I was 14 and was walking to a stand before my dad/brother pushed a piece of woods towards me. I had to stop to "go" and after doing my duty, I took two steps and a doe and buck busted out of their beds. I shot the remaining deer which turned out to be a button buck. My first deer.

I thought it was huge until my dad and brother showed up and said "you shot a little one". I didn't take it negatively because they congratulated me on my first deer and it turned out to be the only deer the three of us took that season.

I've harvested 86 deer since that first deer in 1976 and this is still one of my fondest memories of deer hunting.

1991, I was just starting to really learn about hunting. Had hunted for several years, just a few days each season, and was very anxious to get my first deer. I was in a stand on a wooded hillside. Early morning, light rain. Four large does come down the hill, approaching from my right. I try to bring the crossbow to bear, but get tangled up in tree limbs! Pretty soon all four are right under the tree. I'm still trying to get into position and they look up and see me. They snort and run, two down the hill, and two back up. I'm cursing myself, when along comes a button buck, along the same trail. At that point, I wouldn’t have cared what sex or size the deer was, I wanted a deer. The frustration of the does just made me all the more anxious.

For several years after that, being recently divorced and realizing the benefit of venison in the freezer, I shot the first thing that came along. Coincidentally, they were almost all bucks, ranging from spike to 8 point. It’s only been in the past few years that I got picky.

This is a bit long, but here’s why I’ve gotten so picky: My son, just shy of his 12th birthday, used my crossbow to harvest a 10 point, the only live deer he had ever seen. A small rack, but a 10 nonetheless. (I’ll put that story on another post) Due to conflicts with football season, living with his mom, etc., he didn’t hunt for another 14 years. He always said, “I don’t have to, I have the family record.” And he did, point-wise. I’ve harvested 9 points that put his 10 to shame, but he still had that extra point! For the last couple of years, my wife and I talk about getting the ‘Eric buck,’ that being a buck that tops his!

Eric's buck:

1996, mid-November, Eric and I are in a permanent stand out back, on a wooded hillside. It’s a relatively warm November afternoon, about 35 degrees or so. Late afternoon, about 1700, I see a very slight movement down the hill and whisper for Eric to get the bow (cross bow) up. He’s standing fully erect and shaking like a leaf. I can feel it through the tree! I’ve lost track of the deer and Eric sees it next. He whispers to me, voice literally quivering, "Oh gosh, it's so big!" Just then I see him coming, directly towards us, just moseying along. He begins moving around to our left, I crouch down, because that's the way the shot is developing. On the way into the woods, I had talked with Eric about us conversing while in the stand. I told him that if something came, we would have to be quiet, but I would put my hand on him, and remove it if a deer came into range. That would tell him he had the green light; he would then have to find the shot. Now, as this buck nears the stand, I remove my hand from Eric’s calf. I see what I figure is a good shot, but Eric’s still holding and I'm wondering what it looks like from his angle. Now he's only about ten yards out, takes a couple of steps, and looks right up at us! I take a chance and whisper very softly for Eric to sit still, which is what he’s trying to do. In reality, I can still feel the tree jiggle, he’s shaking so hard! The buck is only about 7 yards out, looking dead at us. The only thing I see is face and rack. No shot. I’m thinking, "Well, it was exciting. But that's all it's going to be, 'cause this customer is leaving here pretty quick." After we do the stare down for about 8 or 10 agonizingly long seconds, he turns to our left and takes two big hops. Then he hesitates and looks back, and I'm surprised to hear the bow go off. I think I see a low chest (side) hit, and he's running down the hill! Eric says something like "Oh gosh, I hope I didn't hurt him" in a shaking voice, and I know right away that what he means is he hopes he doesn't get away with an arrow in him. We had talked a lot about the importance of getting a good, killing shot. I look at my watch and see that we only have a half hour or so of light, and quickly begin to untie us. As Eric says "I can't stop shaking" for the third or fourth time, I'm halfway down the tree. "Be careful, take your time, don't fall out of the tree!" I'm telling him, as I trot for the bottom of the hill. I arrive at the bottom of the hill, where it becomes a steep bank just above the creek, and there he is! I let out a whoop and jump down over the creek. I make sure he's dead and have counted the ten points by the time Eric arrives.

