Did his age change his genetics? Killing those spikes did work. The bucks you left those years grew up and into better class bucks. They did the breeding. Their offspring are what you are killing now.

Disagree... the frequency of spikes has not change for the most ....the only change that swings it to an increase is lack of yearly winter/spring moisture

People that DONT shoot spikes kill more big deer than those that do though. There isn't any getting around that... they have more bucks reach maturity.

And if best bucks were breeding why did we still have spikes?

So you don't cull them at 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5?

maybe the deer that ends up being the exception when you're looking for exceptional deer doesn't get shot at 1.5.

So he is exceptional at 2 and 3?

So he is exceptional at 2 and 3?

I thought you guys might like to see this (I'm very interested to hear what stxranchman has to say as well).

For me personally, this is why I do not believe in shooting yearling spikes. This amazing buck was shot by a good friend of mine. The buck was captured and tagged five years ago as a spike at age 1.5....during the spike study conducted by Dr. James Kroll in South Texas.

My friend shot the buck this past week at age 6.5....and he should score in the 180"-190" range. He would most certainly have been shot as a "cull" on many Texas ranches.

Beautiful deer!! Congrats to my friend!!

Is it just me or does anyone else think the tag in the big bucks ear looks newer than the one in the spikes?

After about 5 years in the S.TX sun, you think that old big bucks tag would be a little faded instead of that brilliant red