Each year we have to cull a certain number of bucks and does off of the ranch. When it comes to killing does and "cull bucks" I use my bow most of the time. But when I'm hunting for a trophy buck, I'll pull out my rifle. So pretty much I use the "archery season" for culling does and inferior bucks and the "rifle season" for trophy bucks. I guess you can say my "standards" do change from season to season.

I don't change my standards depending on what weapon I'm hunting with. I do find it easier (generally because of the amount of time I see the animal when bow hunting) to get a good look and often it's after watching an animal better than a minute that I decide I'm going to pass.

Generally if I have a gun in my hands I'm still hunting and often the shot materalizes so quickly that it's a split second decision to shoot or not and I don't always have a lot of time to study the animal. Case inpoint is the buck I shot on Thanksgiving. I could see his rack was outside of his ears but didn't have time to study him. Had I watch this same deer out of a tree stand I likely would have passed on him. His spread was good by he was lacking mass and tine length I would have liked and prefer to shoot.

*** on a note, this could be some of the dirty feeling I have for shooting him. He wasn't the deer I have been looking for all year as well as I feel the kill was too easy. Same sinero with a bow in my hand I likely would have been able to get off the shot***