Nice deer, T. I hear what you' re saying about the gun kill lacking the thrill. I' ve never killed a buck with anything but my bow. The thrill is when they get within bowrange (30 yards in your case) and you start to realize that you may actually get him. Then the nerves start to peak (yours and his), he looks anxious, you feel anxious, you draw, the broadhead is shaking all around, you release and the hit is good, you follow the sight of the deer until he piles up - that' s a thrill.

A gun kill is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, you should be proud that you persevered as long as you did.