Entering an animal into the "Record Books" is a personal decision that can only be made by that hunter. I would ask "why" would you want to enter it? Will it make the memory more clear, the trophy on the wall more appealing or your ego inflated by knowing your antelope is in a record book for people to read. That is not a derogatory statement, I know many people who actively seek praise from others. It's not the quiet, soulful moment when they walk up alone to their fallen trophy they hold highest, but the calling of every hunter they know to come on over and check out the "trophy". Let's be honest .. some guys LIVE for the looks on their buddies faces, we all know guys like this. Doesn't make them bad people at all. On the other side of the spectrum there is that guy in the group, you may know someone like this, who could shoot a monster ... but unless you asked him specifically you may not even know he scored. This is usually the same guy who gets really excited for the new hunter or suffering from a long drought hunter who shoots a spike. Most hunters fall somewhere in between.

I personally would only enter an animal into a record book if somehow it made the hunt more special, the animal more impressive or the memory more vivid. I've got 2 on the wall which I have "scored" with a friend, that have the inches of antler necessary to make the pages of a book. I admit it was fun doing the measuring and having an idea of how they "stacked up" against the biggest, but for me that was enough. I'm not sure how I would handle it if I took a top 10 animal, a problem I hope to have!!!!!! but I'm thinking it would take something like that to make me change my mind.

Let me add, I don't think there is anything wrong with record books... they're just not for me.