This year I was able to hunt a private forest that only allows 37 bowhunters for 7000 acres. It allows the bowhunters to use corn for bait. The primary hunt is for deer management and to harvest as many does as can be harvested. The forest has been managed and hunted for 15 years. I saw 7 bucks for every doe encountered. I never saw less than 5 deer per setting. One morning I had a 145" 4 1/2 year old buck come in. I had my bow in my hand and my release on the string. The buck poped out from behind cover at 15 yards. He looked up at me frozen in the tree the entire time he was in shooting range. I was waiting for him to look elsewherre and give me a shot. He never quit watching me. I did not want to spook him and waited patiently. I watched him walk away without being able to take a shot. Yes I have thought about it and could I have shot this deer, Maybe Maybe not I have shot over 215 whitetails over the last 52 years. I did not want to risk making a bad shot or spooking this deer. I was hoping for a second opertunity. But I never saw this deer again. The only good feeling that I have was this deer was not harvested by another hunter. He was 4 1/2 years old and 140-145" of heavy horns. If this deer lives to be 5 1/2 he will not grow body wise much. He could possibly grow another 20-25 inches of horn. We have had a bumper mast crop this year and a mild winter. My hopes is this deer will be even bigger next year. I have something to look forward to hunting this buck next year.