A real spike unit trophy

ridgetops · Jul 17, 2021

Here's a bull that has the makings of a great spike unit trophy, as long as he doesn't branch out on that dropper / spike side.
Hopefully I'll run across him this October since he's actually on an any bull unit.

Sallaberry · Jul 17, 2021

Ya that would be a good one.

Founder · Jul 17, 2021

He’s cool.

Old Cowboy · Jul 17, 2021

ridgetops said:
Here's a bull that has the makings of a great spike unit trophy, as long as he doesn't branch out on that dropper / spike side.
Hopefully I'll run across him this October since he's actually on an any bull unit. View attachment 46391

what's the definition of a legal spike?

littlebighorn · Jul 17, 2021

He seems too stubby on the end to not split one more point, but I guess it's worth dreaming about. Best of luck Ridge!

ridgetops · Jul 17, 2021

Old Cowboy said:
what's the definition of a legal spike?

If it doesn't fork above it's ear on at least one side, then it's a legal spike.

Shadow · Jul 17, 2021

Those club horns are cool and I love that badass Brahma face on him.

BradA · Jul 17, 2021

Cool bull! Hope you two meet up in a few months.

twdjr · Jul 17, 2021

Unique Bull

yoteduster · Jul 17, 2021

That's A cool bull..time will tell but I expect he'll fork out before he's done growing

ridgetops · Jul 17, 2021

yoteduster said:
That's A cool bull..time will tell but I expect he'll fork out before he's done growing

I'm going to check my camera in the next couple weeks. Hopefully he'll be on it again and we can see how he turned out.

yoteduster · Jul 17, 2021

Let us know how he finishes ridge

Vanilla · Jul 17, 2021

Cool bull!

elktaker · Jul 21, 2021

Definitely going to fork on that tip!!!

elkassassin · Jul 21, 2021

You Could Pack Your Cordless SAWZALL & Trim Him Down to a Spike on that one side!

ridgetops · Jul 21, 2021

elkassassin said:
You Could Pack Your Cordless SAWZALL & Trim Him Down to a Spike on that one side!

Is that legal?

elkassassin · Jul 22, 2021

No it is Not!

But Remember!

Nothing In TARDville Illegal Ever Happens!

ridgetops said:
Is that legal?

inthrut · Jul 25, 2021

no a legal spike...

travishunter3006 · Jul 25, 2021

inthrut said:
no a legal spike...

yes. A legal spike

inthrut · Jul 25, 2021

A “spike bull” means a bull elk which has at least
one antler beam with no branching above the ears. Branched means a projection on an antler longer than one inch, measured from its base to its tip (R657-5-

As of right now there are two antlers longer then one inch above the base.

Not a Spike

Shadow · Jul 25, 2021

“Above the ears”
Not a typical spike, but a legal spike by definition.
Thats assuming he doesn’t split at the top of his left MB, which it still looks like he could.

Vanilla · Jul 25, 2021

inthrut said:
A “spike bull” means a bull elk which has at least
one antler beam with no branching above the ears. Branched means a projection on an antler longer than one inch, measured from its base to its tip (R657-5-

As of right now there are two antlers longer then one inch above the base.

Not a Spike

You are correct that one antler beam has two antlers branching above the ears that are longer than 1 inch. However, the other side appears to not have that. Meaning…spike bull under Utah definition.

Everyone is correct that you have to wait and see what that back end on the left side does, but it’s got a shot.

inthrut · Jul 26, 2021

So the brow tine is not considered a projected antler branched off the main bean measured from the base to its tip??

Could be wrong but that’s how I’m reading it...

elkantlers · Jul 26, 2021

Brow tines branch below the ear.

The bull above would be considered a " Legal spike" under Utah rules at the time of the picture.

Moral of the story: Know the rules.

Shadow · Jul 26, 2021

inthrut said:
So the brow tine is not considered a projected antler branched off the main bean measured from the base to its tip??

Could be wrong but that’s how I’m reading it...

