I have only ever tried to hunt mature bucks solely one year in the 17 years I have been hunting before this year. It was in 2005. That year I saw 3 mature bucks but none were in range. This year I have seen one and he was in range, but no shot. I have passed up 6-7 different bucks because they were too small this year. In 2005 I passed up maybe 5-6 bucks in range because they were too small. It is a test, a tough one. I don't have many big bucks running around where I hunt, so that leads to many days passing small bucks or not seeing anything at all.

For those of you who have hunted big bucks a long time, my hats off to you! This is hard work! It sure is a mental test. For as much as I hunt and not to pull the trigger on something can be rough on one's ego....what are some of you all's mindframes when hunting big bucks...you know the kind that keeps you plugging away?