I think it is erroneous to make statements about how spike bucks will grow in comparison with other bucks or deer. The reason is that with AR, more does are shot, so there is more forage for the remaining deer, so that "spike" probably wouldn't be a spike, he'd be a 6 or 8 because he would have received better nutrition. They have done studies that suggest MOST spikes are that way due to overpopulation and consequent lack of nutrition, not due to genetic i
Those statements are simply not true. Our herd continued to increase after AR was implemented so there was no additional food to improve rack size. The latest study show that the average spike will not catch up with the average 1.5 ,6 or 8 pt until they are 3.5 or 4.5. In Miss. where they have had statewide longer than any other state ,rack sizes decreased in the areas with the best habitat. We are harvesting the best buck in each age class and protecting the smallest, slower developing inferior buck, so the average buck in each age class above 1.5 will be smaller with AR than without.