Preacher Tony,

Quality hunting to me has nothing to do with the size of the rack. I get quality from preparing for each hunt from the boots I put on up to the hat I wear and the equipment I use. Planting food plots and watching them grow and provide for the animals and getting trail cam pics all add to the year round passion we call "hunting. " I think the conservation dept here in Missouri has been getting some pressure from various sources, as mobowhunter touched on. I keep hunting simple and impose my own standards for what I want, as long as its legal. Every day is a quality day when it comes to hunting. I would still like to take a B&C buck but if it doesn't happen I still get high quality.

HuntinGUS,

I couldnt agree more! Everyone hunts for different reasons, and I hope youlet all the 10-points walk. (Ha! Ha!)

I enjoy the hunt. That is why I choose to let the smaller bucks walk. If it were all about the kill, I would shoot the first legal buck that walked by. Again, I firmly believe that any hunterwould choose the larger of two bucks. "Quality hunt", is of course, subjective. I just dont buy any scenerio that supports "smaller bucks are better for the herd." Thats absurd!

The quality of the hunt depends on the hunter. What I want to shoot might not be what you want to shoot. Thats why I believe we have to be very careful NOT to over legislate this great sport.

No chance in thatDave, but unlike you a lot of people do not need the headgear to have a quality hunt. A lot of people can shoot a 2 year old basket 6 or 8 and have the best hunt ever. When shared with good friends and family, it's all quality!

easy gus, easy[8D]

I think you need to take him for a walk on those mountains you call hills

It's Friday.......I guess I am a little squirrelly.

See what you started, PreacherTony!!!!!! (Ha! Ha!)

Gus, for whatever reason, you have it in your head that I only consider it a "quality hunt" if a monster buck is killed. Please read my posts, apparently you have not. Where do you get that from? Funny, though.

I dont believe anyone would agree with you that "smaller is better". If so, stand and be counted. My only point was that I believe (IMHO) if given the opportunity, a hunter would PREFER a mature 10-point over your basket-racked 4-pt. If I am off base here, let me have it, guys. If you only get to see one deer in the morning, would you really want it to be a 4-point, or a 10???

That is not what I think at all, but you have made it clear that killing a small 4 point would not be quality in your eyes. Seeing them would be, but shooting them would not.

Preference and quality are two different things.All I am saying is a quality hunt can occur even if a samll buck is killed.

Dave,
You're absolutely right. No-one that I can think of would prefer a four point to a ten point. When I hear a deer headed my way, I'd much rather have it turn out to be a moster buck (that's never happened to me yet, but I'm waiting.)
Preacher's original question was "Do YOU define quality hunting by rack size?" I don't, and from what I read in your posts, neither do you. We would both define a quality of a trophyby rack size, but not the quality of a hunt. As with many of the debates I've seen around here, it all boils down to what you personally, are trying to accomplish during your hunt. Myself, I'd love to bag a massive 10 or 12 pointer, but I've never set out with that goal in mind.
I'm willing to try, though. If you have any buckslike thaton your ranch, maybe I'll be one of your customers and you can show me what it feelslike to see or shoota buck worth putting a tape to. I wouldn't know. I've never hunted in a location with that kind of deer.

My thoughts exactly. The quality of the huntis the act of the pursuit,not the kill.