I am in " Bigbulls' corner on this one!

" WHO CARES!!!?"

As far as I am concerned, the emphasis on killing trophy bucks is overrated and detrimental to deer genetics and the reputation of bowhunting. The clique-promoted and hunting industry-hyped prestige of having killed a set of big antlers (bones) is so important to some, they will cheat, lie, fight, trespass, and poach to be acclaimed as a mighty and expert buck hunter.

Other than having competent knowledge of Whitetail behavior, knowledge of deer behavior particular to the area you hunt, and good hunting practice -which many, many bowhunters have all; the secret to killing bucks is access, time, and money, and, often, something that is not usually mentioned by the buck hunters; [/b]the luck-of-the-draw[/b].

If you have access, especially private access, to the area(s) that the big buck mainly beds and moves; and you can be in the field the majority of the hunting season and time, your chances of bagging a nice buck is greatly increased. Many very good bowhunters do not have these advantages.

My wife has a co-worker who saves all his comp and vacation time throughout the year, then takes the entire bowhunting season off (3 months). He is in the field everyday from sunup to sundown. He is a strictly a " buck" hunter when hunting in Illinois. Last season he finally downed a big antlered buck (Illinois) he had been hunting for 10 years. To his credit, he admits that he happened to be in an area and at a time that he did not expect to see the buck. In addition, according to him, he has passed on many good deer while hunting this particular buck.

If, as I do, he considers a successful hunting season just to be in the woods, and to experience the anticipation of the unknown and the increase in heart rate when you hear a rustling in the leaves behind you, he has a had 10 years of good hunting. If not, and now that the " chase" is over, will he begin to ponder and regret passing on many good deer…..including does?

The false status of killing a big antlered buck, shooting fast and popular bows rigged with the latest and faddish " bells and whistles," is so pervasive, many good bowhunters are too intimidated, almost ashamed, to talk about their smaller antlered buck or doe kills, and their not so new and faddish gear.

These days, I hate going into a bow shop when status-seeking bowhunters are present. When I overhear some of them talking, the word that always comes to mind, is " prima donna." Just give me a competent and " down-to-earth" bowhunter, armed with just the right gear to get the job done, any day.