Maybe this is off topic, but am I to understand that those tags stayed in for 6 years?

they recaptured when possible, I assume they retagged when they did this

Well no...you just told me too and I haven't had time.

Do you know how many papers have been written on this subject. There is "proof" that they are inferior and "proof" they aren't.

As was said, a link had been posted "proving" that was the case but you are saying Kroll addresses it and says it isn't so...so therefore it can't be true.

Kroll is good at what he does and I will read the paper (would prefer a link) but he is also very public and is not held in as high of regard, that you seem to hold him at, by some of his professional peers.

My point is that Kroll is not the end all of research. It is a study based on a theory and supported by data. No different than thousands of other studies.

I was picked to hunt kerr wma a few years back..tpwd says also that once a spike always a spike..hunters drawn were required to attend a prehunt meeting where the tpwd rep told us tpwd position..this was about 8 years ago..dont know if their position has changed..i went to dr.krolls seminars at the ft.worth hunters extravaganza..he he presented evidence to support his studys that show tpwd is wrong..pretty convincing evidence i must add..

looks photo shop one pic doesnt have the tag the other looks photo shopped in,

I believe the deer posted is an exception not a rule. On a HF place where genetics can be controlled, I believe spikes are inferior. I mean, if you are needing to cull, start at the crappy 2.5+, but when you need to take more to remain in carrying capacity, what are you going to take, the spike yearling, or 8 point yearling.

And yes, Kroll is not liked by many people.

If you want another study that supports shooting spikes on well-managed land, look up the caeser-kleberg research done on the king ranch, and other south texas ranches. Very thorough study with good control, and it shows without a doubt, spikes are inferior. But this study is done on huge HF ranches that are very well-managed.

And a very nice deer btw, but how about a picture from that ranch that has an 8 point yearling as well taken at 6.5. I got money that if the study was done correctly with a good control, that on average an 8 point yearling will score higher B&C than the yearling class.

ive hunted the chapparall wildlife management area lots of times and have talked to the biologists there they shoot spikes. now this area is never fed no suppliments or anything all natural and managed with only what is allowed to be killed. the biologists there say a spike will never be what a 4 pointer or better will be. just repeating what TPW biologists said.

That probably depends on if you're comparing apple to apples & not native to imports.

Thought you didn't hunt high fence and thought they should be outlawed????

i never said i didnt hunt high fence i even stated in the last thread that i have manytimes

I will have to read the full paper at school where I can access it for free but Eland do you know if these deer were being fed protein on all, a few, or none of the ranches?

.

Where did your biggest deer come from?

My thought on spikes: do not take spikes at 1.5 years old but do take them if they are 2.5 or older only have spikes.