From a quality game management standpoint, shooting spikes makes sense. A year and half deer with good feed and genetics should be a forkhorn (2 points a side). If your a antler nut, getting that gene from the pool makes sense.
From an eating point of view, spike bucks are prime eating. I would rather shoot does for food and management but to each his own.
Growning up in PA hunting over bait was a big NO-NO. In KY is is pretty standard. Using dogs to run deer was a big fine in PA but when I had a chance to hunt that way in VA is was a real hoot and the deer still won the day. I'm 0-3 in VA but still love to hear the dogs work.
Uncle Ted should have known better. He cowboyed up and paid the fine. SCI will probably revoke his membersip for a year. What the NRA will do is unknown.