My father-in-law has lived and hunted in Ill. for 20 years until 5 years ago.
He moved to North Carolina. He killed a fair buck (130" 10 pointer)
The people there thought it was a monster. In Illinois some would have questioned him for taking a buck that needed a couple more years to grow.
He was satisfied with it. Until he realized for there it was a top prize then his pride in it grew. It became one of his top trophies. The challenge of killing a big buck there was actually tougher than here in Illinois. So it meant more to him, Than say if he had killed a 150 class buck here.
You just have to look at things in perspective. Take pride in what youve accomplished. I still get a kick out of taking a good meat doe. Heck I bet 70% of hunters here are ashamed of killing does.
I think we have gone overboard in trophy hunting. It is nce to take a nice buck. But the hunt , the adventure, the deer camp, the smell of the woods , the entire atmosphere is being overlooked. These are all things to be relished. These are what deer hunting memeories are made of. Not the final score on your buck and trying to beat everyone else. Have fun , remember the good times and try to pass this on to your kids. Beware of the commercialization of the "sport". Hunting compainies(products) and outfitters are going to ruin it all for us because of many peoples pursuit of even bigger giants bucks .
Your trophy should be the hunt , its memories and any deer you decide to bag.