ORIGINAL: atlasman

This is the exact thing that the ego maniacs miss the boat on.............you have a bunch of people that post things like "I know it's not huge but".........as if they feel like they need to apologize in advance so everyone knows their is no need to pile on. What a shame. I have NEVER and will NEVER feel the need to justify what I shoot to someone........EVER! I hunt for me and no one else. I also don't give a frog's fat one what anyone else does as long as it is legal and safe. I will be the first to give high fives all day long to anyone who had success in the woods.....no matter if it is the size of a dog or a moose.......if you are happy then I am happy for you.

Having said that............to me the people who shoot something and then feel bad about it because it isn't what they wanted to shoot but just figured they better shoot something because time was running out are just as goofy. DON'T shoot something just to shoot it..........shoot what brings you happiness and gets your heart racing and drives you to get out of bed every morning and hit the stand. Don't shoot something and then say "I shouldn't have shot it" That is just dumb.

This will be my 19th year in the woods and I have killed a bunch of critters. In the last 3 years I have killed a 4pt and a 6pt.......then a 13pt.........then a 4pt and a 6pt.......with 4 does mixed in as well. EVERY single deer had my heart pounding and huge smile on my face when it was over. If they didn't bring out those feelings inside me I wouldn't shoot them. Many guys in my shoes would not have shot any of those bucks.........and that's OK too. It's just not right to decide for someone else what they should or should not be happy with.

I checked in a 4 pt and a 6 month old doe last year at the DEC station.........right in front of a guy with a BIG 'ol 10 pt with double split brow tines. Real nice buck taken off his grampa's farm. I said "nice buck".......he said "you too.........and a couple does (my bro had a doe too)........great morning huh??" We each shared our stories along with a couple others and went on our seperate ways...........everyone was happy and we all had a great time.

Pretty simple concept.