To answer an earlier question about mature spikes, there is a mature spike in the area I hunt. Big bodied deer. Has spikes that are over 12 inches long and have some serious mass to them. They protrude straight up, not 'swooping' like main beams. Awesome looking buck! And if I get a bonus buck tag I will definitely shoot him if the opportunity presents itself.
I seen a buck this morning while hunting that had a spike on one side and a fork on the other side, wonder what he will grow to be lol. That said the 9 pointer I killed last year had one side slightly larger than the other, wonder if when he was young he had a spike on one side and a fork on the other? Something to ponder
In my area, nutrition is fair, genetics are avg, and I would bet that 80% of the spikes are just late born deer. We have alot of does, many get bred in 2nd and even 3rd cycle. That means alot of buck fawns are born late and usually takes them a few years to catch up. I have seen one that I knew that was a small spike at 1.5, turn into a basket 8 at age 2.5. I personally don't believe for a second that once a spike, always a spike. That is just not true. That said, I have seen some bigger deer in my area that are certainly a few years old and still sport spikes. That can happen anywhere...genetics & nutrition.
