DougE,

Your stories put me in mind of my Father. He started deer hunting seriously right about the time that the population really started taking off. He pretty much developed into someone who is really just interested in the big buck, and since the early 90s it has been relatively easy to bag one annually. So, even though he remembers the earlier era of very low deer numbers and bucks being few and far between, he is quick to complain if he has to hunt more than a couple days to get a crack at a big buck. Of course, when he talks about how crappy deer hunting is becoming he is using selective memory and also ignoring the fact that he very regularly passes on does and smaller bucks. So, I take his opinion with a grain of salt, since I've been around enough hardcore deer hunters to know that they are about the hardest type of hunters to please. For many, anything less than a trophy buck on the first day of season and things are going to hell in a handbasket.

I can't wait to hear his complaints when some of the new herd reduction policies start taking effect here and the deer heard starts getting down to where it really should be. I may have to put him in touch with Cornie and they can start a support group.