I was wondering in this "how much did he score" age how much respect the typical hunter has for his quarry. My step son was watching team real tree hunting on the idiot box this weekend.

David Blantan was in a tree stand when a small racked buck came by caring a front leg. The deer was obviously injured. Whether it was from sparing, or a misplace shot I can not tell you. Anyway, David watches this poor creature walk by. He had a very concerned look on his face. I know his insides where telling him to finish this creature off humanely, but he did nothing. A few seconds later he shoots a "monster buck".

I was disgusted. I told my boy to turn that trash off, that isn't hunting. Thats disgracefull. My boy was surprised at my reaction. He said that blantan had killed a real wall hanger and what was my problem. He didn't even concider the plight of the injured buck. I told him that I wouldn't have gotten a chance at the big buck because I would have been field dressing the injured deer. I told him that we have to respect the animals we persue. To let a obviously injured animal suffer so that I could kill a bigger healthy buck was just unrespectful.

I think that it is our responsiblity as hunters to do the right thing. Its not always easy. I would be hard to use a coveted Kansas Whitetail tag on a little basket racked buck. But, it was the right thing to do. Just like it was tough for my buddy to go home empty handed last fall rather than shooting a sow black bear, but it was the right thing to do. There is too much coveting of high scoring racks and not enough respect and love for the game that we persue. What do you all think.