I know exactly how you feel gundeck. i only own 23 acres but i manage it very strictly. and i have a neighbor that will kill nything that walks. but i still every year see a good mature buck. Just keep up the good work and eventually they will see the results and come around. my neighbor has already commented that he has been seeing good antler growth and he was happy about it.

I think the industry is partially to blame for or low confidence in a small buck. all the companies put pressure on us to try and kill the biggest buck possible. you notice in their ads you dont see a nice little six pointer that someone put hours and hours in on, and made a marginal shot but put a great tracking job on and stay optimistic. I am more proud of a deer that gave me a challenge than getting lucky during the rut and have a mture one walk in. dont get me wrong i love taking mature bucks but thats doesn't make me and more proud of it.