I tend to agree with you because broken bulls get shot when they really shouldn’t. I passed a last day general muzzleloader bull a couple years ago that was broken just above the eye guard. He would have been within the rules but knowing he would be a solid 330 bull had he not broke, I let him walk.
I personally wish they’d change it to a legal spike having no browtines.

Elkslayer2015 · Jul 27, 2021

I got a great idea how about just do away with spike hunting period...pretty simple

That bull that ridgetops has camera is legal on a spike unit he's a young bull I'll bet he forks though and I'll bet he has great potential to be a big bull in another 2 to 3 years....

inthrut · Jul 27, 2021

elkantlers said:
Brow tines branch below the ear.

The bull above would be considered a " Legal spike" under Utah rules at the time of the picture.

Moral of the story: Know the rules.

Is that the Moral of the story Mr Richard Head...

Some people show their true colors on here for sure...

elkantlers · Jul 27, 2021

inthrut said:
Is that the Moral of the story Mr Richard Head...

Some people show their true colors on here for sure...

LOL. Why go to insults? That speaks Volumes of your character or lack there of.

I know the rules and would kill that bull given the chance.

You, Not so much. So ya, knowing the rules matter.

travishunter3006 · Jul 28, 2021

inthrut said:
A “spike bull” means a bull elk which has at least
one antler beam with no branching above the ears. Branched means a projection on an antler longer than one inch, measured from its base to its tip (R657-5-

As of right now there are two antlers longer then one inch above the base.

Not a Spike

See any branching of his left antler above the ear there bud?

Elkslayer2015 · Jul 29, 2021

Ba

inthrut said:
A “spike bull” means a bull elk which has at least
one antler beam with no branching above the ears. Branched means a projection on an antler longer than one inch, measured from its base to its tip (R657-5-

As of right now there are two antlers longer then one inch above the base.

Not a

I hope I get this right what they are meaning There are two bases when scoring.
one is the overall beam length which is from the base of the Burr to the back end of the antler.
Now when you’re measuring your G1 G2 G3 etc. the main beam is the base of that horn if that makes sense and that’s what they are referring too..

Vanilla · Aug 2, 2021

inthrut said:
So the brow tine is not considered a projected antler branched off the main bean measured from the base to its tip??

Could be wrong but that’s how I’m reading it...

Yes, you are wrong. The branch has to be above the ear to count. Utah's spike definition is kind of silly, if you ask me, but it is still the definition.

Muleman1 · Aug 2, 2021

I wouldn’t take the chance

hornkiller · Aug 2, 2021

ridgetops said:
Is that legal?

Just photo shop a WL tramp stamp on the pic and you will be golden!

doz · Aug 13, 2021

Anymore pics of him @ridgetops

GeorgeE · Aug 13, 2021

Very cool, either way…

ridgetops · Aug 14, 2021

doz said:
Anymore pics of him @ridgetops

I ckecked my 5 cameras a couple weeks ago and I have them spread out about 1/2 to one mile apart. Nothing. Maybe he'll show back up in August or September.

travishunter3006 · Aug 14, 2021

Muleman1 said:
I wouldn’t take the chance

Good. More for us that know how to read.

Katoom · Aug 14, 2021

Aren’t the entire antlers above the ears, as in, higher on the head than the attachement of the ears? I could see if it said “above the tips of the ears when held vertically” or something more precise. that is one weird definition (using ears to define antlers) and one risky/expensive mistake if wrong.

Granted, I am not from Utah, I am not a lawyer and this does not constitute legal advise……so this is ultimately worth SQUAT.

travishunter3006 · Aug 14, 2021

Katoom said:
Aren’t the entire antlers above the ears, as in, higher on the head than the attachement of the ears? I could see if it said “above the tips of the ears when held vertically” or something more precise. that is one weird definition (using ears to define antlers) and one risky/expensive mistake if wrong.

Granted, I am not from Utah, I am not a lawyer and this does not constitute legal advise……so this is ultimately worth SQUAT.

It really is simple…. Does it branch above the ear?….. that’s it. Don’t make it into something it isn’t. It’s simple for a reason.

