I sometimes wonder what I am.

I hunt mid pressured areas, private mountain land. We don't have alot of "big" bucks where I hunt, period. A 110" is a "stud" where I hunt, unfortunately. Still, I find myself passing all bucks each year....looking for that stud...even passing 90" deer which are pretty darn good where I hunt. I usually gun hunt one week a year, then take my bow out during gun season the rest of the time...looking for that stud. I hunt my a$$ off most years...looking for that stud. I have yet to connect withone very often. I gave up shooting small bucks in '97. 2 times in the last 10yrshave I even taken a mature buck, and both of them were with a gun. I can't tell you how many young bucks I've passed with the bow...and can't even comprehend how many it would be with a gun. Hundreds for sure. Still I wonder...is it worth it?

I guess the bottom line is I am a mature buck hunter....with not much success. I know they are around, albeit few and far between, I guess I just have to become a better hunter. No regrets though...I don't want to shoot the smallbucks regardless, so I just shoot does for meat.

I do envy you folks that have so many nice deer where you hunt. At least there is a reasonable chance of one coming by you at any time. My avg is "seeing" a mature deer about every 3-4 years. I made a trip to IL this fall and saw 4 P&Y class bucks during my one week, on self guided hunt on land I had never sat foot on or seen prior. (and almost had chances at 2 of those). One was over 150" for sure....amazing what happens when you hunt where they actually are. [&:]I've seen exactly 2 P&Y class deer in over 20yrs hunting the land I hunt.