Pine Donkey

That's great. He'll be ringing arrows at rabbits in no time.

This is a discussion I have had several times with my hunting buddies. 25 years ago, we would talk all year about 90 inch bucks, and dream of someday getting a 100 incher. Now, 100 inch is not some mystical animal we are sure we will someday find. I remember when a guy from town shot one about 105 inches, everybody "knew" it was a cross bred muley because coues just don't get that big. I think there are many factors which have already been mentioned, but to me the most significant are trail cams and the culture of hunting which is driven largely by the internet and sites like this. If you have a couple large bucks, say 110ish, that keep posing for your game camera, it makes it much easier to pass up that 90 inch buck and you are motivated to work harded for what you know is around somewhere. Also, when a big buck was taken years ago, the stories spread, usually in the local area, but so did the skepticizm. Now, that big buck is on everybody's cell phone in a matter of a few hours. A picture is truely worth a thousand words. Additionally, through sites like this one, many hunters are better educated on the animals, techniques, and equipment. I look at my son who is 16 years old. His knowledge and skill are higher than mine was at twice that age. I had the desire, but did not have the resourses to learn how to hunt coues. I was pretty much limited to reading about Eastern whitetails in magazines like Outdoor Life, and trying to apply that in the desert. Everybody has their theory, but are there any facts to back it up? Has there been an increase in the entries into Boone and Crocket? How about the field checks done by wildlife managers, are they showing an increased average? Great topic Coach, should make for interesting reading for a while.

Looking at the big deer, and the way his points tend to come off the main beam, it looks like his mama may have been messing around with an elk !

Ned, great buck. You should just give up hunting because you will never top that one...but you could sure have a great time trying!

Well said!

I enjoyed reading the story, congrats to all.

If you can't grow it, you must mine it. Good luck hunting anything without the products of mines. Don't forget, most poeple think jobs are a pretty good thing too. After reading this site for many years it seems that there are a lot of very nice deer taken near Bisbee, Tombstone, Morenci, Globe, and other towns that exist because of mining. Guess the deer didn't read the memo about mines being bad for them.

I love the character on those antelers.

Great Buck Amanda, can't wait to read the whole story. Hopefully it will include a Buck for Scott.

That's a great way to start a kid hunting. Congratulations

Not bad for lowering your standards. Congrats.!

Toad, toad, toad!!!

That sounds like a great time. Congrats on a good buck.

Red Rabbit, you truely have a gift for speaking through pictures.

Neat reflection picture

Nice story, great buck.

Wow! That is an impressive bunch of deer.

Great job Nick.

Great job Matt! Coach, how about an update on Nick...

Avoid burritos the night before!

This is a great deer. No better time that in your youth to begin making payments to the taxidermist. Congratulations

Congratulation!!! a kids first deer is a special think.

He should score at least TOAD and 7/8ths!

Our prayers are with your family.

Great buck.