So am I the only person in this entire thread to openly admit that I would shoot a runt scrubracked buck on the last day, just for the sake of not eating my tag - and the sheer joy of shooting a buck?

I have a good buddy who swears that "every fat girl that you don't sleep with is just another missed opportunity." Well, I never put much stock into that line of thinking from a dating standpoint - but when it comes to deer hunting - there's something to be said about it.

Seriously, I hear people say "I'd rather shoot a doe than a small buck." Not me. Not even close. If I'm getting out the dragging harness, you'd better believe thatI'm pulling a buck or nothing. Dif'rent strokes for Dif'rent folks, but shooting does is too much like work (to me), and I don't like sweating/stinking up my hunting areas with all that calamity. Maybe it's b/c my B ratios are already perfect, or I'm just a greedy jerk, but I don't even entertain the thought of doe hunting until every buck tag is signed and sealed. And if a busted-up yearling is the best buck I can find to fill my tags - he's getting it. Fortunately, I'm finally into some hunting areas where I can usually at least find a decent two-and-a-half year old to tag out on. But still... I'll hunt relentlessly to find a good representative buck for the area, but when the book is closing on my season and time is running thin - I'll shoot the next legal buck I see, without a moment's hesitation.

Maybe we have a bunch of people here who are the exceptions to the rule... Or maybe it's all bull ****... But I know where I live - practically every hunter in the woods is angling to shoot the first legal deer that steps out in front of him. No exceptions. No "management." No free passes.