stash59 wrote:B&C originally started the record keeping program as a means to indicate the health of a huntable species. Animals reaching the required scores indicated the area the animal was taken in. Was providing a healthy environment. For said animal and the species as a whole. It was more about the animal/s. Not the hunter. That's kinda changed over the years. And been blown way out of whack.
Though Pope & Young was kinda cool. It's always been more about the hunter. "Look at what I did with a shorter range weapon."
The state record keeping organizations are kinda the same. "Hey look at all the record book animals we have had harvested."
When I was younger getting an animal to put in the records books was what I thought was important. So I could pump my own chest. Now days, sure I would love to kill an old mature animal. But it making the "books" or putting one in a "book" isn't what's important. My ego will still brag a little about it to friends, family, fellow Beasts. But not the whole world.
Although a if I ever did kill a new B&C record breaking animal. I would enter that. Because I feel an extra special animal like that would deserve the respect and recognition for it's uniqueness. And should be shared with the hunting community. For everyone to enjoy! But the emphasis should be on the animal not the lucky fact that I was the one that got it.
As far as the above animal. If that's how PA wants to handle it fine. I'll make my own judgements on the details.
I think most of us lost a little blood in that war. I put 5 or 6 in the books I don't even remember (over 25 years ago). I haven't put any in since then. Once you step into a bathtub of hot water. You find out it really doesn't feel that hot. I guess where do you draw the line on how long a recovery takes? One day, one week, one year? Who establishes the length of recovery time to call it yours? I have left many bucks over night (did so this year in fact). I killed a buck in 1998 and didn't recover it until one year later. I tagged (salvage) and hung the buck on my wall because I did kill it, just couldn't find it. I did not enter it into any books though.