HuntingNet.com Forums

HuntingNet.com Forums (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/)

- Whitetail Deer Hunting (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whitetail-deer-hunting-4/)

- - first deer (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whitetail-deer-hunting/109460-first-deer.html)

im new to deer hunting and i am going to buy my first deer rifle very soon. i know that hunting is not about the trophy but the experience, and that is what i am looking forward to most is the time in hunting camp, but i was wondering...is there such thing as too small of a first buck?? what were the sizes of your guys' first deer? let me know, and if you care to share the complete story, my email is [email protected]. look forward to hearin responses. thanks

This is my first deer , I was part of the Honor Guard at the White House. I only lived 90 miles from my home in N.E. Maryland. I scouted ,built a stand and shot this boy running full throttle at about 50 yds.

If a deer is legal, and you are comfortable about shooting it, then go ahead. Unless you are involved with a deer management program on a long term tract of land there is nothing wrong with harvesting a smaller buck or a legal doe. I have shot plenty of deer and now have several tracts of land we try to manage for a trophy size deer, but I have a few tracts that I and my grandsons shoot anything we want to.

This is my first buck...he scored a whopping 32 7/8[8D] So don't worry there is nothing wrong with your first buck being small. That just gives you a starting pointto build on....if you start w/ a World Record, then you are gonna have a hard time improving as you go on. And your first deer doesn't have to be a buck either. I took 3 does before I got this guy. I got him in my 5th year of hunting.

Please don't get sucked into the macho, only trophies matter mentality, as defined by a group that would like to turn hunting into a full time tournament of testosterone and a competition. Hunting is a lifestyle, not a pursuit of the fulfilment of ego. My first buck was a small 7 point and I have taken bigger and smaller deer over the years. I enjoy the whole tradition and the hunt itself, and won't be dictated to by those that have lost their perspective. Enjoy yourself and hunt legal and remember , it's not about how big or how many, but how you hunt them!

My first buck was a 9pt, but he was pretty scrawny. My first deer period was a doe. I would much rather shoot a doe than another scrawny buck.

My first deer was a spike buck. he weighed roughly 98 lbs with about six in horns. There is nothing wrong with shooting a small deer hell they taste better as far as i'm concerned. now once you get comfortable hunting and want somthing to put on a wall, then worry about it

My first was a 130#, 7 point.
On public land it's tough to get shots at the big ones.
After the first few weeks, they disappear.
Even if there are some left, they aren't running the same patterns you see when scouting because of all the hunter traffic in the woods.

Bulzeye
I hear that. I went to what I thought was a remote area and still had quite a few mornings messed up from hunters walking by.
Chuck

This is very interesting. I was wondering the same thing. I hav yet to kill my 1st whitetail and this will be my 3rd year of hunting seriously. If a mature doe comes out, I will definitely shoot it as we do eat the meat. If a small buck comes along offering my 1st shot, then I might hesitate in taking it. All I know is that there is mature buck on our land up there and I'm looking forward to an encounter!

UPHunter,
When I use to hunt in Maryland I would see lots of tracks around the big corn fields. Well, I learned fast that those tracks were evidense of where the deer are at night. You will need to figure out where those deer are at in the day. Here is what I did as a kid. I read the article in Outdoor Life and it scored 2 deer for me. I scouted till I found really heavy used deer trails. I tied a piece of black thread across the trail from tree to tree. I then went back and checked those trails in about 6 hours later. I built my stand inthe area. tha thad the broken thread. Of course these days we have trail cameras.I scored the very next day. When on leave in the army I went to a new woods altogether. I did the black thread trick. I scored there the first day as well. Both areas were heavy marshy areas. Places where a deer could drink, sun and feed with out going far. Good luck and God bless this year friend .
Chuck

Thanks for the tip Chuck. That is very innovative!

Yeah, i'm gonna have to try that thread trick. I'm in the army and hunting public land is hard. I have a bow hunting only place, but, not real sure when the bucks were moving, i'll have to give it a try

My first deer was a 150 lb or so 2 year old 7 point with a bow. Opening day of the first time I had ever hunted big game, or with a bow. Only because that is what walked out, there was a 10 point as well but it wouldn't give me a good shot. The 7 point stood perfectly broad side and stuck it's head in the weeds at 18 yards. It was too good to pass up so I took the shot. Had it been a 80 lb doe it would have gone down just the same.

I just wanted to see if I could do it at that point and if was something I would enjoy. I was not quite sure how killing a deer would settle with me. Didn't seem to bother me any, I have killed five so far with no nightmares;).

When you are first starting out you decide what is acceptable to you. Unless it is regulated by the state or property owner. Where I gun hunt we have to shoot at least a 7 point and no does. These are the owners rules and I abide by them. Truth be known, a young small doe will be easier to drag out of the woods and taste better:D. And that is really all I care about. I don't do it to impress people. I have kept all the racks from the deer I have shot, but have yet to mount any of them. And when I do it will be for my enjoyment, not to show them off or to brag about them. Not that they are really much to brag about any way.

As long as you don't feel you cheated yourself then that is all that matters. If you are worried about being teased ask the other hunters in your camp what they would think if you shot a smaller deer your first time out. If they are good guys I am sure they will be happy for you no matter what you take. When you get older and bigger you can set higher standards for yourself if you want to.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a great time. It is quite the thrill and one you will remember for quite some time.

Paul

Armyhuntingguy
The only thing the thread helps to determine is which trails are day time trails. Every average hunter can find plenty of tracks. The imfo we need is where are the deer going to be at the first thing in the morning { Especially in a WMA} Good luck. I sat in a tree for 15 days before I shot last years deer. Something else you may want to do is pull up the Terra Server Maps and study the area. Last years buck was not shot by the thread trick. It was prayer, Terra Server Satellite Map and the Primo 'Can ' call.

A camera I'm sure is a better alternative but in a WMA you are taking a risk. You still will need your scouting skills to find those trails. If I had private property I would buy a nice trail camera in a heart beat.

Chuck