To me a trophy is a reward you get for lots of hard work and dedication to something. Whatever deer I manage and decide to take during a hunting season is my trophy for the effort I put forth no matter what the size may be.

I promise I'm not picking on you Duck; I just want use your post as an example.

I promise 20 years ago no one in TN had trophy standards that high. 20 years ago a 120 buck was a fantastic trophy that drew every hunter at the check station (I know because I saw it happen a few times--those rare events when a 120 buck was brought in). But as those bucks have become more commonplace over the years, now a 120 buck hardly raises eyebrows, just like a 150 buck now hardly raises eyebrows in the Midwest. Where will it all end? Beekeeper is dead on the money when he asked would a 130 buck be a trophy if everyone killed one? Of course they wouldn't. Part of "trophy status" really is about rareness. If anyone could win an olympic gold medal would gold medals be special? Of course not. They are so special because they are so rare and difficult to obtain.

Most of the trophies that you listed are TEAM trophies. Most are displayed in a TEAM facility. And there are players and coaches on these teams that never play but get to cplaim the trophy , just the same. Only the Heisman has anything to do with individual accomplishments and even the Heisman is somewhat tainted because it is an award that is voted on and not actually WON on the field of play. I put little stock in the Heisman.

Harvesting a 130 inch buck is more of an individual accomplishment unless you take the deer on a "deer farm" or a guided hunt where someone takes you out to a stand and tells you to sit there and just wait....then it's something anyone can do if they can shoot.

What makes a 130 inch buck special is when you work for it, do it the right way, and it's the first 130 incher that you harvest.

If 130s became the norm, then 150s would be special.....

BH