Where I hunt, seeing ANYTHING with a rack is an unusual event, so we aren't too choosey. I hunt in the Adirondacks and there is a very low deer density. Not much forage, no real "funnels", etc. This year, I got a 10 pointer, 179 lbs. For me, that's the deer of a lifetime of hunting. He'll be watching over me (or at least his head will be) when he gets back from his date with the taxidermist.
Nearly missed him, too. He came from behind me and to the right and I had to thread a bullet down through some trees through a 2.5 foot alleyway to hit him at 70 yards as he turned to his left on a well-used trail. He was just walking, but with that small an area, I knew I only had one chance at him. Just as I squeeze off, he steps down off a hummuck into the swamp we were in. Thought I missed him but I clipped his back and dropped him. An inch higher and I'd be singing the blues.
Buck of a lifetime and I just about miss him. Oh, well, that's why he got old, I guess, doing the unexpected.