Reading some articles on developing deer herds some people argue that a cow horn and a spike horn are the same. Other articles say that a cow horn is an immature deer where spikehorn is a genetic anomaly.
Any thoughts, comments, or information?
I’ve always considered a cow horn to be a “mature” deer with spikes. Anything 3 1/2 or older with cow horns is displaying undesirable genes and we would get him out of the gene pool.
As far as spikes, which I consider immature bucks, I’ll give them a pass until they reach 3 1/2. At that point, in my opinion, they become a cow horn and will be taken out.
I’ve seen spikes grow into “wall hangers” and I’ve seen them go on to be nothing more than a cow horn. I believe if one’s management practices call for culling young (2.5 yeas old or less) spike bucks, that’s irresponsible management at best.
God bless the “ignore” function.
If you see a buck with spikes over 12" long - and over 120 lbs , drop him!
Maybe Poly will reply after he gets out of his stand.He knows more about deer management than anyone I know. Sometimes I send him a picture of a questionable deer and let him make the call.
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Originally posted by natureboyIf you see a buck with spikes over 12" long - and over 120 lbs , drop him!
I AGREE 100 %
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Originally posted by bangstickI’ve always considered a cow horn to be a “mature” deer with spikes. Anything 3 1/2 or older with cow horns is displaying undesirable genes and we would get him out of the gene pool.
As far as spikes, which I consider immature bucks, I’ll give them a pass until they reach 3 1/2. At that point, in my opinion, they become a cow horn and will be taken out.
I’ve seen spikes grow into “wall hangers” and I’ve seen them go on to be nothing more than a cow horn. I believe if one’s management practices call for culling young (2.5 yeas old or less) spike bucks, that’s irresponsible management at best.
This. There are A LOT of variables that go into deer growth. Hell you can even have a 3.5YO cow horn that moved to your land from poor land and he can explode with growth. IMO it’s best to work off of age and size not just 1.5YO development.
First, Most, Biggest
This. There are A LOT of variables that go into deer growth. Hell you can even have a 3.5YO cow horn that moved to your land from poor land and he can explode with growth. IMO it’s best to work off of age and size not just 1.5YO development.
Ok so how do you accurately age a deer in the field? Beyond the “he has spots and his muzzle is grey” stages.
There are several body characteristics that go into aging a deer on the hoof while in the field and it can be done, with experience, with great accuracy.
This is a pretty good resource. Plus, you can get posters from QDMA that put these descriptions into pictures of deer falling into each age category.
https://www.qdma.com/aging-bucks-on-the-hoof/
Here’s the link for the posters…
https://shop.qdma.com/selective-buck-harvest-poster.html
God bless the “ignore” function.
Spike usually a younger deer. Cow horn just another word for spike in the group I’ve grown up with. As to age or why the deer is a Cowhorn/spike many variables. Most first year deer are button bucks, after that only few will be spikes/cowhorns.
What reelshock said.
“Why Bruce?”
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Originally posted by smanMaybe Poly will reply after he gets out of his stand.He knows more about deer management than anyone I know. Sometimes I send him a picture of a questionable deer and let him make the call.
Really? He tells me there is no such thing as a Cull deer. I tend to disagree. 
In many areas it is the does that need culling.
“Why Bruce?”
Poly probably knows more about deer management than all of us combined. Regardless of what anyone on this website says, he is extremely knowledgeable in quality deer management.
I only pretend to know a little, and that dead deer in the picture is a young immature buck. If you want to grow decent bucks, quit shooting the babies.
Quit looking at antlers and learn to judge age on body characteristics.
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
I only pretend to know a little, and that dead deer in the picture is a young immature buck. If you want to grow decent bucks, quit shooting the babies.
Quit looking at antlers and learn to judge age on body characteristics.
<?> IF <?> I am tracking correctly from cameras on the property this deer has shown up for three years now with the same horn configuration. The reason I took him was to get the straight horns out. Not the intention to shoot under developed it is to shoot poorly developed.
Now with the whole tag mess it will be much harder to manage the does.
There are many resources on line for aging deer on the hoof. I have plenty of game cams on the land I hunt and I see the same deer over and over. If a deer reaches 2.5 years and is still a spike and the other bucks in his age class are 6 to 8 points I will take out the spike. I have a rack from a 4.5 yo buck (Jawbone aged) that is only a 6 pt with a drop tine that I shot last season. He should have been taken out at 2.5
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Originally posted by ReelShockI only pretend to know a little, and that dead deer in the picture is a young immature buck. If you want to grow decent bucks, quit shooting the babies.
