Spike buck….How old is he??

I’ve always felt that a spike buck is a 1 1/2 year old deer. How many yearling bucks grow 3″-12″ spikes?? Does it depend on where you hunt? When I hunt up in Northern WI I see a lot of spike bucks, the complete opposite is true when I hunt in central WI. I see very few spikes. I always figured it was the minerals in the areas that I hunted contributing to better antler growth. I never felt a 9 month old deer could grow 3″-12″ spikes my friend believe they will……Help settle the dispute. Thanks Whatsa

a 6-9 month old deer will NEVER have spikes. Not ever. Your spikes are 1 1/2 years old. I have seen many 1 1/2 old 8’s and shot a half rack 1 1/2 year old 10 last year. I know this because I thought he was a doe in muzzle loader season and he had 5 very scorable points on one side and a broken rack on the other. He was 116 lbs.

Again, tell your buddy to look it up.. a first year deer will never have a polished rack.

Thats what everybody says down here too, they button or spike the first 1-1/2 years then they grow a bigger rack after that.

I would not say never. About 10 years ago my friends and I saw what looked to be a yearling with 4″ spikes that looked like he tried to grow points at the end. The thing is he was one of the smallest fawn I have ever seen. This was in SW Wisconsin. But yes just about all spikes are 1.5 year olds

I bet it was the smallest 1.5 year old you have ever seen……I still don’t believe a yearling will have anything but buttons.

Whatsa