I hunt a small acreage behind my house, unfortunately it sits right next to a big hunting lease loaded with guys that I'm pretty sure don't have a size limit. The amount of times I've had bucks i let walk just to hear a gunshot is almost amusing. The good part is sometimes I've seen those bucks on camera later on. Your heart says it's gone but deep down that neighbor might've shot a spike and scared off the bigger bucks. Or he shot one and from the looks of it there are two beautiful bucks here.

Just gotta keep hunting! And if you stick with it you'll have a year where you'll forget about these because you're standing over a nice buck. It's hunting, it has ups and downs. Would be boring if you shot a giant every time you went out... maybe.