Skeeter..good post. I' m also glad alot of folks go for " mature" deer as well. I think the QDM mentality is becoming more and more prevalent.

I do envy you guys that have the places that produce the monsters! I' m hoping someday that I may get to hunt an area that has 150-180 class animals around. I know they definitley aren' t easy by any means, but it would be nice to know that you have the opportunity because they are there. Where I hunt, I' m sure there is the slim chance that one could get that big, as big ones seem to pop up anywhere. Like I said, my goal is mature bucks....and I forgot to mention...DOES...DOES...DOES! You gotta shoot the does if you want QDM to be successful as a whole. We shoot a ton of does each season.
I guess it' s a trade off for you guys....only getting one tag...and living in an area that has some monsters! Personally I kill at least 3-5 does a year, so I' m not sure how I would handle only having one tag. I hunt in 2 states, and have alot of tags between the 2. I do know that if it was a choice of a doe and an immature buck, for my only deer....I' d take the doe no question. I' ve had many seasons when I haven' t filled my buck tag, although I could have easily numerous times. It really comes down to personal goals I guess. If it means something to you to harvest an immature buck, then go for it...it' s your choice.

Brandon...just to let you know...in the areas I hunt, all the neighbors shoot anything that walks, so I understand what you are saying. However, they can' t and never have killed them all....some will make it no matter what. If you shoot the small buck based on that mentality..." if I don' t shoot him someone else will" , IMO you' ll have a hard time ever killing a big one. I also know a few folks that hunt heavily pressured public ground, and mangage to harvest mature bucks every season, despite the pressure and the " brown it' s down" syndrome that seems to haunt most public ground.