Unforked antler question

As far as the spike or one un-forked antler, would this guy be legal? Small fork on one and nub on the other. Can the nub be considered the un-forked antler?

This guy seems to have bulked up over the last month and a half eating corn and protein mix at the feeders.

probably good eating, but a yearling buck isn't what I consider a spike for using my tags.

Very very young

i also think he is young. i bet he will surprise you next year, i would let him walk

My feelings as well. What I look for are 2-1/2 year bucks with a single, unbranched antler since the better ones will carry two of them.

Is that milk dripping from his lips.

IF this was on public land I would agree with you and see if it is legal to shoot. I think this would be considered as 1 unbranched. But clearly with the feeder this is not public land, and I would let him walk for a year or 3

Dirt nap

Next year.

An example of what I'm looking for when it comes to tweaking the herd...

Thanks for the input guys. I'll let him go, he's got a lot better body than some of his counter parts. I have seen a couple of crab claw 4 pts. that I would love to take down but with ARs. No bueno. Maybe if I can shoot a fork off, and get another shot off before he knows what happens.....

1 1/2 to 2 1/2 is tough for me to age right now, tips....

Do they appear to be the buck's first or second set of antlers? Fawns born six months prior will not have antlers, and 1-1/2 year bucks will have shorter spikes, generally speaking.

IMO, much of it comes from simply comparing the characteristics of the deer you see. You'll begin to notice the differences in appearance and pick out the ones that lag their peers.

It also helps to spend time in the woods during the off season, perhaps while hog hunting, and just study the deer you see.

18 month old. I'd for sure give him time. Probably a yearling doe birth, late.

You really think the length of the spikes have anything to do with the age of the deer? So a spike with 4" spikes is a yearling and a spike with 10" spikes is a 2 year old?

IMO, the issue is more a matter of a buck being old enough to develop two branched antlers. If he only carries one, I remove him if I have a tag available, no matter the length of the unbranched antler.

To each his own.

I agree, shoot what you want. I don't care either way. 95 percent of spikes are yearlings like the one you pictured.

Again, just my own opinion, but if a buck is old enough to grow a branched antler, he's old enough to grow two of them if the genetics are there.

Granted, opinions vary on the validity, but two forked antlers appears to be the earliest indicator of genetic potential. There are always exceptions with anything. But exceptions should never be the basis for holding back standards that achieve overall benefits.

Besides, I would bet most hunters are giving the true yearlings with two, unbranched antlers a pass anyway, despite what some of you might choose to believe.