Quit looking at antlers and learn to judge age on body characteristics.
<?> IF <?> I am tracking correctly from cameras on the property this deer has shown up for three years now with the same horn configuration. The reason I took him was to get the straight horns out. Not the intention to shoot under developed it is to shoot poorly developed.
Now with the whole tag mess it will be much harder to manage the does.
If you say you have three years worth of trail camera photos of this deer (the one in the picture) then I have no reason to doubt but at first glance I’d agree with 23, antlers aside, that deer’s body (neck) possesses zero characteristics of a 3 year old. He looks like a doe with antlers. If that deer is in fact 3 years old, he has bigger issues than just poor genetics. Granted, like I said, you can’t see much of his body.
I don’t see how the new tag system is going to make it harder to manage does. Keep in mind, the DNR has to have a much wider scope when it comes to managing the state’s natural resources. Their job is to manage on a macro level, not a micro level. They have to juggle the needs of the natural resources, in this case it’s deer, with the wants of the hunters. That’s not an easy thing to do and some hunters definitely don’t make it easy on them because they’re constantly berating the DNR and the job they do. If you have a piece of property and you’re concerned there are too many does on your property, there are other programs available through the DNR to assist you. The new tag system isn’t the only tag system available. As far as the new tag system being a “mess,” I
what are you using to determine that the deer in the pic is the same one you have seen on trailcam the last three years? what kind of characteristics are you going by to know its the same deer? just curious.
I’d love to see the trail cam photos as well as a full body picture of the deer above. That will help determine the true age of the deer.
“Another poon dream splintered on the rocks of reality.” --Peepod 07-25-2017
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Originally posted by dixiedeerslayawhat are you using to determine that the deer in the pic is the same one you have seen on trailcam the last three years? what kind of characteristics are you going by to know its the same deer? just curious.
Three years worth of trail camera photos is more than adequate to accurately identify a deer and as long as you know how to accurately field judge a deer’s age, you can use that along with the three years worth of pictures to be incredibly proficient at aging and identifying specific deer.
I’d love to see photos of this buck from the last few years. I still say if that buck is in fact 3 yeas old, he’s either “sick” or grossly undernourished. But again, full body pictures would tell the story a lot better than our speculations.
God bless the “ignore” function.
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Originally posted by dixiedeerslayawhat are you using to determine that the deer in the pic is the same one you have seen on trailcam the last three years? what kind of characteristics are you going by to know its the same deer? just curious.
Im very familiar with truck tailgates and judging by the one in that picture that deer isn’t 2 months past his 1.5yr birthday. This is the biggest excuse making thread Ive ever seen, 23 thank you for this truthful statement that dead deer in the picture is a young immature buck. If you want to grow decent bucks, quit shooting the babies.
Huh! I spent so much time looking at the deer that I didn’t even consider the tailgate. You can clearly see the deer’s tail in the upper left hand corner of the picture. I had my doubts but referencing the size of the tailgate in comparison to the deer ices it for me. Good eye, salty.
Reelshock, I’m thinking you might be seeing a different buck in those three years of trail camera pictures you mentioned because this youngster hasn’t been alive that long.
God bless the “ignore” function.
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Originally posted by 23SailfishPoly probably knows more about deer management than all of us combined. Regardless of what anyone on this website says, he is extremely knowledgeable in quality deer management.
23sailfish, isn’t deer hunting relatively new to you by some of your earlier posts on it?
I don’t disagree that polly may know a lot about deer management, but a faceless name on an internet sight is not a very good measure for me. Maybe a face to face conversation would change it some. As to all of us combined, I call B.S. The plantation managers and owners I know, know a lot as well as many members on this sight that don’t post here. I’m talking plantations from 600 acres to 22,000 acres. Not to mention a couple of DNR agents I’ve grown up with. 
I use this statement for you to judge me as well, we don’t know each other, but I assure you I have no reason to lie.
Besides Polly thinks all dog hunting should stop. Just hope if it does everyone steps up to the plate and quits worrying about a trophy buck and shoots some does and cull bucks. Big difference in a fenced in piece of property over a stretch of open swamp and the varying methods to manage deer in all areas. Really IMO there can be no QDMA in an area with small tracks and many landowners with differing ideas.
So in all this I’d call Reelshocks tailgate deer either a spike or cowhorn and feel comfortable. I would have probably let that one walk, looks very young to me. But then I’m more into hunting doe and letting most bucks walk. I’ll save the trophy’s for the first timers in my family and those that are interested in such.
“Why Bruce?”