I shot my first game animal ever during the 2000 spring turkey season. That was an exciting hunt. But since this is the deer hunting section, I'll tell you about my first deer I ever shot which was the same year (2000) during Ohio's deer gun season.

I had gone through hunter's ed and got my license a couple years earlier, but only so I could help the guys by pushing deer for them. I had no interest in shooting. In fact, I can't really remember why I suddenly became interested in learning to shoot a gun, but I eventually did. So in fall of 2000, I went on the annual hunting trip with my husband, my brother-in-law and my father-in-law, but this time I was carrying a gun. Opening day, my husband got a deer (gosh I don't even remember if it was a buck or doe, LOL). I don't think I saw any deer that day. The second day of season, my husband and B-I-L were busy workingso my father-in-law and Iheaded off to the woods. I had already said that I would only shoot a big buck or a doe and I would let all little bucks walk. Oh my how things can change.

I was set up looking over a large draw that was a great funnel. At 8am, a little forkhorn came by and hung out for a bit around 25y away. I practiced aiming at him, but never took the safety off because I was not going to shoot a little buck. How exciting though!!!!!!!!! One hour later I spy a small 5 point (would have be a small 8 if not for some broken points, but still only a 1 1/2 year old deer) and he was heading my way. I thought about it. Then I decided that my self-imposed "no little bucks rule" was pretty stupid when I had never ever shot a deer yet. So when the buck got to the same 25y spot as the first deer, I shot. The deer turned and ran over the lip of the ravine and out of view.

I was shaking so bad afterwards. I decided to sit there for a bit and wait. After about 30 minutes, my father-in-law came by so I went to take a look. The deer only went about 70y or less and was just over the hill from where I could see. My shot had hit only an inch or two in front of the heart and had taken out the main artery in front of the heart. I field dressed the deer and my f-i-l helped me drag it out of the woods. My husband got back fromthe work he had to do that morning justa couple hours later. I still remember how excited he was to see my first deer.

I shot it with my Remington 870 20 gauge using Lightfield sabots. Oh and had just turned 40 years old the week before.

Since then, I have gone back to my self-imposed "no little bucks" rule. To this day, that was my first and last little buck that I have ever shot. Actually my only buck to date, everything else has been does. Lots of little bucks in range over the years, but they all get a pass fromme. I'd like to take up bowhunting by next yearso time will tell if my "rule" will be forgotten one more time in the future. LOL!