Rob/PA Bowyer

Of course he is, I can't believe some bit. [8D]

GMMAT

Bravo, Aaron. You can cull a few from the creel, now.

Jimimac

You just never know with some of the stuff I've seen written on here.

Schultzy

True that one Jim!!

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jackflap

I don't think they will always be a spike and I know there are always exceptions and some scientific data to back up the exceptions, but I can't buy into the theory that probability wise that a 1.5yo spike has EQUAL chance of becoming a bonafide "shooter" for its area as compared to its 1.5yo peers that are already sixes and eights with some width or height.

Yet many people who will not shoot spikes because they supposedly know better don't hesitate to shoot the 1.5yo and 2.5yo sixes and eights that haven't yet quite made "shooter status" for that particular area,but they are bigger than the spikes and the 4's . I understand that not only is "shooter status" subjective from one area to another but it is also subjective from one hunter to the next, but I think one can understand the jest of my statement whether they agree with it or not.

I know this is impossible to do in real life, but if we could I would love totake 100 1.5 yo bucks. Half of them are spikes and the other half or sixes or eights. If all are allowed to make it to 4.5 yo, which half would you bet on as to which half would have the highest aggregate inches of racks. I'll take the sixes and eights and you can have the spikes. The bet is even money. Any takers?

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GMMAT

Charles Aslheimer dispelled this on the last aired issue of QDMA (TV Show). When you think about it.....the 2.5 who was a 6-8 point as a 1.5 has just as good a chance of not getting the best nutrition in his second year as the 2.5 who was a spike as a 1.5.

jackflap

I can't argue that. But if they are on the same farm as 1.5's, then the same argument can be made. The spike had the same nutritional opportunities as the six/eight. So then the argument goes that the spike could be several months younger. Okay, if his body size is also appreciably smaller, I'll buy that. But what if his body size is just as big or bigger than the six/eight?

Surely Aslheimer nor any other "authority" on the subject is implying that antler growth is WHOLLY dependent upon ONLY age and nutrition and that genetics are irrevelant.

It is my understanding that what they are saying is that 1.5 is too early to properly evaluate genetic potential. I'll buy that to a degree but having said that I am still going to put my money on the sixes and eights PERCENTAGE wise, and by a pretty wide margin.

GMMAT

Exactly.

I saw a BB this year that was larger (body-wise) than the spike he was walking with. Funny looking.

So of course genetics plays a role. You're gonna always have runts and studs.