Before I throw in my opinion, I have to say that I' ve never been deer hunting. My family doesn' t hunt too much, so I' m learning the ropes on my own (and with help from the nice folks here in the forum).

However, my belief is to wait until you have a perfect shot. We all have different skill levels, so that perfect shot might vary from hunter to hunter. But I dare say that for most, a running deer is not an good target. The least we can do for these noble creatures and for the sport is to make a clean kill.

I think often about how I' ll hold up next season when/if that first buck appears and I start to get the fever. But I believe that if I study and practice hard through the year, I' ll stay true to form and wait until the moment is just right. I love to just sit and soak up the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors. If I need to wait another year to get that buck, that' s OK with me. It' s the entire outdoor experience that makes it worthwhile. The trophy is just the icing on the cake.

I' m anxious to hear what you experienced hunters think about that topic!