Young Spike Whitetail Buck at Sequoyah Refuge

I’m back with more wildlife photos from my recent trips to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The subject of today’s post is a young spike Whitetail deer that I have been seeing a lot of this summer at the refuge.

On this particular trip, I was able to get some great shots of the deer crossing the auto tour road and also wandering in the tall grasses right next to the road. For both sets of photos, I positioned myself outside of my pickup truck but used it as cover to stay hidden while snapping away.

As you can see in the photos, this buck is still in velvet, meaning his antlers are covered in velvet-like fur. This will change in the coming months as mating season approaches. You’ll also notice this fella only has two antlers, classifying him as a “spike” Whitetail. Some believe if a buck has spike antlers one year, he will always be a spike. I tend to disagree – while some spikes may remain that way, most will go on to grow larger, more impressive sets of antlers in future years.

The refuge continues to provide excellent wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. Stay tuned for more photos from my Oklahoma adventures!

Steve Creek – Wildlife Photographer

Note: According to several sources, the idea that “once a spike, always a spike” is a myth. While some yearling bucks with spike antlers may remain spikes at maturity, many will develop branched antlers as they age. Antler characteristics, including spikes, are inherited, and old spikes can produce young spikes. The quality of a deer’s antlers is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, nutrition, and age. Therefore, it is possible for a whitetail buck that is currently a spike to develop branched antlers in the future.

Equipment Used:

• Camera: Canon EOS R5
• Lens: Canon RF 100-500 mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
  

Technical Details: First Photo

• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
• Date and Time Taken: July 25, 2023 (06:47A. M.)
• Aperture: f7.1
• Shutter speed: 1/800
• ISO: 3200 (Auto)
• Exp. Comp.: 0
• Focal Length: 500 mm