I know an expert when I see one. And you sir must be one! An expert on commentary! With a post count nearing 10,000 and commenting about just about every thread, especially the ones I start, you've always got something well though out (cough - impulsive, spiteful and tinged in jealousy) to say. If you spent even half the time out in the field learning about deer and where the bucks live instead of on Gunnutz you might have a chance to see a big old deer.
I'd like to shoot an animal as close to it's full potential or peak as possible. That is a 6 year old whitetail. That to me is a hunt. That to me is a worthy challenge. A buck of that age and caliber is a very rare thing these days with all the amatuers, I mean meat hunters that can't pass an easy shot on a fawn, yearling, doe or dink buck, partly because they just can't resist the impulse to kill when presented but also because they are far too lazy and inexperienced to find an older, smarter deer to begin with. For to do that would take time, preparation, energy, money, and experience and most importantly getting their fat arse out of their 4x4 truck and into the deer woods.
I did see and enjoy the 2 blurry pictures you posted of that old, past his prime mule deer on the road - probably already with late stage CWD that's why a guy like you was able to even catch a glimpse of a deer that old. I've seen some of the deer pics you've posted proudly about the one the girlfriend killed. That two year old 4x4 you had shoulder mounted. I'm glad her tag was notched and the freezer filled. I pass on several of those and usually a couple older than that each year. I just don't think it's ethical to end the life of an animal before it has a chance to grow up and reach maturity. And to tell you the truth I prefer cow rib steaks anyways on my Treager grill.
I haven't been posting much lately because I've been spending a lot of time searching for and preparing for a shot at a fully mature deer as well as putting together interesting threads to post that keep guys like you out of the deer woods or off the backroads. Well Spank, thanks for your continued interest and support on my threads old buddy, maybe one day we can notch our tags side by side, I'll pass on the shooter to you so you can finally say you shot a shooter!