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First deer

bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
edited January 2017 in General Discussion
my boy got his first deer Friday night right before dark

a spike

I think I was more excited than he was [^][:)][8D]

Comments

  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    I went deer hunting for the first time in my life over the weekend and I managed to shoot a small doe, about 80 lbs. I shot her from a tree stand with a load of 00 buck out of a 12 gauge at a distance of about 15-20 yards. She didn't go far, maybe a few feet. I sat in the stand for a few minutes to unload my gun and lower it before I approached her, at which point she was still struggling so I put a .357 round into her head. I then walked out of the woods and flagged down one of my hunting buddies who called the house for a fourwheeler to haul her out.
    In short order she was hung up and I was given a crash course in skinning by a few of the more experienced hunters in the group.
    After she hung for a few hours we deboned her and put the meat on ice, and then yesterday I did the final cleaning, butchering, and wrapping.
    I had a wonderful time and I'll never forget it, nor will I forget the help & guidance of the experienced guys.
    GH1[:)]
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    I was with a buddy of mine and his 12 or 13 year old son yesterday and the boy got his first deer a young doe it was awesome to see him so excited and his dad too [^][:)][8D]

    helped him put the hide on a board and clean the meat off and borax it so it will dry out and he can have the hide to put on a wall or just keep

    the hide will dry out hard this way but I have my first deer hide from over 20years ago and the hair is still on it

    [:)]
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    So here's the story.

    Never been deer hunting. Had a couple of invites, but just couldn't seem to make it work. Uncles, cousins, all hunters, but my dad had vision problems - and I think just didn't enjoy hunting. So we never went.

    Brother in law got me to commit. And a 6 hour drive later, I'm 20 feet up a tree sitting on a chair with no arms or rail. I can see and hunt a field off my left shoulder,
    [img][/img]8F83D88A-9BCC-4FD3-B8E1-6E62727DEEC9_zps6avzyz3t.jpg
    but my right side (and the muchb larger field) is impossible to hunt. Watched some turkey, finches, three squirrels and a cat.

    Overall, great way to spend the morning. Great weather. 60-70's. Skunked that morning. Break for lunch.

    After lunch, I'm directed to a permanent ground blind. Sitting in a deck chair on a detached porch. Not as much to see. But a fine way to spend an afternoon alone with nature and my thoughts.

    Sunset at 4:59 local time. And hunting ceases 30 minutes later. Not having seen any movement all afternoon, I'm trying to weigh the benefits of packing things in, or going the full 30 and having to track a deer in the dark.

    So I decide to pack it in.

    Unload my rifle, poke my trash in my bag pick up some extra trash that was there previously and take one last look over the woods.
    And a deer has appeared. Standing smack dab in the middle of my lane. Quartering toward me. About 3/4 of the way down the lane on the right.

    [img][/img]6DA3EAAA-1974-4643-8837-022347DA2995_zpsmzpxa9h2.jpg

    I wait, expecting to have a story to tell about how I scare it off by moving around.
    But no... It's standing like a concrete deer sculpture you see for sale off of rural highways. A full minute into watching this frozen deer, I decide "what the heck". And reload my rifle.

    No wind to speak of. About 175 yds. I hold 5" high. And fire.



    I watch as it walks slowly to my left into some low brush. And wait.

    Two awesome hunting partners, an hour and a half and four flashlights later, we are at the processors. We picked up the blood trail right away. But clouds completely covered the full moon. He went about 100 yds into the woods off the lane.

    [img][/img]ACACF0AA-C8F8-4A59-BF41-0DDC028815A4_zpsq61kudpx.jpg

    Gutted, he weighed 105.
    I'm told reasonable size for the area.

    Had a great time!!
    Looking forward to going again.

    Feel free to tease me about my three point buck!
    I'm convinced we would have tracked it sooner, but I had everyone looking for a doe.
    [:D]
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    My girlfriends son, 14, I took him hunting this year after spending a good while at the range, bagged his very FIRST deer (Doe).

    Not a monster, almost 80lbs, after dressing, but still a good size, IMO.

    He field dressed it, skinned it and packaged the hole thing. Darn proud of him.[:D]

    Shot placement was "Perfect" (IMO). Deer dropped like a stone. She didn't know what hit her.

    Will try to post picks in a few days.

