That is a good point about people like myself professing to know more than a trained and experienced Wildlife Biologist. That would be silly at the least if not downright arrogant/stupid.ignorant/etc.

However, having prefaced with that, I think sometimes people (including the biologist with a predetermined bias- afterall he is human too)take what the study results areand conjecture conclusions that are morethan the study actually revealed.

I know and accept the fact that research has been done to PROVE that a spike CAN become a monster if given the chance to mature.

But are there enough studies with enough replications to scientifically and statistically CONCLUDE that there is ZERO CORRELATION between a buck's first year antler gowth and that at 4.5 yeas plus? (in other words has it been scientifically proven that the same percentage of 1.5 yo spikes grow to be xxxx size at xxx mature age as his six point and eight point peers? My GUESS is that while the spikes can and do achieve this benchmark, that a HIGHER PERCENT of the sixes and eights reach it as compared to the spikes.

But GUESS is the keyword. If there is such a study/studies that definitevley concludes that spikes have an EQUAL chance as that of its bigger racked peers,I would appreciate someone directing to those studies as I have an interest in reading the protocol and methodology of the studies.


If one desires to try and grow more and bigger bucks, I 100% agree that they shouldn't shootANY 1.5yo whether they be a spike or an eight. They also shouldn't shoot 2.5's as they are already 1 year closer to reaching the desired outcome than the younger class of bucks.

Yet many people who one hand say they want to grow bigger bucks, one the other hand they also just have to fill their buck tag. If that is the case, I still BELIEVE that the probability of shooting the next BOONER BEFORE HIS TIME, is LESS LIKELY with the spike instead of the 1.5 eight or the 2.5 yo buck. Again, don't shoot any is the best decision, but if just have to fill the buck tag and can't do it with a mature deer.......well I'm being repetitive.

And yes Al, age is certainly one of the predominant factors in growing big racks, but how can you not give Genetics its due? if Genetics don't play any role, wouldn't we all be 6'5" and built like Arnold by the time we reach 22 or 23?