
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: elksnout on May 24, 2009, 09:36:21 PM
I've seen more than my share of spikes with velvet on during west side rifle elk. Back when we could still shoot them I got one once that had dried velvet hanging form the horns. I don't think it's that uncommon.
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: SHANE(WA) on May 24, 2009, 09:43:21 PM
I took a spike on Sept 10 th , not uncommon to see spikes into the middle of the month in velvet
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: colockumelk on May 25, 2009, 12:39:41 AM
I've seen spikes in December at the feed station fully covered in velvet.  Three years ago during the muzzle loader season my camp got three spikes and all three had full velvet.  It's because they have a low amount of testosterone and also mostly because they're too dumb to rub the velvet off. 
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: Yak-NDN on May 25, 2009, 09:00:56 AM
It is not unusual to see velvet on a spike into October and depending on the elk even later.
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: littlebuf on May 25, 2009, 09:29:12 AM
well i guess i better start looking at the spikes closer, all the ones ive seen during elk season are bare
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: C-Money on May 25, 2009, 10:39:09 AM
When I hunted archery in the Colockum, I saw many spikes with velvet during the September season. They seemd to always be a little out of bow range! :'(
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: mossback91 on May 25, 2009, 01:14:46 PM
Seen one during rifle season with velvet still..........see if I can find pics of him......he died :chuckle:
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: gasman on May 25, 2009, 05:12:56 PM
I shot a spike on 9/11/01 and it was in full velvet. The hair at the base of the antler was about 2.5" long. Still have the velvet on the antlers to this day, down in the recroom. 8)

A buddy sot his first spike in late Oct, durring the riffle season in 98" and it had velvet still. It was like a  thick skin covering the antlers.
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: Grizzly on May 26, 2009, 12:34:59 PM
I have seen a lot of spikes during archery season on the west side still in velvet  through the whole season
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: dreamingbig on May 26, 2009, 08:58:53 PM
I took this picture.  The one in the front is my uncle and he shot it during early archery elk on the east side during the second week of September.  We have taken three spikes in velvet during the past 4 years and have seen many more.  The spikes always seem to be the last to rub as the rut is late for them; testosterone levels are slow to increase.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: spike in velvet
Post by: littlebuf on May 26, 2009, 09:24:43 PM
nice looking spike  :tup: im gunna have to pay attention to these guys this hunting season, usually when i see a spike im so focused on looking for a branch antler bull that may be hanging out with him that i never give that spike a second glance
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