ORIGINAL: NEB.BuckHunter
I would have to agree that most spikes are born a little late and should be allowed to grow at least another year or so before harvesting them. I harvested a nice 8 point 1 1/2 year old deer this year. Great genetics!!
So you would let the spikes go, but shot a 1.5 year old with 8 points???? That's high grading your herd. Keep that up and you'll have plenty of spikes to view because that's what you'll be encouraging to do all the breeding.
Even if a spike buck is that way because he was born late, IN GENERAL, he still will not catch up to that 1.5 year old 8 point.
I advocate letting the better 1.5 year old bucks walk, and IF you are able to harvest 1.5 year olds in your harvest plan, spikes would be the ones to shoot.