ALL 1.5yr olds should be protected, including spikes! You just cant tell with their first rack. Most 1.5 spikes are nutrition induced vs genes. Now your 8& up pointers are REALLY what you want to protect!!! Hope those guys make 3-4 more seasons & WALLA thats what mgmt is all about.
3.5 is where you begin to get an idea of what kind of potential a buck is going to have at 4-6yrs. You just simply CANT tell at 1.5-2.5yrs. I've seen 2yr old spikes & 4ptrs become dandies when they reach 3-4yrs. Environment & nutrition plays a very variable part that can change year to year.
Much of the country has had a drought this year. If we have a harsh late winter, that will REALLY impact nextyears bucks.