This link is a bit dated, but Dave's post on his friends first gobbler is worth the read: Ten Years for a Trophy. Scroll down to the April 19th entry (or just read the whole page!).
I agree with Dave that it is heartening to see a hunter take pride in his or her animal. But I wonder about the "ratcheting up" of expections implicit in the claim that a Jake was great bird for a first bird.
I'm not criticizing here. I took my first buck antelope this year. He was a nice goat with 10" horns, the hunt went perfectly, and I love the meat. But somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear that voice, "What an awesome animal for a first antelope." How inappropriate, even disrespectful! I think I learned from that voice to celebrate the animal for what is has given, not for what it portends.
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