What's Big Enough?

I have a confession to make: I haven't killed a buck here in my home state of Michigan in three seasons. It certainly hasn't been for lack of trying. In fact, I actually think the last three seasons have been some of the best I've experienced. I simply haven't sealed the deal. I've had one agonizing miss and more close calls than I care to mention. But the seasons have been solid.

Like many of you, killing a buck is not my goal. Killing deer is not what drives me. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy filling tags and making meat. More precisely, I think all humans feel a need to do exactly that. Some of us have simply allowed our primal instincts to remain less dull. Others, sadly, have forgotten why it is that we have canine teeth.

But when it comes to letting fly on a deer with antlers, I exercise restraint. I'm looking for a buck at least three years of age here in Michigan. And therein lies the challenge: There aren't many of those around and killing one is truly a challenge of the highest order. As I've blogged before, I have an Iowa archery tag this season. We've all heard plenty of stories about that state -- and others like it such as Illinois, Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin.

As the days slip by and the hunting season draws painfully near, I find myself thinking more and more about the hours I'll spend on stand in Iowa and Ohio. My standards there are slightly higher than here in Michigan simply because I believe there are more mature bucks in those states. But how old is old enough? How big is big enough?

I'm not one who thinks hunting is about trophy antlers. But I do value highly my role as a deer manager and I happen to think that the joy of hunting -- and in fact life itself -- is in doing what is difficult. There is little satisfaction for me in doing the simple. And so I will set the bar high, trying very hard not to set it so high that success is impossible.

So what is the answer to my question of how big is big enough? There's only one answer that matters, that should be considered.

Whatever makes you proud of your accomplishment.

Tony Hansen, Michigan Man