Sorry guy's, i know we have probably beatin this topic to death but I would like to ask it again.

First, the reason I'm asking is b/c I got a book (Whitetail Wisdom) from NAHC today and started thumbing through it. There is a section in here called "Should We Shoot Spikes"? I know when were talking about management practices we say "let them go and let them grow". In this book it talks about statistics (offspring of a spike and his potential).

A statement out of this book is " the best time to tell if a buck's antler development is inferior is when he is 1.5 years old. This is when he is easiest to age and the most vulnerable for harvest" This book also makes the coment that if a deer doesn't have good antler development at 1.5 (he's not a fork horn) then he most likely never will. How many of you agree with this and what is your views on it?

I'd have to say that I don't agree with that. I mean I haven't studied 1.5 year olds up to maturity like these people have. Couldn't a food shortage that year cause him to appear runt-like at 1.5?Maybe just a little slow starting off.

Couldn't he just be having a bad year?

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A good one but I dont need an excuse to shoot a spike, I shoot what I want.

i agree with rank. especially if on public land, especially early in the season, i will shoot a spike, button buck, fawn lol anything honestly.

i think that it all depends on how much land you're managing and what your goals are. i honestly do believe that spikes don't have the genes to become great bucks. but that's a tough way to manage deer. i usually let em go, but i wouldn't criticize someone for takin em out of the pool.