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So you finally get your deer, what is your reaction when you come upon your downed game? How did you react to your first deer vs your last? Did you celebrate, feel sorrow for this beautiful animal or jump for joy and scream "I did it!"? How has your reaction changed as you progress in your experience? Deer one 2000 I finally connect with a buck after 13 years and hear a car key Ding after the shot? Ding Ding Ding?? All I could think was "I did not know deer made that noise after being shot!!!" Then I hear "he is down!" What the heck I said? I happened to shoot this deer next to a road that another hunter was driving on and luckily shot him before the road hunter did. His kid was funny and said it was like watching the outdoors channel. I was happy, shocked and elated with my first buck and later learned how to gut and that my first shot was through the heart. Congrats where given and we dragged the deer about 45 yards to the road, easiest drag I will probably ever have! I was on cloud 9 all week until the DEC officer gave me a ticket for not putting in the date, lol I was young, I needed the money. Stupid me in my excitement forgot to finish the tag date, now the first thing I try to do is fill my tag after I stop shaking. I took a 4 pt in Roscoe around 2007 and made a bad shot and had to finish the deer. Never before was I so down that I: 1 shot a young buck, 2 made a really poor shot choice. No celebrating this kill, I was really pissed off at myself. After 10 more years in this remote area (Moose River Plains) and many heart-brakes at my failed attempts to get another ADK Buck I finally connected with a brute in 2010 after missing another 2 days before. To say that my highs and lows drove me nuts would be an understatement. They always push me to improve! This buck taken in 2010 was really the culmination of many years of hunting and knowledge gained in books and by putting miles on my boots. When I actually saw the beauty and large rack of this mature deer I was in a bit of shock and aw. I think I screamed holy sht and are you kidding me? I think a loud YES was also given. If you where close you would have heard this. I was overjoyed at finally getting a mature buck and could not hold back my enthusiasm! I quickly called on the radio but produced nothing until a few minutes later my buddy Shawn called asking if that was any of us. I screamed "I got one!" Simply put I was in heaven! 2013 I connect with another beauty in the Dacks This was a young deer I debated on passing but he showed me 5 antler points on one side and it was my Birthday so he did not get a pass. After hiking to the last location I saw him I felt deep disappointment in not seeing where he went and got out the GPS to mark the spot, further inspection found the deer a few feet away from me to my left. No celebrating or jumping for joy on this deer. I was happy I took my 3rd buck in this remote area but felt bad for taking from the land and stated that out loud. In the tradition of the Benoit's and in memory of Larry I marked myself with the blood of my prey so our spirits can become one. I thanked my best friend Chris for his spirit was with me on that trip. It was an emotional hunt with some very deep feelings. 2015 After many years of hunting bucks only I was told I need to help with population control. I was given the green light to shoot any doe in range. I choose the one with twin buck fawns Again no celebration and I had little emotion on this kill as it was a high population area and I knew it was good for the land. I promise myself that I will always thank the deer for the adventures they take me on, for the regret of taking a life off the land and for the health that I have to continue to chase these amazing animals. I thank them for the bounty of food they provide and always promise to mark myself with the blood of my prey so our spirits will become one! I encourage all of you to do the same, especially if you are on film! We tend to jump up and celebrate a monster buck but how many of us thank that animal for the joy, bounty and respect it deserves even if its a doe? How have you changed over the years? If you only have taken a few or even just one what was your reaction? Will you pay respect to the next animal you take from the land? One of the most amazing animals on our planet deserves this when you kill them! Thanks Grampy This was posted before but in a different format. Grampy's response was what got me thinking about this topic a few months ago. You are a true ethical hunter Grampy good luck this year hope you get your young guy into some great action, he has an awesome mentor in you! Keep up the good work! Hope you get to celebrate and pay tribute to your deer this year!