I cannot believe that I actually read every post! LOL, I just spent more time on this one thread than I have spent in the past month on this site total! Good stuff though guys...although I just wasted about 2hrs

Germ and Greg....my hats off to you guys. You have great spots and have done very well to take the best bucks on your spots. I know it's not easy to do that.

I can agree with some of what Atlas has said as well.You can't kill what isn't there. Yes, there are probably a couple mature bucks where he hunts, but the odds of even a great hunter getting one with a bow is probably slim.
I am somewhere in between the two camps. I hunt private land in areas that have plenty of deer, butnot many big bucks. A trophy buck in our area is about 110", and there are not many of those at all. I've killed LOTS of smaller bucks through the years, and gave that up about 10yrs ago....by choice. It just didn't do anything for me anymore, so I just shoot a doe instead. I hold out for a goodbuck every season but usually don't get a shot at one...heck I rarely see one.I can't tell you how many small bucks I have passed....most 2.5 and under. I haven't shot a buck with my bow for 10yrs....because I haven't seen one I wanted to shoot. Personally I just don't see the sense in shooting a 75" 6pt or 8pt just to say I got one. Do I put down other hunters for doing so? No way...you want it, go for it. However, I will say....the majority of hunters that never change their mindset to some degree....will most likely never have a chance at a good buck for their area, becuase they always shoot the first one by. If I hunted a place like Atlas, I'm suremy standards would be different. Based on what I have heard about where he hunts....I would probablynot be able to handle hunting those spots. I would have to search out some new spots with less pressure. Not so much because of the pressure on the deer, but I just can't handle hunters all over me. Same thing if I hunted a place like Germ or Greg....my standards would be much different there as well. I could only dream about a place like that. Germ you have take more P&Y bucks than the 2 counties that I hunt in combined!(That have been put into the record books to date)...LOL, that is pretty pathetic really. It really makes me puke when I hear about guys passing 120-130" deer, because he wasn't very big. I'd give my leftnut to get a shot at a deer like that EVER. But as it is....I have to deal with what I have, as we all do. I shoot does each year, and hope for a good one to get into range. (I do agree with Germ....we should all do our part in regards to shooting does. I wish they would make the areas I hunt "earn a buck" areas. That would help big time).
It's all relative though....in my case I pass up numerous bucks each season...some small, some medium....which is probably no differentthan someone elsepassing a 125" buck in the land of the giants. I will admit...I have not done as much scouting and work as is needed to consistently harvest the best deer in my areas either, but no complaints. I know some are here...they are just tough to find. I will get to that. My goal is to eventually have enough time that I can do that.

Germ, great deer this year btw...congrats.
Talondale, good post earlier also.

I've actually stumbled onto a new passion....my son turned 9 a couple weeks ago, and last week he got hisfirst deer ever (a big doe)....and I was more excited about that than anything in a long time. I can't wait to get him out bowhunting...probably next year if it works out. It was a great experience for him and me. I remember when there was a time that ANY deer to me was a trophy....it wascool to relive that a little through him. Good luck guys!