I think there is a cycle that most (not all) hunters go through. The same for fisherman. When I first started fly fishing, I just wanted to catch a fish. Then I wanted a big fish, then the biggest variety of fish, then bigger ones of each variety, then finally, coming to enjoy the experience of fly fishing. The relaxing sound of the stream, the art of casting, observing wildlife, etc.

For hunting, it has been much of the same. At first I just wanted to kill a deer. Then I wanted to kill a deer with antlers, then a deer with big antlers, then the most deer, then you come to enjoy hunting. Enjoying the solitude of a cold morning in the woods. Time to think, enjoy nature and maybe shoot a doe or two for meat. Or if another big buck walks by, another trophy.

I am not quite sure which stage I am in, finally having bagged my first nice buck. I would say somewhere between wanting more bucks and enjoying the experience as a whole. Maybe the cycle will go back to just killing any deer after a few dry seasons, or doing it all over again with a new style of hunting (stalking, etc.) or with a new weapon (crossbow, compound bow, etc..) There is more than a lifetime of opportunities and ways to pursue those opportunities. I'm only 27, so I am sure that my outlook will change from time to time, but for me, the one thing that will always hold true: it is probably more about the experience and that feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when it all comes together after putting in the time and effort to reach that goal.