I coudn't agree with you more atlasman. I have been hunting deer with gun and bow for a little over 40 years now and I love it as much today as I did when I was 13. During that time I have killed my share of 120 and up class bucks. I have 5 on the wall. I can't tell you how many 4 and 6 pointers I've taken. Now if I had aways waited for the big rack I'm sure I would have killed a few more large racks, maybe even a true monster but looking back I'm absolutely certain that it wouldn't have enhanced my hunting experience. There's nothing wrong with wanting to take a trophy, lord knows I dream of the big buck, but if a trophy were behind every stump and brush pile the mystique would be gone for me.

I don't think this obsession with large bucks is healthy for the sport of hunting. There is a lot of pleasure to be derived from developing ones competence in every aspect of the sport from shooting and maintaining equipment to skinning, butchering and prepairing the meat for the table. This last season I taught a young nephew of mine how to put a razor edge on his jack knife. I explained to him how important it would be to be able to keep his knives sharp for hunting when he is older. He was tickled to death and proud of his new skill. For Christmas I got him a set of good sharpening stones and when he opened the package his eyes lit up as if he'd just killed a 12 point. Now this is a small thing but it is an example of what I mean. This 10 year old is already enjoying hunting and it has nothing to do with a big rack. When he takes his first deer he'll be using a sharp knife to dress it and he'll get a lot of satisfaction out of the process whether its a 4 point or a 12.

In other words, we shouldn't teach our younin's that big racks is all that matters. Focus them on developing their skills and taking satisfaction and pride in that. The big racks will come and they won't be missing out on all the other things. Their hunting experience will be better for it.