WMH, You were the last one to see the deer alive so he's your kill. Mount him and display proudly as is deserving of all trophy whitetails.

I wounded a nice buck on the second to last day of Wisconsin's Gun season in the late afternoon. Six of us looked well into the night and never found him. Went back the next day but it had snowed 3 inches and covered up any chance of tracking. I still consider that buck my trophy and will claim him later this winter/spring when I find his remains

Be proud of what you've accomplished this hunting season, regardless of the path it took to lay your hands on your trophy.

Hey that's your opinion.

I didn't do that I asked a question and gave him a smart butt reply(just like I would a hunting buddy) and answered his question.

Different opinions are not putting some one down,calling people dumb is.

earlyIN, I know who Wayne Zaft is and I also know there were plenty of different opinions on that deer.

Not directed at the original poster or really anyone in paticular on this thread but,

If it's all about the horns on the wall, you might as well just take any shot you can that will kill the animal and not worry about when you find it.

Charlie,
Definately not a trophy hunter here in Massachusetts... Definately not about the horns. Most seasons we are lucky to get a shot at any legal buck w/ the bow around here. This NY buck was by far the biggest I ever shot w/ the bow. I have been hunting for years and around here anything w/ the bow is a trophy. I had one unrecovered doe my first year ever bowhunting... this is the first time this has happened since them.
I respect everyone's opinion and they are entitled to that...
I have never shot an animal for it's rack. I kill & eat 2-3 deer a year... usually all does... and I am very proud and happy with that.

Like I said that last comment was in no way directed at you.

I understand...
Hunted hard all season here in MA, managed to get a "trophy" MA 4 pointer... haven't seen a deer w/ the gun in my hand. This state is terrible... at least Western MA... We need ARs or no does for a couple of years...

Nice buck,,congrats

Then you must know that his buck stands as Alberta's record archery typical whitetail. So, apparently the way his buck was recovered had NO bearing on the outcome. Just say'n.:s4:

Did get entered in Pope and Young can't remember. I see he withdrew it fronm P&Y and B&C.
He luckily didn't go and hunt before it was recovered.

Earlyin, It's a personal feeling with me I really don't care what others think.

Like I said I never mounted what would be my biggest buck, because I failed to recover it stopped looking and some one else did.

Not the same scenario as the OP either as he was not from the area and had to go home.

Like you said, he withdrew it from P&Y/B&C. I guess he was not pleased with the switch-up (common base) in scores, which made the WHOLE DIFFERENCE. That buck was "originally" scored at like 222" gross typical and 206" net, or something close to this.

Would you have abandoned (sp) your buck the same way if you thought it would have been a world record contender? Even if someone else finds it, you're still the hunter who killed it. I know what you're saying though, in so far as it not having the same "meaning" to you since "you personally" didn't recover it. That Zaft story is an interesting read though.