That’s the story. The kid really kept his cool, and kept the sights on the kill zone the whole time. Incidentally, I’ve learned a lot since then, like not getting after them right after the shot. I didn’t have these forums from which to learn, and no one was teaching me.

usmc1978,Awesome story. I remember getting the shakes on my first......and second.......and third....and fourth.....and 35 years later I still shake just a little..lol. Old age I guess......:)

back in mid 60s dad was stationed in Middletown, PA for 3 years. when i was 15 Dad took me hunting, ? Potter County, went with another adult and his son and i can't even recall who but they had a cabin. The first morning dad posted along ridge above logging road. He told me to go a couple hundred yards further and do the same. i got set and the parade of does started on a trail 30-40 yards away to my right. being inexperience i never dawned on me to spin 90 degrees so i was facing the trail. excited to see the deer i was counting the does small groups one after another over 30-45 min. larger group came by count was at 20. then lucky "21" showed it was a forked horn. not having moved i pivoted my torso to it's max, ? 110 degrees and fired.
the buck spun and ran up hill, turned and ran back down, i jumped up turned and got my sight on him and fired . as i did the 8 does blasted up hill past him. i could not see the buck. I went over to the trail to look up to see if i could see them. nothing ! then i saw the deer lying there, as i slowly walked up to insure it was dead, I see there is no antler visable. OH MY GOSH I SHOT A DOE ( BUCKS ONLY BACK THEN) DAD IS IS GOING TO BE REALLY MAD. My mind was in hyperdrive. I nearly just walked away but could not would need to live up to what ever the punishment was from Dad and the game commision. as i got closer and moved the deer i see the antler. It had only the one side, with a fresh break at the skull. i could not locate the broken antler. i feel my twisted shot was poor and hit the base of the antler. and caused him to run as he did. alot of emotional highs and lows with this , the look on my dad's face coming down the trail grinning ear to ear will remain with me forever. This was the only whitetail i ever shot with a rifle.

sitting behind an old blow down on a cold as i dont know what day at the age of ten i somehow took a nap. my dad sitting back to to me. i think his snoring woke me up. when i opened my eyes there it was about a 60 pound lamb at just about ten feet away from me i was so scared i say dad deer away it goes he stops snoring and turns around whispering wait till its in range oh never mind!! then he razzes me for a minute as we watch her run about 200 yards trhough a hardwoos ridge well we might as well head home fro breakfast he says shes not coming b.....he didnt even finish and she was on her way back and running full tilt. got to about 30 yards sees us again and comes tro a skiddding stop with those oh s#$t eyes. i put my 3030 sights on her shoulder pulled the trigger and down she went. yes!!! people for miles could have heard my heart beating. turns out i hit her just below the eyeball somehow and as we sit up to go check her out i hear laughing in trhe distance turn around and wher the deer turned around and came back stands my uncle he watched the whole thing from the top of the ridge and as she approached him he jumped up and waved his armes to turn her back toards us so i could get a shot offf at her... still see the whole scenario every time i sit down in the woods and every time someone mentions it we all get a good laugh trying to imagine uncle chad jumping up and down waving his arms and actually getting the deer to do what he wanted it to....Anyways i thought it was the biggest deer in the woods and nobody told me any different addicted for life .

started bowhunting t6his yaer at 25 shot a 208 lb 8 point at about 8 feet iot was further down than out what a rush i got that first deer feeling all over again and cannot wait to do it again

I ant killed one if it is brown no spots no button it is down. I will drop any deer i can. Now after the first one or two i will stay over 130 then head up

It was opening day of rifle season 1999. I was 16 years old and very excited because I had a doe tag in my pocket. At first light I heard my pop shoot. He ended up shooting a small spike. As is tradition, when my Pop or I shoot the other stops hunting and goes to help the hunter that just shot. I decided to wait 15 mins and then go over to my Pop. As I was waiting, I noticed three does running towards me from the west. The largest doe came running through at 35 yards. I bleated at her, she hesitated, and I let her have it. A shot through the heart/lungs put her down within 50 yards. The neat part was that I was using my grandfathers 30-30 from 1946. Gramps used it, my Pop used it, and then I used it. If that gun could talk.

i remember my first deer...

4 years ago IL shotgun season came along. the first day i had a big shooter come in but never got a shot..i was heart broken. the next day..no luck i was starting to worry. the last day of first seaon came and that morning..still no luck. i went out that next evenin lookin over a cut corn field. it was coming drak when i seen something runnin to me..it was a deer! so i got ready and aimed my gun. he stopped 30 yard away and pow. he dropped. the trust 870 did its job. he was a 4 pointer but i didnt care. i was so happy!! havent missed a season since..im hooked!!

Man, you guys have steered this thread in an opposite direction than what it was intended!

