I'm a numbers guy. Putting numbers (antler score) on bucks is my way of eeking up to shooting bigger bucks. This is my own personal system and not intended for anyone else.

I have killed plenty of 120-130 class bucks (8), and I'm very proud of them. During the last few years I've upped my goal to 145+ or a clean 5x5 of 125 or better ( I've never shot a clean 5x5).

The reason I've increased my goal to 145+ is because they are there. There are not nearly as many of them, but they are there. I may see between 1-3 per season. To me, it is another step up the ladder just as it was when I started holding out for mature bucks from 125 and better. I know it lessens my chances but it has also taught me patience. For the last three seasons this patience has paid off with 147, 126 and a 173 (gross) bucks. In '06 I had my chance at a solid 150+ 8 pointer but missed. I mistakenly shot the 126 (weird double beam 9 point) later in the season thinking it was a clean 5x5 I'd been seeing. I'm still very proud of this. I have to be.......I vowed to myself a long time ago that I'd be proud of any buck I killed. One time, 16 years ago, I felt sad that the buck I killed wasn't as big as I thought it was. I immediatly became ashamed of myself and swore to never let that happen again.

I've been happy ever since!! [:-]