I don’t think there is anything wrong at all to leave home to hunt better quality animals than the ones your herd carries. Sometimes it could even be a matter of hunting a more quality “herd” as opposed to individual animals. Better buck:doe ratios and age structure could make for an entertaining rut compared to one with boatloads of does, and big boys as common as “the Kings” numbers point out.
If I didn’t have such a desire to hunt other species, I would certainly shift my trip focus to hunting better places for whitetails.

If I went to the midwest and killed a big buck and you ask me what have I done. I’d say I put myself in a position that gave me a greater chance to shoot a big deer, no more, no less.

It doesn’t always have to be about the “meaning” behind the animal. Sometimes you just want a chance to hunt the biggest of a species in prime habitat.

I can putz around fishing in my little creeks around home for a nice bass that might go 3#, or I can book a charter up in Erie and land dozens of fish over 4# some hitting 6-7#. Either way, I am bass fishing and having fun, and could care less the meaning behind each trip.