Vanilla · Aug 14, 2021

travishunter3006 said:
It really is simple…. Does it branch above the ear?….. that’s it. Don’t make it into something it isn’t. It’s simple for a reason.

Agreed. People try to make the spike definition WAAAAY more difficult than it really is. Now, there are antler configurations that are really close calls just because of how the antler is, and there are some that should give you pause to make sure it meets the definition, but the definition is quite simple.

brutus54 · Aug 14, 2021

I seen this same topic on a Utah Facebook Hunting group. And somebody added a screenshot off of M&M from10 years ago from Amy. That worked for the DNR. Adding ( Above the tip of the ear ) in the definition would definitely make it clearer.

Katoom · Aug 15, 2021

Vanilla said:
Agreed. People try to make the spike definition WAAAAY more difficult than it really is. Now, there are antler configurations that are really close calls just because of how the antler is, and there are some that should give you pause to make sure it meets the definition, but the definition is quite simple.

Maybe, legally. So 5x3 with a brow tine and dropper and probable future trophy potential gets shot. Fine. But in this day and age of limited game and max pressure, maybe the definition should actually be re-worked to describe a spike that we all know and would describe as a spike, as in, an elk (typically a yearling) with unbranched antlers. Hows that for a simple, accurate, and agreeable definition.

In the meantime, maybe call them Loophole Units.

Vanilla · Aug 15, 2021

brutus54 said:
Adding ( Above the tip of the ear ) in the definition would definitely make it clearer.

View attachment 49581

The “ear” encompasses the entire ear, including the tip. I personally don’t think that makes it any more clear. Like I said, we try way too hard to make this difficult when the definition is really quite simple.

And Katoom, yes, the definition allows for something that YOU think is not a traditional spike to be shot as a spike. I think many that helped craft the definition the way it is would argue with you that the 5x3 you described had “future trophy potential” and would love to see that bull out of the gene pool. For me…I really don’t have an opinion on what the definition SHOULD be, I’m simply commenting about what the definition currently IS.

If the state redefined it to be as you described, I’d follow that rule the same as I would follow this one when I hunted spikes. A “spike bull” for lawful hunting purposes is simply what the state defines as a spike. Not what we think it SHOULD be.

Shadow · Aug 15, 2021

Both of your definitions of “spike bull” could be correct but if the DWR went with what Katoom is describing, we wouldn’t get to have this debate every year. What fun would that be?

brutus54 · Aug 15, 2021

Katoom said:
Aren’t the entire antlers above the ears, as in, higher on the head than the attachement of the ears? I could see if it said “above the tips of the ears when held vertically” or something more precise. that is one weird definition (using ears to define antlers) and one risky/expensive mistake if wrong.

Granted, I am not from Utah, I am not a lawyer and this does not constitute legal advise……so this is ultimately worth SQUAT.

Some people say it’s clear and easy to read and understand. We’ll It all depends on who’s reading it. As to Katoom’s point in this picture it appears to me that all the antlers are above the ears. So it all depends on how you look at. Be it right or wrong definitely makes for a lively discussion.?

Dangbig · Sep 4, 2021

Spike

JakeH · Sep 5, 2021

brutus54 said:
Some people say it’s clear and easy to read and understand. We’ll It all depends on who’s reading it. As to Katoom’s point in this picture it appears to me that all the antlers are above the ears. So it all depends on how you look at. Be it right or wrong definitely makes for a lively discussion.?

View attachment 49590

pull those ears up to the antler beam and the brow tines on both sides with be under the tip of the ear.

coyoteslayer · Sep 5, 2021

The DWR can’t go no eye guards, equal a spike. I have seen a lot of yearlings that are spikes , but have a 2” eye guard. How could you possibly pick out an eye guard at 200yds on a yearling bull.

JakeH · Sep 5, 2021

coyoteslayer said:
The DWR can’t go no eye guards, equal a spike. I have seen a lot of yearlings that are spikes , but have a 2” eye guard. How could you possibly pick out an eye guard at 200yds on a yearling bull.

That's exactly why the rule is what it is.