ORIGINAL: Rob/PA Bowyer

I don't understand your question. It's been proven and written time and time again that spikes can and will become monster bucks if given the years to do so. I didn't read the article in question, did Larry say that a spike will not grow to become a monster deer? If so, that totally surprises me.

There are two different classifications of spikes as far as I'm concerned. A spike could be a 1.5 year old that was born very late in the year, he didn't develope the antler quality he could have because of a shorter growing period. There also could be a spike that is a 0.5 year old, or button buck that grew exceptional antlers, spikes for his age, good genetics could cause this and that is the last deer I would want to shoot until he's matured. There are also 1.5 year olds that just didn't have it in them to grow anything but a spike there first year, perhaps bad genetics played a role in that however give the right nutrition and age, he'll sprout exceptional antlers.

In a perfect society, perhaps taking out spikes might accomplish something but in nature, no...these spikes given time could be P&Y animals.