    Travrler.
  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congrats! Now you're hooked....[^]
  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nice!
    Congratulations!
    You will always remember this deer.
    Tell us about the gun and ammo.....
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,162 ******
    edited November -1
    ya done good,congrats,,,[^][^][^][^]
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,554 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congratulations
  • CoolhandLukeCoolhandLuke Member Posts: 7,826 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congrats !! young deer are so tender[:p]
    We have to fight so we can run away.
    Capt. Jack Sparrow.
  • JamesRKJamesRK Member Posts: 25,670 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Excellent first hunt. Congratulations. [:)]
    The road to hell is paved with COMPROMISE.
  • pulsarncpulsarnc Member Posts: 6,520 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not a bad way to be introduced to our world welcome amd congrats
    cry Havoc and let slip  the dogs of war..... 
  • danielgagedanielgage Member Posts: 10,562 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by savage170
    Congratulations


    +1
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Nice!
    Congratulations!
    You will always remember this deer.
    Tell us about the gun and ammo.....


    Factory Federal Powershock 180 g .308
    Thompson Center Predator was the rifle.
    It will hold about 1/2 moa at 100 yds with that round.
    I pulled right just a bit. Or perhaps he moved. Or perhaps my inexperience with quartering parallax. Bullet entered behind left shoulder and exited in front of the right haunch.

    Sighting the day before semi supported at 50 yds, I was 2 moa right. I attributed to caffeine. But I might have had some zero shift. Hope to make it to the range on Monday and resolve.
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CoolhandLuke
    Congrats !! young deer are so tender[:p]


    I always try to catch smaller fish as well. I find them more flavorful.
    [:D]
  • William81William81 Member Posts: 25,431 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congratulations !!!!!! There will be some fine eating in the future for you !!!
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congratulations! I'd be happy to put that deer in my freezer!
  • Chief ShawayChief Shaway Member, Moderator Posts: 6,284 ******
    edited November -1
    Congrats on your first deer and some meat for the freezer.
  • RobOzRobOz Member Posts: 9,523 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congrats!!! Remember my first buck like it was yesterday.
  • CoolhandLukeCoolhandLuke Member Posts: 7,826 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bigoutside
    quote:Originally posted by CoolhandLuke
    Congrats !! young deer are so tender[:p]


    I always try to catch smaller fish as well. I find them more flavorful.
    [:D]


    You crack me up [:D][:D][:D]
    We have to fight so we can run away.
    Capt. Jack Sparrow.
  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,534 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sweet. Let me ask you something. How did you feel emotionally after you found the deer??? I know when I harvest a deer, I am happy, sad and somewhat stoic. It is like a reality check, that you just took an animals life. I don't think that ever changes, but I do know that I enjoy it and have respect for the deer. Congrats man, really nice buck.!!!!!
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Great story & pictures Thanks
  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,321 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    [:D]
    Congrats ,
    thank your for the wonderful story and photos nice looking place you were hunting , by the way has your heart settled back down ,

    I find it shocking a actual hunting story and gun related subject on the forum
  • themountainmanthemountainman Member Posts: 1,207 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very Nice
    There are 3 kinds of people in the world. Those who can do math and those who can't. :?
  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,191 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Great shot. Enjoy the meat!
    Ros
    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • jarjar Member Posts: 620 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    very cool! now your hooked! congrats.
  • wolfpackwolfpack Member Posts: 1,276 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Congrats on your first deer. Good to see you stuck it out to the last minute. Patience pays off.
  • woodshed87woodshed87 Member Posts: 23,478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good deal Glad You Got your Hunt on.
    Don't worry Contrary to Myth Size Does Not Matter
    Have Fun Stay Safe Enjoy
    What Cal Rifle You Using?
    Looks Nice from Pics
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good for you BigO! Can't eat antlers. Why 5" high at 175? Sight it in at 2.5" high at one hundred and you will be close enough to dead on at 175 with that rifle.
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all the kind words.

    Oakie Yes- my heart finally slowed. I've hunted boar before. And try to honor the life I'm taking. But this deer was far more emotional for me. Maybe the tracking? Don't know. But a very different experience.

    Woody Its a Thompson Center bolt action with 5R rifling. Not sure if they are making them anymore. Not expensive for the features. (Did you see the turkeys in the first pic). I might go back with my gorilla call and see if I can get them close during season.

    HeDog I've only used it for punching holes in paper. I might very well do that before my next trip.
  • mmppresmmppres Member Posts: 3,184 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    good for you nice going an remember ever one you get is a trophy to you.
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:HeDog I've only used it for punching holes in paper. I might very well do that before my next trip.


    Glad to hear you are going again![:D] And glad it worked for you. After a couple of more you will have to give mulies a try.
  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    good going, great to still see some excitement from the hunt. Now all you need to do is learn to cut it up. no need to pay a procceser you can do it yourself in a few hours once you learn how.
  • discusdaddiscusdad Member Posts: 11,427 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    congrats on deciding to join in on the deer hunting fraternity. in time you will see for yourself that its often better to hunt the connecting strip between 2 fields than it is to hunt the field itself. most deer will not appear in the field until nearing the end of shooting times, and will hold in thew connecting strip. you will learn the correct times to hunt the fields too. you are off to a great start already .
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