Spikes Excluded!

[highplainsdrifter]

Just before going on my September elk archery hunt, I checked the regs and discovered that for the first time in years, spikes were excluded in my hunt area. Upon checking other units, I noticed that spikes were excluded in some of them as well. This appears to be a new direction the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is moving.

Wouldn't you know it, the only chance I had to shoot an elk, was a spike. I had to pass and came home empty handed.

I am wondering what other people think about excluding spikes? I am also wondering how well this change was advertised by Game and Fish? I hadn't heard anything about it until I read it in the regs. I would think that with a change of this magnitude, they should have solicited more hunter input (maybe they did, and I missed it).

I am not sure excluding spikes does anything biologically to advance the elk population. Is it simply an effort to increase the number of mature bulls? Will it do that?

There is a post, by a first time elk hunter, in another thread. He shot a spike with his bow and is very proud of it. If this regulation had been in effect in his unit, he probably would not have gotten an elk. Also, there are old farts (like me) who are more meat hunters than trophy hunters. Is "spikes excluded" fair to first time hunters and meat hunters?

I am sure there will be a wide range of opinions on this. I look forward to the discussion. Thanks.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Good thing you checked out the regulations or it could have resulted in a ticket. This protection of spikes may just result in a lot more raghorns being taken in the following years, I don't know if it will result in more mature bulls.
I'm also an "old fart" but when I'm meat hunting I'm hunting for a cow or a doe even though I do know that even a spike is bigger than most cows.

 

[Hilltop]

I'm no expert but what I have read on the subject is that it improves overall herd ratio. In some places they run spike only hunts to tilt the ration in the other direction. In herds with low bull to cow ratios, there is little competition to breed. This results in basically all available bulls being able to breed some cows thus eliminating the concept that only the strongest get to breed. Less competition to breed also results in tougher hunting for us archery hunters. Bulls that have little or no competition to breed will bugle less and be less receptive to calling. I have hunted areas with low bull to cow ratios- it's dang tough hunting.

 

[ScottR]

Most of the units that did this have a lower age class of bulls and they are trying to raise it. It is generally harder to kill a mature bull and spikes tend to be fairly easy to kill. I have hunted quite a few of the units where they applied this rule, will likely be a good thing for the age class and the overall bull to cow ratio with time.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Most of the units that did this have a lower age class of bulls and they are trying to raise it. It is generally harder to kill a mature bull and spikes tend to be fairly easy to kill. I have hunted quite a few of the units where they applied this rule, will likely be a good thing for the age class and the overall bull to cow ratio with time.

I agree that spikes are easier to kill than mature bulls. I think they are also easier to kill than a cow...probably younger and dumber. As a result they are a prime target for meat hunters as well as beginners and those of us who are at the end of our elk hunting years.

I was disappointed that the new regs for my unit made my hunt more difficult and success less likely.

 

[ScottR]

I agree that spikes are easier to kill than mature bulls. I think they are also easier to kill than a cow...probably younger and dumber. As a result they are a prime target for meat hunters as well as beginners and those of us who are at the end of our elk hunting years.

I was disappointed that the new regs for my unit made my hunt more difficult and success less likely.

Personally I think spikes and raghorns are about like hormonal teenagers, hence their propensity for stupid decisions.

 

[ssliger]

What area did you hunt? If it was a general tag, archery is any elk. All the general tags where I hunt went to spikes excluded, but archery is any elk.


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[highplainsdrifter]

What area did you hunt? If it was a general tag, archery is any elk. All the general tags where I hunt went to spikes excluded, but archery is any elk.


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I hunted the eastern side of the Sierra Madres. Both units over there say spikes excluded. Did I read the regs wrong?

 

[ssliger]

I hunted the eastern side of the Sierra Madres. Both units over there say spikes excluded. Did I read the regs wrong?

This is what is in the regs under Special Archery seasons;
"Archers with a general elk license may only hunt in those hunt areas open to general license hunting as specified in Section 2 and may take any elk."

I double checked before I went out archery hunting.

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[highplainsdrifter]

This is what is in the regs under Special Archery seasons;

"Archers with a general elk license may only hunt in those hunt areas open to general license hunting as specified in Section 2 and may take any elk."

I double checked before I went out archery hunting.

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I called the Laramie Game and Fish office. Turns out you are correct! During archery season, spikes are not excluded. But they are excluded during rifle season.

I am not the only one confused by this. I talked to two hunters while in the field that stated spikes were excluded, so apparently they were confused also.

As it turns out, I passed on my spike on day 2 of a multi-day hunt. I remember thinking that I might not have shot even if legal because it was only day 2. On the other hand maybe I would have.

It still begs the questions: Why is Game and Fish starting to exclude spikes during rifle season? and Why hasn't there been more publicity about this to avoid confusion? It is quite unusual to have different regs during archery in a general hunt unit.

Thank you ssliger for clarifying this.

 

[Elkoholic307]

Also, there are old farts (like me) who are more meat hunters than trophy hunters. Is "spikes excluded" fair to first time hunters and meat hunters?

If you're a meat hunter, why would you want a spike? Might as well hold out for a mature cow.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I hunted the eastern side of the Sierra Madres. Both units over there say spikes excluded. Did I read the regs wrong?

You were in the Snowy Range HPD?

 

[shootbrownelk]

If you're a meat hunter, why would you want a spike? Might as well hold out for a mature cow.

I sure saw a lot of elk in the Snowies last week. They're still bugling pretty heavy...well away from the roads anyway.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

If you're a meat hunter, why would you want a spike? Might as well hold out for a mature cow.

It is a matter of what presents itself. If I am meat hunting and a spike begs me to shoot him, I am reluctant to say no just to wait for a cow. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[shootbrownelk]

It is a matter of what presents itself. If I am meat hunting and a spike begs me to shoot him, I am reluctant to say no just to wait for a cow. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

That's for sure. I'm an opportunist and hunt mainly for the meat. I've killed enough bull elk in my time, I'll leave them for someone else. Cows generally eat better than bulls and a big cow is usually heavier than a spike anyway.

 

[Elkoholic307]

A trophy hunter holds out for bigger antlers. I just assumed a meat hunter would hold out for a bigger bodied animal.