My info is dated by 20 years but when I lived and hunted out there the intent was to grow some bigger elk and they figured that by only taking spike bulls anything a little older would walk.
How's it worked? No clue but I will say WA state has the most f'ed up game and fish regulations of any state I've hunted in. I am damn careful to follow the law and I am sure I violated something every year in WA simply because of their complexity.
No, not that I'm aware of.
What has worked in the areas/states is protecting spikes allowing the bulls to become a little bit older and wiser. In Colorado that management scheme increased the average age by roughly two years in a relatively short time.
Casey
