ok several things to reply to here.
Atlas
come to PA and you will see dozens upon dozens of guys who are just there to shoot a buck. You could have a 150# doe standing next to a 115# spike buck, and they would shoot the buck 10 times out of 10. They ARE that prevalent around here.
Technically that maybe true, but there is so many more reasons to hunt than just for the rack.
Why do you think holding out for a buck is not fun? And if these people just enjoyed hunting, why is there so much pressure for them to get a buck? Wouldn't it be enough just to get out and shoot a doe if they don't care?
I bet in those 20 years you also didn't spend a whole lot of time in the woods after you killed your buck either. You are a one buck tag state right?
[blockquote]quote:
These guys would shoot a buck regardless of the distinguishing factor that set it apart from does.[/blockquote]
If someone is willing to shoot any buck I think that makes it CRYSTAL clear that they don't really care about antlers........they kill what's out there and the size of the rack is a bonus. Someone who stresses out that just any antlers aren't good enough........they have to be BIG, and BIGGER, and BIGGER all the time just to make them happy clearly if fixated IMO.
You spun my meaning. They would shoot it for (what ever the distinguishing factor was) say that was a blue dot. WE'd be sitting here arguning that some guys shoot deer JUST because it has a blue dot on it, and then there are guys who wait in the buck with the BIGGEST blue dot. Just interchange rack & blue dot.
I don't see why you are so hung up on someone wanting/waiting for a big buck? MANY MANY MANY guys find little to no enjoyment in shooting a little buck. We'd rather sit there & watch them and take pictures. We are also prepared that we may not shoot a buck at all some year. And sometimes for several. We don't HAVE to kill one like so many other "horn porn" guys out there do.
Except for those driven to unscrupulous behavior, it will always be my contention that a guy who waits and only shoots "big" bucks, is far lessobsessed with racks, than a guy who HAS to shoot his buck, cause its the "manly" thing to do.