Well now that I have the attention of so many new friends I will make my final post on the subject.

Obviously selling books or magazine articles is way down the list of my priorities as a deer hunter or I wouldnt even be on here voicing my opinion. I would just stick with the politically correct say-nothing-controversial approach of so many others who will listen to your BS with a smile and pat you on the back and then turn to their buddies in private and say that you are an idiot. My opinion doesnt change with my audience. Ask yourselves how many other writers or TV hunters are on here talking with you guys? Most know that it is a no-win situation for them and just avoid the problems. I am here because I consider myself one of you. No better or no worse. I do have opinions though and dont hide them.

We all mature as hunters just as we mature as people. Sure we are all deer hunters but just as a 20 year old and a 60 year old are both adultsthey arefar apart as far as maturity. Most 20 year olds male minds are driven by tagging as many girls as possible and getting drunk with the buddies while a 60 year old has matured past that and thinks about grandkids, fishing, golf, retirement etc. That doesnt make the 60 year old any better than the 20 year old, just more mature. He was also once a 20 year old with the same ideas. Hunters also go through a maturing process. Anyone who doubts it obviously hasnt taken the first step yet. I am not at the same stage as I was 10 years ago as a hunter or as a person. It actually goes way beyond trophy hunting or QDM. Fortunately, most hunters mature as do most people. Oh sure, there are still a few 60 year old men that think it is cool to go down to the bar and get drunk, act like a fool and try to hit on the women just asthere are a few experienced hunters that think that killing is what hunting is all about and how it is acheived or what is shot is irrelevant. They are the minority though. Everyone of you that is hammering me will be a different person and a different hunter in 10 years. So will I. We will learn, we will grow and we will get better at what we do. When this happens we will appreciate the whitetail deermore and not see it asa living target or a pile of meat for the freezer. God didnt make me any better than he made any of you. I was once a begining hunter whose goal was to simply kill deer. I remember what it was like. I had as much fun then as I do today but along the way I matured as a person and as a hunter. My hope for each of you is that you also grow and learn to appreciate the rest of the hunt. Dont be like the pathetic 60 year old man in the bar. Keep pushing yourself to new levels as a hunter. I know that most of you will someday know exactly what I am talking about even if you dont understand it today. I also realize that anyone reading this with more than 20 years of hunting experience can look back and know that they are also not the same hunter that they were when they started. Good luck to each of you this season and may you all witness something in the woods this fall that will stick with you forever and lead you to the next level.