I believe the OP even stated in his first post that he understood and was totally fine with folks with LITTLE to NO hunting experience shooting yearling bucks! Everyone has to start somewhere.... we all know that!

We just remain totally confused as to why you guys that blow about being "good" hunters,with years of experience, would still shoot a young immature buck that in NO WAY could possibly provide you with a challenge??? Isn't it human nature to raise the bar? Isn't part of the attraction of hunting..... the CHALLENGE ???

I mean seriously, how difficult would it be for any able body adult, with even a few years of hunting experience, to shoot small yearling basket racked bucks? Most importantly, WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO???

I have 3 young kids that also love to deer hunt. This season my 9 and 10 year old sons both killed YEARLING bucks, a spike and a 4 pointer. It was an awesome hunt, they were proud of their bucks and so was I !!! Now, they both seem content to raise the bar and try to shoot bigger bucks or be happy to fill their Doe tags. On another note, I also have a 14 year old Daughter, she has been fortunate enough to take several deer at this point in her hunting career and she even asks me from time to time what some "old guys" are thinking when they shoot lil' bucks every year? She generally asks, "Are they afraid they won't be able to brag about shooting a "buck" so they have to shoot the first thing they see?" "Don't they want to see a better deer herd?" "Dont they want to save some deer for next year?"

What do you say for such disregard to any quality management??? Man, even the kids gotta wonder about some of ya? LOL!

Yes some people took this thread the wrong way. But i'm over it. I love hearing these kind of stories. The variety in them all is awesome! No matter how many deer you kill no two hunts are the same. To any one that hasn't posted yet, lets hear your stories!

First.looks like are congrats are in order for the 08 season and secondly,my son was the perfect example why some shoot small bucks.

Hey TFOX those videos are toooooooooo coooool man.... my six year son is so jealous!!! Awesome awesome job!!!! I had seen the original pics several weeks back but just now got a chance to see the videos..... great job to the both of you

IL-Cornfed - You are the one taking this post in the opposite direction of the OP. This is supposed to be about your first deer, not for arrogant posters to come on here insulting others' hunting styles!

You can tell your daughter that people shoot legal deer because they don't feel the need to brag about anything. They don't need a big buck to feel successful in a hunt. Just being out in the wilderness is fun enough, and contrary to your opinion, ALL DEER are a challenge to hunt!

Some people hunt public land where QDM isn't really a possibility considering there are hundreds of other hunters killing the deer they pass up.

TFOX,
Great videos man that is really cool that you have those videos forever now. I like how some people have to keep posting thier thoughts when thats not what this thread is about. It makes me chuckle because I don't care what people do or don't kill! LOL

My first buck was the first 10 minutes of my hunting life. I wandered to a stand that I aimlessly put up. Sat down, nocked an an arrow and a 120" 3.5 year old 8 pointer came right into me. 20 yards quartering away double lung done deal :rock::s3:. 100% complete luck. I really had no clue what I was doing. Since then I've come to realize it isn't that easy :s12:.

NY BOWHUNTER
No better time to get lucky than your first deer! Well maybe at the bar with a hottie! That beside the point, great buck for your first deer no doubt!

You're a bit off base, cornfed. First, there's something to be said for meat in the freezer. Last year I passed a lot of shots, then decided I needed to fill the freezer, so the next thing that came along took the arrow---a 6 point.

Second, the rack doesn't determine the challenge. Several years ago I had the biggest buck I've ever seen walk within ten yards of my stand. He had so many points I couldn't accurately count them, because he kept turning his head to and fro, but he was about a 16-18. Shooting was out of the question, because I already had a buck, but he was dumb. Looked right at me...moved to the downwind side (still within 10 yards), and when he didn't smell me he never paid me any more mind. He just stood around. One of the dumbest deer I've ever seen.

The biggest thrill and challenge I've ever had was taking a button buck, after stalking him by coming down my tree in my climber, crawling 20+ yards, and shooting him at 15 yards with a hand gun.

You decide what excites you, and I'll decide what excites me.

I began deer hunting with noone to teach me. I became interested in hunting by reading magazines and hearing stories about my uncle who used to hunt mule deer in New Mexico. I finally received a gun around my 18th birthday and began to hunt shortly thereafter. I hunted 3 seasons on public land in Virginia and did not even get a shot at a deer. My junior year in college I met a guy who I am still friends with today. He invited me up to hunt with him on his family's land about 3 hours north of our college. I travelled up with him and hunted opening day in 1995 I believe.

