Crap!![:@]!!! I was out hunting yesterday, 3 bucks and a doe walk in. The bucks were hanging out at about 60-70 yards. The doe was about 80 yards. There was a 6 point with a good spread and some mass, a 10 point which I would shoot but he was in some thick crap, the doe was a good size, and when I walked out, a smaller 4 point trotted by me. I was hunting in a pouring down snow shower, I never took a shot. Just waiting for the big one to get out the thicket. What have I turned into? I would just usually take anything that comes in range...Now a 14 year old trouphey hunter! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

sounds smart to me

Exaclty what I and 99% of the others on the board would have done.

Many of us yes,but certainly not 99% of this board.If you spend time on this board you will learn that many people here will shoot any legal deer that presents itself.

I would've done the same and waited. The chance to take a nice 10pt just doesn't come along that often. Good job on not taking the shot. There are lots of people who would've blazed away and hoped for the best. In my book that makes you a good hunter, not just a trophy hunter.

I figured someone would jump on me for this. You misunderstood. I meant in this situation 99% would have waited for a shot at the 10pt.

Relax , there's nothing wrong with being a trophy hunter , just keep it in perspective . Take a doe or two now and then to balance it out and put some meat in the freezer .

I did not misunderstand.Most people would have waited a very short time to see if the larger buck would present a shot.However if this didn't happen quickly ,or the other legal deer started to leave,many people would have killed a smaller deer while the opportunity was still there.They would not havebeen ableto pass up thesmaller deer hoping for a larger oneif there was any chance that they would go home empty handed.

You use the words "trophy hunter" like it is a bad thing. If I see a small 8 point all alone I won't shoot it, so my tag is preserved and more buck hunting is possible. I passed on quite a few legal bucks this year. What does that make me? My own man, that's what.
If you let the little ones go, they turn into BIG ones. Plus, the younger hunters have more of a chance of getting that first buck with more bucks running around. I wouldn't mind at all if I passed on a small buck and some young kid shoots it ten minutes later. I would consider it a GOOD day! And so would he, I bet.

OMG! Is that what deer hunting is about? Here I have been, hunting for 26 years, for all the wrong reasons. EMPTY HANDED! I hope somebody other than me gets a little more out of a day in the woods. So, it is black or white....success or failure....well, not for me...thankfully.