RE: Spikes....do you kill them or let them walk?
Well, the problem is the body characteristics on the older spikes were almost identical (weight, build, etc.) to the 1 1/2 spikes taken.
How much do you damage your herd if you can't effectively age the spikes on the hoof and there is only a possibility that a spike you pass up will become a respectable buck? Do you let your spikes breed your does with the possibility that these deer are inferior and will spread bad genetics?
By 1 1/2 a buck should have a rack that at least forks. A deer with really good genetics is capable of having 8 points or even more. We have a buck this year that by looking at this deer, it's characteristics suggest that he has his first set of horns and he is a 10 point.