You guys read me wrong there. I said, if you aren't into the big buck hunting, then none of that applies to you...thump him the first day or the last and all is well. Nothing wrong with this what so ever.

I was just hinting towards people who SAY they want bigger bucks, that they wish they had mature bucks in the area, etc....I'll put it this way. If you want to shoot the spike on the first day or the last, it doesn't really matter..that is simply awesome. BUT, if you shoot a spike, please for the love of God DO NOT ever, even once, mention how there are no big/mature bucks in the area, or that you want bigger deer. It is fine to shoot younger smaller deer. No one should look down on you for it. Just don't shoot the spike, and two months later be on here spewing how there are no big bucks in the area, all the neighbors are the problem, its just my area, etc...This indicates you view the lack of mature bucks as a problem, yet you would be part of it. I haven't seen this out of anyone on this thread, but you know it happens...alot. I see it all the time locally. A guy will drag in a 4 point, then that afternoon kick back and complain about how there just wasn't the quality deer in there he was looking for, etc. DUH, you aren't allowing them to reach that point. Shooting ANY legal deer with a bow is a huge accomplishment, its just a matter of choosing what you want to hunt for.

LC, I understand hunting for meat...alot of my friends and family do the same. Nothing AT ALL wrong with this, I wasn't pointing you out. What I said doesn't even apply to you in the least, because you admit you don't hunt for antlers. I guess I'm just fortunate enough to have enough deer and access to be able to whack a few does throughout the season and hold out for a bigger buck in my main area. I like the way I hunt, just as you do the way you hunt. Heck, I shot a 2.5 buck this year at my spot...the difference is, I will not once mention how there aren't mature deer in the area or that the neighbors wont let em grow. I would be part of the problem if I did this. I'm proud as can be of any deer I shoot, I will just realize that it could effect the outcome of things later, for the way I choose to hunt.

It's like a wine collector complaining of not having any 10 year old bottles of wine, after drinking a5 year old bottle the night before......