Mauser....You have been given some sound advice. I think you are fortunate to hunt in a state where you see over 15 deer by 9AM and the success rate is high. This may play into your concerns on letting smaller bucks walk because, simply put, the temptation is great to shoot that first buck you see. Folks that shoot big bucks have one thing in common....they pass on smaller ones. To me, that' s the bottom line. If you fill your tag with the first buck you see, you lose that opportunity at the big guy. Two things will happen when you finally make that personal decision not to take that first buck.

First, you will have a deep feeling of satisfaction of not killing that smaller buck. Unless you have experience that feeling, I cannot put it into words. It goes right to the soul. You have that deer in your sights and your decision will determine whether he will live to walk the woods another day. When you let that safe off and simply watch that deer continue on his way, you have made that first big step. He doesn' t know how close he came to death but you certainly do. That' s all that counts at that moment and you have absolutely no regrets.

Second, you now have that opportunity to shoot the deer of your dreams. What could be better than that? When that day comes and you decide to let smaller bucks walk and by waiting, you finally fill your tag, it will be a great feeling of satisfaction because you did it your way. That' s something you can proud of. It will also have other hunters, both novice (new) and seasoned vererans look at you in a different way. I know it takes time for hunters to finally take that big step, but when they do, it is a decision they wish that hade made earlier. Also, the fact that you have posted this question, speaks volumns of your maturity. That time will one day come for you, in the meantime, continue to enjoy our sport that means so much to us and Good Luck during the 2003 deer season........Jimmy