>justhunt, I know how you feel,
>I had been there, done
>that. I had waited years
>for my chance to get
>a big bull and by
>god, I was going to
>hunt my ass off to
>get that 350+ bull or
>bust. Had the same exact
>bench mark as you!!
>
>One piece of advice, you dwell
>on that freaking score thing
>and it will RUIN YOUR
>HUNT!!!! I had spent every
>waking moment dreaming of my
>2010 Dutton hunt the moment
>I knew I had that
>tag. I had vested myself
>and had tunnel visioned on
>that 350+ bull for months,
>spent every last dollar and
>minute I had over it.
>Almost got a divorce over
>it. I got down there
>5 days before my muzzy
>hunt started and had myself
>worn out before it even
>began trying to find that
>bastage in the sweltering heat
>we had that fall.
>
>Then circumstances did not go as
>I had expected and help
>I had planned on had
>other commitments, other people got
>involved in our camp that
>had no ties to my
>hunt and were yelling at
>me because I was getting
>back so late and had
>to run my truck to
>charge my trailer batteries because
>my generator died so I
>cook diner and take a
>shower for gods sake.
>
>Dude, by day 6 of the
>hunt I was mentaly and
>physicaly exhausted from my
>persuit of that 350+ bull.
>When The evening of day
>6 came, it was on
>the edge of a front
>coming in and had cooled
>things off. The elk lit
>up and I had my
>chance. I seen my bull
>and as I settled my
>crosshairs on him at last
>light, the thought entered my
>mind, he is not a
>350 bull. It was then
>I realized looking at him
>that all the damn score
>thing is is a number.
>My bull wound up being
>right at 340. My bull
>had changed my life litteraly.
>I look at him now
>hanging on my wall and
>he reminds me every day
>of one thing. That is
>the fact that just like
>life, you can not take
>it too seriously or you
>will miss out on the
>whole experience of what it
>is all about. Go down
>there, hunt your ass off
>and find a bull that
>YOU WOULD BE HAPPY WITH
>regardless of score.
>
>If you go down there and
>shoot a 320 bull, walk
>away with your head held
>high taking pride knowing that
>you did everything you could
>and that is all that
>matters. Not the numbers.
>
> Take every minute in and
>enjoy it because how soon
>will you get this chance
>again?
>
>
+1, nice post, just reading that open my eyes a bit, thanks