I got situated in an old wooden tree stand his father had built about 30 minutes before sun-up on opening morning in 1995. About 5 minutes after sun-up I see a deer coming toward me! I had not killed a deer since I began hunting 3 years prior. I had rarely even seen a deer. I had probably only seen less than 5 deer in that time period. Then I see antlers! Oh my goodness. It was like a magical beast. I waited til he stopped then I shot.....he was down! I waited a bit then go down to inspect my kill. He was a beautiful 3 point buck! I was so happy I could not stand it. I did not even know how to field dress the buck. My buddy had to show me. And the kicker. I climbed an old pine tree later that day and killed another buck about 1 hour before sunset...a sweet little 5 pointer. So I went home that day with two bucks in the back of my truck. The memory of that day will last forever.

Have you ever thought of this....your daughter is only regurgitating your thoughts/brainwashing when she is talking about killing "small" bucks? It is not like she is actually thinking of saying that on her own, like she is some prime time buck killing machine, capable of snapping her fingers and causing bucks to just fall from the sky. Your post stinks of condescension.

"even the kids gotta wonder about some of ya? LOL!"....an attempt to incite other hunters to become angry. Hunters who work hard in life and in hunting. And then those same guys/gals that work their tails of with their families on a daily basis get blessed enough to ge a chance to go out into the woods and hunt...and then get lucky enough to kill a deer. THEN you make fun of them like a little turd. Great, good for you.

This is my first year ever hunting and I would have loved to have gottena bigger better Buck than the small 7 pointer I took this weekend. I passed on a spike and spooked a 4 the same morning. I had about 10 seconds from the time he showed himself till the time I drew back and fired my arrow at what looked to me to be a bigger Buck than he was. After leting 6 Does pass me by because they were moving to fast to get a good shot I chose to take the Buck behind them who was moving at a slow walk or trot. I had to decide in a matter of seconds to aim and fire which I did and he is mine now, my first Deer with a Bow from 14 yards away. I guess I could have let him pass also and hope I get another chance before January 3rd. but I am very happy with my choice and will wait on a large Doe when I take my next Deer. I really doubt if this Buck would have ever produced a much larger Rack he seemed to be destined to always be undersized and not contribute good genes into the Deer pool. See pictures in my Album maybe you will agree, maybe not,I'm not sure how long it takes a Deer to grow monster Racks or if mine ever could have done so. It was a great thrill for me even at 53 to get this one my first season of hunting. I would have prefered one of the big Does out of the 6 that blew past me but I fear I would have only injured it instead of taking it with a clean shot. In the future I will be more selective I'm sure but I have no regrets for taking my little 7.

Let me the first to congradulate you on your bow kill!!!! Awesome job!!! And you know what i like your whole paragraph, your mind and heart seem to be in the right place.... once again congrats to you

Question: Why do people shoot small bucks?

Answer: Because they walk under my stand. Have you ever considered the fact that not every buck has the capability of becoming a monster?

Obviously someone only read the topic line and not the whole post!

Illini_fan if you would have read the whole post you would know that the topic line was only to entice you to take a look. It was meant for thoughs who wanted to share their story or memory of their first deer taken. Maybe you would like to share with us yours??

Sorry your correct i didnt read the whole thing. The first deer i ever killed was a button buck. Right after a Christmas party with my family. It was about 5 degrees outside and everybody said I was crazy for even going, however two deer walked in on me and I took a shot at the one that ended up giving me the opportunity. Possibly the proudest moment of my hunting career.

I was 9 years old, and my first deer was with a 20 gauge remington 870 back in 1998...he was a 12 pointer that field dressed 235 pounds, biggest gun kill to date..and my mom was nice enought to put my picture in the paper holding my trophy..pretty neat deal IMO

Coool deal !!! Its funny how those days that seem like there is no reason to even be outside turn out to be the best days ever.

I shoot little bucks because I havent found a reciepe for Rack yet....but once I do I will stop and shoot only big rack bucks...LOL

As for the first one I shot....well after missing 3 or 4 different deer...(yes Im secure enough to admit it) I was 12 and it was the last day of ML season and about 15 degrees. The guys were driving for me and a few other kids...they moved a doe towards me and when she was at about 35yds I lit off the .45 cal smoke pole...i will never forget having to look around the cloud of smoke to see if I hit her...she was laying dead on the spot!!

It was only rivaled by watching my 8yr old son shoot his first doe with a cross bow last fall....that is the highlight of any hunt I have ever had!!!