Using rack size as a measure of success is not how I was raised as a hunter or what I have passed on to my sons. It goes against everything I was taught as a young hunter.

I was taught to appreciate and respect the game hunted, try to understand as much as possible about the animal, enjoy those times in the deer woods and put together a strategy and game plan based on scouting to help increase the opportunity for success.

If one of us tags a beautiful, big old buck, that's great - no doubt. But if another in our group drags out a legal doe after days of hunting, success has also been achieved - no doubt.
For those who must kill a big racked buck to feel he or she is now successful, well, they are missing the true spirit of the hunt.