Kinda weird that you post this today... In three years of hunting, I've shot 3 deer, one every year so far, First buck taken with a shotgun, secondbuck with a perfect shot from a muzzleloader, and now, my third, with a bow... the first two I felt absolutely nothing but elated, just proud of myself for getting dinner for the table, but the button buck I shot last night shot an arrow right through my heart. I want to be more excited for my first bow kill, but I really did NOT want to shoot that deer, I wanted him to have a longer life than he did, he didn't get to experience much, didn't even get to go through a winter (I guess that's not a BAD thing), but I felt and am still feeling a little depressed that I took his life so early. IF I would have known he was a button, I would not have shot him, I just thought he was a fairly small doe, that's what I was there for, to shoot a doe, wasn't looking for a wall hanger, didn't want to shoot a button buck simply because he was a "buck"... I simply wanted a doe to get some meat in the freezer.

It's only out of respect that we feel this. If we didn't respect the animal, we'd be shining, poaching, tag swapping, you name it... at least we are in it for the right reasons, folks, and that's all that matters. That's what I told my mom last night, it's a true test of a honest, sincere hunter, if you are only out for the sport, it's a totally different ballgame.