I'm glad your heart pounds like mine when a deer appears in front of you......after all isn't that why we are out there?? I hope I NEVER lose that feeling.

Once again this is just my opinion but being proficient at killing big bucks is very dependent on the land you hunt........am I proficient?? I killed the biggest deer in the woods in the last 45 years...........took me 17 years.......but in that span I also killed many bucks that are the "norm" for these woods. Our "norm" is a 4-6 pt with an 8 pt being above avg.

Now a guy in Kansas may kill a bunch of 110-130 bucks over the years and bang one big 'ol 170+..........is he more proficient then me?? We both killed the "norm" for our woods and one big elusive monster for the area. Just different "norms" to pick from.

My father, brothers, and me have killed so many deer that I couldn't even count..........my dad has so many 4-8 racks on plaques that my mom is gonna kill him. Of course they are in Florida now so those racks look pretty darn sweet to the beach crowds I still get a lump in my throat when a doe walks out. I get just as much of a thrill and satisfaction from taking a mature doe as any deer I have taken. I just don't really see how people are so much more pleased by the harvest because it has a couple little horns on it's head. It was really nice taking that big buck.......don't get me wrong......especially because VERY FEW people around here can say the same........but if that deer was a doe I would still have been thrilled just to have a successful hunt.

I sometimes used to think that I maybe downplayed the value of "trophies" because I had no realistic chance of getting one..........little sour grapes maybe.........but now I have one, and a GREAT one to boot!!.....and my opinion hasn't changed. It was great, and something I won't ever forget probably due to all that went into it........but next year if I tag a nice big doe and a 4 or 6 ptr I will be one happy and satisfied hunter. Putting a big buck on the wall will have no effect on me pulling the trigger or release on a smaller buck in the future.........If it did I may as well stay home because I sure as hell ain't gonna see a buck bigger then the one I killed this year. LOL......I am not waiting another 17 years to take a shot!!!

Say you were fishing and caught a 20 lb Northern Pike..........would then only get excited by another 20 pounder and not want to fish for anything less then him??

Not me..........I say keep casting!!!!........If a big boy hits.......reel him in!!!......if a small guy hits.....reel him in!!! The most important thing is to enjoy the fishing.