This is very strange for me. I'm stuck in the middle of this thread. I am all for QDM and stress in fact plead with my neighboring hunting parties to work together to grow the herd so we have big bucks around. After 5 years of everyone playing by the same rules, we finally have a little something going here. I agree the best way to accomplish that is keep after your neighbors. I stay in constant communication with them and we now have a good relationship and some good bucks around.
On the other hand, I can see the other side of it too. The first half of my hunting life is similar to what atlas is going through and I can relate. I hate to say it but someplaces there is NO chance of taking a mature buck. I'm kinda speaking hypocritical here but my emotions on this are split. I work so hard and try to encourage everyone to practice QDM and let the little bucks go. But there are situations where it simply doesn't make sense.
in conclusion it is your decision, if you see a small buck, i wouldn't shoot him just because you think you neighbor might or will, who knows maybe he'll put the slip on that neighbor and come cruising past your stand next year a year older and bigger!
I agree with this statement except for when you've hunted a piece of land for years and have never seen or heard of a big mature buck being taken. If you've scouted all year every year and have never seen a big buck, then what are you supposed to do? What are you out there for? You still would like to take a buck.
I feel very sorry for guys that can only get worked up by a huge buck........
While I do agree with you atlas, my heart races with every deer, but unfortunately it's human nature for some. The more proficient a person becomes at taking big bucks and the more deer you harvest, it's just natural that the only thing that will really get you going (for some) is a big buck.