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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: giff on November 09, 2010, 09:56:00 PM

Title: old spike
Post by: giff on November 09, 2010, 09:56:00 PM
sunday morning I had a good sized spike about 15 yards away. unfortunately could not get a shot. I didn't think anything of it but when I replayed it in my mind I realized he had a gray muzzle. was it just my imagination? how old when they get a gray muzzle? anyone else ever seen this?
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Buckeye Trad Hunter on November 10, 2010, 11:48:00 AM
It happens sometimes.  I have seen two different spikes over the years that were obviously older deer.  They had quite a bit of mass as well.  I've also saw a large and obviously older fork horn as well.  He had probably  an 18" spread with 4"-5" mass on his beems.  You can tell an older deer by their body.  You can't guess their exact age but you can tell a 3-4 year old from an 18 month old
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: BigCountryOK on November 10, 2010, 11:58:00 AM
I've seen older spikes.  Keep in mind to that coloring is not always an indicator of age.  Body structure is a better indicator IMO.  I've seen a 3.5yr old deer that was very gray.
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on November 10, 2010, 12:09:00 PM
I saw a big Spike last Saturday.  He was making scrapes and grunting. I think it was a 1 1/2 year old but he was a bit far from me to have a better guess.  it is possible for older deer have poor genetics and only spike horns.  I have also seen deer that appear to be spikes that have busted antlers.  

The body itself would be  a better indication for the age of the deer.
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Hoyt on November 10, 2010, 01:42:00 PM
Here's an older one.
 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/DEER/Bigspike.jpg)
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: kybowman on November 10, 2010, 01:45:00 PM
Dang Hoyt,
          looks like jerky on the hoof!!
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: dragonheart on November 10, 2010, 02:49:00 PM
Wow!  What a spike
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Wannabe1 on November 10, 2010, 04:52:00 PM
Dangdest thang I ever did see!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: woodchucker on November 10, 2010, 05:26:00 PM
I saw a spike that looked like he had 2 hatchet handles sticking out of his head.

He must have been an old bugger... He didn't have any teeth!!!
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Bud B. on November 10, 2010, 05:50:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by woodchucker:
I saw a spike that looked like he had 2 hatchet handles sticking out of his head.

He must have been an old bugger... He didn't have any teeth!!!
Probably something to that. No teeth = different diet= less nutrients to form antlers. that would be my guess.
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on November 10, 2010, 06:25:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by woodchucker:
I saw a spike that looked like he had 2 hatchet handles sticking out of his head.

He must have been an old bugger... He didn't have any teeth!!!
Chuck, That's from eating rocks and not brushing his teeth   :knothead:    :laughing:
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on November 10, 2010, 07:01:00 PM
Good Gosh Hoyt! I'm guessing that's a real spike, but it's so odd looking that it almost seem photoshopped? I know it must not be or you wouldn't have posted it, but I have never in my life seen anything as strange as that dude!
Unbelievable.

A short blocky nose, thick head and jaw structure, and grey around the muzzle and face are all good indicators of an older deer. The short blocky snout is a dead give away of a mature buck, only examination of the teeth will reveal his true age.
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Bent Rig on November 10, 2010, 08:39:00 PM
I guess I've never seen a real spike till yours Hoyt ! Lol !! the others were just babies to that one !!!  :eek:
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Dean Lintz on November 10, 2010, 08:45:00 PM
Hoyt that loos like a Texas Longhorn. LOL
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Yellow Dog on November 10, 2010, 08:48:00 PM
The heaviest bow kill I ever took in Michigan dressed out at 171#. He had a tiny little forkhorn rack. I took him to the DNR check station and they aged him at 3 1/2 years. The butcher that does my deer for me told me he was the second heaviest deer he took in for the early bow season, and he'd done about 250 deer so far.
Title: Re: old spike
Post by: Don Stokes on November 10, 2010, 09:00:00 PM
My ex shot a full-grown deer for a doe, and found that it had buttons. The club biologist aged it at 1 1/2 years. The buttons were exactly like a regular button buck fawn's.