Vabowman

wis bow huntr, that is what it is all anout brother!! The reason I brought this to the table is b/c in this article the guy said that he got so wrapped up in hunting for mature bucks that he let several 140-150" bucks walk and now he regrets it, he said hunting became a job and he didn't enjoy it for a while b/c he would often get disappointed at the end of the season. So he started shooting more decent bucks but not monsters and that he didn't set his standards so high anymore b/c he realized that he could never reach them. BTW, for the record, I would rather shoot a doe instead of a small buck, but if it's the last day and that's all that's there, Im shooting, Im not a trophy hunter so I would take the opprotunity if it was there.

kevin1

Things can only get as complicated as you choose to make them, and the only one who can make you hunt a certain way is yourself. One of the biggest reasons I stopped hunting for antlers was the attitudes of other hunters, once I quit caring what they thought the antlers just didn't seem important anymore. Now I hunt for pleasure and meat, and I'm alot happier for doing so. Living in a high density antlerless area with a high bag limit doesn't hurt...

Sooner State Hunter

My theory as to why things have changed is this: 20, 30 or 40 years ago it was a big deal to kill a decent buck b/cdeer management wasn't as advanced (or even existent in many places) so big bucks were harder to come by. Now that there are more "trophy" bucks around, it has brought out the natural competitive nature in many hunters who want to shoot a booner instead of just being happy with anything with horns.

Personally, Iget a kick out ofshooting anything with my bow but I see how some who areway past that stage have to "up the ante" and make things more challengingfor theirselves.

Rob/PA Bowyer

Here's my take (even if you don't care) after reading most of the replies, many of which I agree with and many I think over think it.

Along some of the lines of Dmils post,

I hunt for me and the enjoyment of my friends that I may take with me. What I do in my woods doesn't affect you (in general) in any way shape or form. Now it may affect my neighbors but that is the least of my worries as long as I'm doing everything legal, they have no determination on what I do. I shoot what I want to shoot and what I'm allowed to shoot. I don't take more than I need. If I choose to shoot a doe, the doe needed taken and she's the one I wanted. If I choose to pass all bucks all season, that again is my choice and I'm happy with my choice. When I put a tag on a buck, that is the exact buck I chose to put my tag on. I don't care what you do in your (generalization) woods as long as your doing it legally. I am very happy in my treestand, it's where I love to spend my time and while I'm there, nothing else matters.

Ben / PA

Well put buddy, well put!!