I've been hunting a spike for 2 or 3 years. Twisted antlers with always a spike on one side. I do think it's the same deer. Since the season started, I've seen just a few bucks but plenty does. It's gotten to the point that if I see deer I assume they are doe, particularly if they are traveling in pairs or groups. So, this morning here came 7 doe, then 3 doe, and finally a pair of them. I don't know why I even bothered to put the binocs on that last pair, but I did, and it was two spikes - the one I'd been looking for and a nubbin buck. What a shock. Put the 100 gr Nosler BT in the lungs. Made a real mess of the lungs, and exited.

And why are two bucks traveling together during the rut? Odd...

If the other was a buck fawn, you have to realize if he isn't with mama, his whole world is upside down because all he knows is herd mentality. Sounds like maybe mama ditched him to go with a big buck, and the spike was the loser in that matchup. So when the pair left, the buck fawn followed the spike since he would feel more comfortable being with another deer.