DH3,
The definition of a trophy deer is different for everyone because deer across our great state vary in size so much. At the ranch I hunted this last weekend in Lasalle county, that is a cull buck and would be removed from the heard. I shot a cull 8 that's probably 15-20" bigger than your deer. In one hunt I saw six 10 pts, a 12 and 2 monsters that would make me the king of this section for a week. In another hunt we saw a 180" and a couple 160". They aren't shooting deer like that until January or February.

At a friend's place in Buffalo, your deer would be the talk of the lease for a couple years. I have a deer smaller than that mounted in my game room that I'm very proud of, but today where I hunt, I would only look through my bunks once and not even think about picking up my rifle.

It's all relative. Congrats on a nice buck.

To answer your original question, my scope is on the lowest power until my target is visual in the scope. If I have time, I'll crank it up as needed. Shot a bobcat on 4x this weekend at 140 yards, and on the 8, I had time to turn up the scope to 10x or so but started at 4x.

Nope.

I have always had poor eye sight, I guess just my luck of the draw genetically or maybe I looked at a welders arc too much as a kid? Anyhow I have been blinder than most senior citizens since I was in the second grade. With contacts or glasses im just a hair better than 20x20, but if I loose them im blind as a bat! Im not saying you cant shoot deer/coyote/whatever else at 100 yards with a 3x or low power scope, but I can assure you if I have more power im going to use it. Maybe its because Im a youngster at 32 and was spoiled with my first centerfire scope being a 3x9? I don't know. For me the probability of a deer coming out at a range where I would prefer to have it on a higher power is much larger than if one were to come out so close that I would need a lower power. If I carry the gun to the blind out of the scabbard then I will turn the power down, and if im sitting late or early trying to shoot with the least amount of light I can I will turn the power down as well.

I have no problem what so ever with you shooting this buck. I am happy for you. Anyone who is not can just go to Hell.

Dang Jeremy, I know the guy is sensitive cause he lashed out at me a few months ago too but crayons... that is seriously funny. FWIW I hunt in Freestone Co. with AR and that buck I think is legal, I would have shot it if I'd had time to make a clean kill shot. With no good sight picture and no time, I couldn't have squeezed the trigger due to previous experience and ethics.

You know he's trolled me plenty of times. The truth is, I would've congratulated anyone else for killing that buck. Me and ol DH just ain't cool like that.

Postoak: Here's a picture of the buck with my grandson holding him. Better??

Doesn't look 16" to me

Not unless that rifle has a 40" barrel. It's also weird that multiple people take pictures with the same deer.

Hope you took your time cleaning that buck. Not much meat to be had there

There is a "Buy one, get one free" deal right now at TSO.

Bet you told her it was 10 incher..

Care to post a pic with a tape showing the 16 inch spread? Wouldn't be hard then you could rub it all in their faces for being wrong.

Crickets............