I guess I lack the desire to gain access to good locations

But we went over this.

Your shananigans aren't cheeky and fun. Just evil and full of spite.. which makes them not shananigans really.

Evil shananigans.

Didn't Greg and Mike have this fight last year?

I swear to God I'm going to pistol whip the next guy who says, " Shenanigans."

Hey farva whats the name of that resturaunt you like with all the goofy **** on the walls and the mozerella sticks?

I love you guys.

And who doesn't love Super Troopers. Really.

Nothing is stopping me but me and it has little to nothing to do with scouting, putting in time, using past experience or knowledge. I hope I don't come off asboasting when I say this but I've been fortunate in that though I no longer have access to great areas as I did say 10 years ago, I've still been able to find the dominant bucks on my hunting land the majority of the time. Sometimes able to get a good shot opportunity and sometimes not. My biggest foe is mental and it has something to do with (to borrow a line from Matt/Pa) "moment of truth" and patience or lack of in a few situations. I have 3 mature bucks mounted and a couple racks from mature bucks among the many racks in my garage. Didn't mount the couple from the garage because I couldn't justify the expense at the time in relation to rack size.

In short I have missed good shots at more P&Y bucks than I have made........I can countem up and its not only frustrating but haunting. Off the top of my head there are 7 P&Y bucks that I have missed shots at. Count one more that I nicked and that makes 8!!!! Its not preparation or the inability to put myself into position for a shot most times, but the final lack of execution. Of course there have been a few other times that I could absolutely not work my way into getting a shot(not gonna count those), but I gave my best effort and have no regrets on those. But the ones I have missed after countless hours scouting, moving/removing stands and actual hunting makes the wife sort of happy and my pocketbook fuller saving all that money from being spent at the taxidermist.

In short I have 2 P&Y class bucks on my wall but should have 9-10. But I screwed up at the "moment of truth" more than a bowhunter should in a lifetime[:@][]. Thats on me and a part of the whole equation.......the finality I guess. Think I'll go and puke now.

This thread is loaded because it implies that a guy isn't getting it done and is somehow less of a hunter unless he is putting big deer on the ground. Furthermore, it also implies that those who aren't killing big bucks are making some sort of excuse why they aren't, while at the same timediminishing the accomplishments of those that do. That's BS. Me, I'm not going to diminish anyone elses success. Good for you, power to ya and I'm happy for you. No doubt about it and I'll be the first to congratulate you and actually mean it.

I've killed my share of deer with my bow over the last 20 years or so here in PA. Nothing ever big though for various reasons, but those reasonsaren't excuses.It's just how things have played out given my particular set of circumstances. It is what it is folks and I'm not ashamed of it. Do I want it to happen? Sure, but at what cost? Should I hold out for a 140 and NEVER kill another buck? I don't think so. What fun is there in that? All I can do iscontinue to take bucks thatare goodrepresentative specimens for where I hunt. That's how I've been doing it for awhile and I don't see that changing anytime soon given my situation.

If I knew what wasstopping me from shooting big bucks, I wouldn't be getting stopped anymore.

If that Isn't the truth Ryan!! Very good point!!!!