ORIGINAL: GregH
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Let me give an example.....
GregH lets a 3.5yr old 9 pointer walk....because he's just not what he's looking for.
Does that experience with that deer.....give you as much enjoyment.....as it would have if you'd taken that same deer 3 seasons ago?
I have to think (only if you subscribe to this type of hunting)....that it would. Being in the presence of a "great" deer (everything's relative) is a huge rush. I would think that would be enough, "sometimes". I would think (again....if you subscribe) it would get better and better with each occurrence.....even if it only occurred once a yr or LESS.
A camera will defintely become more of a friend to me as I continue hunting.
GMMAT, this is exactly what I've done. From the time I started passing 1 1/2sright up to 2 years a go when I started passing 3 1/2s and 4 1/2s up to 135+ inches. By passing such deer it has enabled me to see even bigger deer and watch and learn more of how deer opperate.
I won't get a high 140s+ if I shoot one that's smaller.
However, it does not compare to the feeling I get after making a good shot on any deer. If it's a doe I still get all shakey after shooting it.
That's why I hunt.
That pretty much wraps it up in a nutshell.
I guess I just view letting a smallerbuck walk as part of the mature buck hunting experience. That being said, any deer that walks under my stand is a pleasurable experience, the bigger the better, but as Greg says, it's nothing like the flood of emotions that accompaniesharvesting a deer.