RE: I have a little problem...
jhalfhill -
Its tough to call it a problem, truth is you've probably been lucky not to have seen many spikes, must be your general area has good nutrition.
No matter what you do - you will always have new bucks coming into your area. Some of these deer may have decent genes - but are behind nutritionally due to poor range at their birthplace. Some may have poor genes, but its tough to tell which you have when a roamer first settles in. The majority of deer sporting their 1st racks relocate - usually more than 5 miles and up to 50 miles from theirbirthplace. A much smaller percentage of2-1/2 yearold bucks also relocate.
So - I would not suggest taking the deer on the basis of genetics alone. Its much, much more likely that he is not nutrionally up to par - even if he has good body size.
If you were managing a 5000 acre ranchfor harvesting 4-1/2 year plusold bucks - I might be more inclined to agree to taking him out of the population on the basis of genetics.
That said,I am not against taking him either. The majority of deer we take in our program is 1.5 - 2.5 year old bucks - we have alot of hunters on a small property and we manage for a decent chance at a 2.5 year old buck. To each is own in managament principles - It all depends on what you want to accomplish.
FH