Taking life for granted, thanks RT forums

[billygoat]

I just wanted to say, "Thank You", to all of the individuals who have taken a look at my Iowa Deer. More over, those of you who have shown your appreciation for "Big n' Ugly" (as he has been named). 700+ Views, 2nd only to a monster Booner from Canada. Not too bad for a nurse from Wisconsin.

I guess I have begun taking these animals for Granted, or more so... I have become greedy. 120" is no longer big enough and 150" will no longer do. It seems to me, that big enough is no longer "big enough". It seems that I have forgotten, that many of those on these forums go years without taking "a" deer, yet alone a deer they would hang on the wall.

Often I find myself reading post's of "good sign", or see trail cam pics of smaller buck... reading (at the end of the entry) of the writers hopes to bag such a deer. As I read, I begin to realize, it is the mere hunt... the hope, the dream, that drives you forum members to do this crazy thing we call "hunting".

I recognize that I have been very fortunate to harvest the animals I have, more over, the sheer number of animals I have over the years. However, spending time hear on RT, often reminds me that my hunting experience is unique, and while I am often surrounded by people of the same passion... I may not as frequently be surrounded by individuals with the blessed fortune I have found.

It is indeed those less fortunate who remind me and inspire me to cherish my "moments" in the outdoors. May all of you find your own success in the field, and may you all have a wonderful holiday season.

Thank you RT forum members for often reminding me of the important things in life!

[Nick]

Great post Billygoat.........Thanks for understanding that alot of hunters arent as fortunate to have the good hunting that others have and have to shoot a small buck or doe to put meat on the table for their family. Hunt as you want as long as its legal as far as I'm concerned.

[JasonLester]

I have become greedy. 120" is no longer big enough and 150" will no longer do.

It's funny you say that. I killed a 153" buck this year. I would have shot a 100" buck with no hesitation before. Now I look at my buck and am so happy for him. Even though the hunt was fairly short I've relived it over and over in my head. This just may be the biggest I ever kill. I hope not but it could be.

However, I'm sure my standards have been raised a little by getting this one. Now I'm not sure a 150 will ever be to small for me but I can see if your cosistantly killing bucks that size then I can see your standards raising.

Now as for enjoying the hunt. I have had times where I went without a deer for several years. I got to the point I hunted so hard I forgot to enjoy the hunts I did go on. I focused more on the kill than the hunt. I lost what I liked so much about hunting. When I realized it I tried to get back to just relaxing and enjoying myself. Guess what quickly after I did I took a deer.

Hey I'm happy that you have the opertunities for BIG deer. Just don't forget to enjoy the hunt!

[buckee]

Great post Bill.

The one good thing about holding out for a nice buck, no matter what "Nice" means to the individual or the place he hunts, is that he/she gets to spend more time in the woods.

That's where it's at as far as I'm concerned, and it's always a happy & sad day, when I fill my last tag.

[The Kid]

good post!! i dunno maybe its just me but i think this happens a lot sometimes in life in general, you get so used to things that you want bigger and better things, i'm not saying this is true for everybody, but i to have taken things in life for granted, but i'm just glad that i have inspiration and good people that surround me to point me in the right direction..

[wtnhunt]

Thank you billygoat. Good post for sure. Good to remember that everyone hunts to pursue fulfilling their own goals.

[horst]

Good post and a nice buck as well Billygoat.

Last year and this year Ive been taking several kids hunting and seen a few get there first deer, and sometie thier second third, or even fourth.Its made me reevaluate what Im hunting for, there was a time when the same doe or small buck would put a smile on my face that it puts on thiers.

I spent several years preaching to anyone that would listen how shooting small bucks means we wont have any big bucks next year, Ive seen guys that consider shooting does to be some sort of taboo and teach thier kids that garbage.

This year it didnt seem as important, I didnt buy a hunting license for the first time in years and just spent my time taking kids and even adults out who ordinarily wouldnt get the chance to kill a deer.I never mentioned antler size, didnt tell anyone to not shoot that doe because there was a chance we could get a buck, and didnt tell anyone tolet a small buck walk in the hopes of getting a shot at a bigger one.

It was the most fun Ive had in years and I never picked up a gun, I got just as excited as they did when we got a shot and took the time to teach them a little of what Ive learned over the last 20+ years of chasing deer.I took the focus off the animal and put it on the whole experience instead and it was pretty cool.

[Mossy_71]

Being new to the forum, it is great to start off by reading such an impressionable post. I am a firm believer that too often people get caught up in the whole "size matters" craze. Not that I am bashing it, because believe me I'm not. I just hope that people that are fortunate enough to have such reachable high expectations stay grounded enough to realize that:

• It should never be more about the harvest than the experience, and
  
• The term trophy has different meanings to different people and that should be respected.

By the original post, I believ that you are someone that has come to realize this and thanks for acknowledging.

And by the way, that was an awesome deer you took and a great story to boot. I wish you, as well as everyone else, a lifelong of trophies.

I look forward to sharing everyone else's experiences as well as my own.

Thanks,

Mossy_71

[arrow32]

Great post.

This year I took a step back and anything that was legal to me with bow or gun had best run. The last two years I've been hard on what I take with my bow and have went without tagging a deer with my bow. This year the night before last I shot a doe with my bow never found her:( Missed a 4pt with my bow that horns were just legally a buck but hey I'm the one who holds the trophy no one else.

I got bashed for even shooting at that 4pt but didn't bother me none.

I'll quit rambling.

[RangerClay]

A great post and Horst made it even better. My vote for the thread of the year!!

[Turkeygirl]

Wonderful post there....you were truly blessed with an awesome deer! I know when I'm suppose to get a "big" buck, God will bless me with it. Until then, I take what ever comes long...to me a deer that comes down the trail in range it God's blessing, it's just our choice whether to shoot or not.

It's great to see people like you can acknowledge the rest of us hunters, whether we have ab ig rack on the wall or not. Afterall, the definition of hunting is not "big racks". A big rack is a great bonus though:-)

Thanks for a great post billygoat!

[stevebeilgard]

excellent post, billy. and some really excellent followup comments. and horst now knows why i've spent so many years taking kids out hunting... much better than hunting myself.