I like to think of it as catch and release hunting. For me it's about the hunt but, of course, when the right animal comes by the harvest is kind of like having dessert after a good steak. A bonus if you will.
If I have a good buck that presents a safe, high percentage shot opportunity and I pass, I have won the game that day. He lives because I let him do so.
Sometimes those bucks wind up being harvested by other hunters. Thats not a problem. As a matter of fact, three of the ten bucks that I passed while bowhunting on our lease in Illinois this year wound up being taken in the shotgunseason.They all scored in the 125" to 130" range and I was happy for the hunters whoharvested them. I had committed to hunt for a specific buck and though I saw him several times, he never gave me a good shot opportunity. It now appears he'll be around for next year
and I might yet get back out there for a few days
.
My standard in PA is a bit less. Rybo's standard of 120" and 3 1/2 years old is more realistic here in PA.
First day or last day the standards don't change in this house.