before we go too far out on this one, let me just say the guy who got this deer was on his own property, hunting legally and ethically I'm sure. He is, to my knowledge, a guy who hunts hard and probably had as much time into this buck as I did.
I don't begrudge the guy at all. As a matter of fact I really am happy for the guy. I'm told a deer's home range is roughly 4 square miles. that's 2560 acres, of which I own 78. I knew going into it there was only a slim chance of actually succeeding. I think the only thing that really is bumming me out is that the "game", at least with this particular buck, is over and I lost. So be it. There will be others I'm sure, but for the rest of this year anyway, any deer with headgear better get down a rabbit hole and not come out till Christmas! :D