first deer
08-19-2005, 02:40 AM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 226
first deer
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
08-19-2005, 03:31 AM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 25,116
RE: first deer
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.
08-19-2005, 06:09 AM
#3
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
RE: first deer
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.
08-19-2005, 06:17 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Posts: 3,132
RE: first deer
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.
08-19-2005, 07:07 AM
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: georgia
Posts: 3,297
RE: first deer
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!
08-19-2005, 02:49 PM
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 129
RE: first deer
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
08-19-2005, 02:59 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Too close to Chicago
Posts: 3,337
RE: first deer
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.
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.
08-20-2005, 12:54 AM
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Daggett, MI
Posts: 360
RE: first deer
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!