I respect your opinion, but I disagree. The data in Texas is very compelling and not at all ambiguous. Data from the Kerr wildlife study, studying deer over 26 years, is clear. Recent deer capture data is reaching the same conclusion as the Kerr study. I invite you to visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website and read the Kerr Wildlife study in its entirety.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild...er/index.phtml

Read the pdf article titled "Understanding Spike Buck Harvest". Warning, it's over 100 pages and can get technical, but the summary pages are very compelling.

I didn't say that spikes never become good bucks. Everyone can cite the rare example of a spike becoming a record buck. But when taken as a whole, this is a very RARE event. In managing for the whole herd, one should manage for the usual not the UNususal.

This is not an easy issue, and I'm a little surprised to see a moderator weigh in with such a heavy opinion as to call something a "MYTH" when many biologists consider this area a tough one.

I know my wildlife biologist and several others in Texas firmly believe 1.5 year old spikes are inferior to their forked antlered brethren, based on data, not the rare exception.

I am NOT advocating the harvest of all spikes without some context. I think that under the right management, and if your situation allows for it, it can make good sense.