Spike bulls are the 'dumbest', or bravest, cohort of the elk herd. In terms of natural mortality of all age classes of elk, spike bulls have the highest percentage as they tend to wander a lot and get themselves into trouble. Allowing harvest of spike bulls, in many herds, adds a mortality factor that exceeds what the overall herd can sustain. By allowing year and a half old bulls to reach their second year, overall herd health is much better and we see more branch antlered bulls. Without branch antlered bulls, breeding success would fall and overall herd numbers would be affected fairly quickly.
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