Yes the spike is a 1.5 year old but that doesnt mean all your deer start out as spikes their first year and by "4.5"" they are 5x3s. All deer are different. If that deer is 4.5 post up some pics of what you think are 2.5 and 3.5 years....... Check out Charles alsheimer's Book Quality deer management the Basics and Beyond it completely changed my view on hunting, judging, and growing deer and i know he did this in NY. I did his program and now Me or one of my buddies shoots a 130s or better inch deer every year. The before and after pics are pretty awesome.