ORIGINAL: GR8atta2d

Gentlemen, especially those that are, or fancy to be, Trophy Hunters. Indulge me, a few moments of your time.

Having chased these wiley critters for more years than I care to admit, I became selective when it comes to squeezing the release. I let many "shooters" go by, waiting on those far and few between "Trophies". I have a few, but I've eaten my share of tag soup too, as our section of NE Ohio isn't Southern Ohio or Illinois, or Wisconsin. But it does hold some whoppers, like most areas do.

So for the past 2 years I went Buck-less, I had many amazing encounters and thoroughly enjoy the hunt. But this year, I was feeling pressure, mostly internal but also some external pressure, to put a buck on the ground. In the week prior I passed on no less than 15 Bucks. Small ones, not even a question of shooting. I did have a marginal shooter at 15 yards but legal time was past, even though I could have made the shot. Sunday Morning found me on a field edge, when the 90" 8 point walked by me (see Team 2thread), I made a perfect shot and a quick recovery. There was joy, but, upon putting my hands on him, there was as much regret. I didn't get the "high", the lasting effect of killing a truly big buck, even though I shot the biggest one I'd seen during this season. Now many people would be ecstatic about this Buck and that's great. You may be the lucky ones. I took a great animal and am blessed for the opportunity, yet I knew I settled. Thats wasn't fair to me or the Buck. Inhindsight Icould have been just as happy coming home and telling the tale of the buck that I had at 11 yards from the ground stand, and didn't shoot.
But you know what? As hunters we are not judged on encounters. We are judged by animals on the ground, and our walls. I got caught up in the impression, and I'm not saying I'll never shoot another small buck with my bow, but if I do it will be special for another reason.

I've felt this way since Sunday, I've known all along that I shot a buck I normally wouldn't. I went Hunting Sunday afternoon and Monday and tonight. No time off to enjoy the satisfaction of a well planned and executed hunt. Because I needed to be out there. With only a Doe tag. (we are a 1 Buck State)

Tonight Karma came full circle, I saw the buck of my dreams, the local legend. I watched him, texting my wife the whole time. A 10 point came into the field on the heals of a doe. They fed in the cut corn. I watched him for 20 minutes. I ranged him..to be honest allot of things went through my mind. I'm on a private farm and very close to home. I could have taken the doe, it never entered my mind. I watched them feed out of sight in the setting sun.

He was a solid 150 class buck. Wide solid main beams, with 5 tines on the left and 4 upward tines on the right with a drop-tine. My dream buck.

To be a Trophy Hunter is a commitment, many won't understand or desire this type of hunt and thats fine also.

I basically liveWhitetails 24/7 from Mid August through Christmas. There are many worse things than still having a tag in your pocket. I guess this year was a stepping stone, a realization of the type of hunter I desire to be. This doesn't make me any better than anyone, and it's not a debate for what is a good buck, it's just one man's journey.

Tag soup ain't for everyone....but I have some good recipes.