Their first should be the first deer that walks past. My first deer was an eight point but not because I was waiting for a buck. It just happened to work out that way.

im with farmcntry

i got my first deer this year, a doe. i made the choice to take it, i could have taken one of two 2 1/2 y/o spikes on the field, but i opted to wait for the doe to come back. when she did, i took her.

I can see the point in having them take a doe first, but I also agree that there's nothing wrong with hunting for a buck for the first deer either. Just depends on the situation. Once again, comes down to opinion as much as anything.

yup... take what comes along but people that take them down just to peel a rack of them make me sick.... but ya... get the young ones out there and get going!

My first deer was a little doe when I was 12. The coolest part was sharing the experience with my dad, the guy who taught me everything I know about hunting.

Looking back at the pics of her, she was small but meant the world to me. My dad was happier for me than he ever has been for himself with any deer buck or doe and I was happier about that little doe than I was with my 13pt in 2005!

My dad didn't tell me this until a few years ago (I'm 24 now), he had a shot at the deer I got from less than 20 yards but didn't take it because he thought there was a decent chance that she was headed toward my stand. This is hard to do hunting a woods where between the 2 of us we were lucky to get a deer a year!

when ou look at it this way, who cares what they shoot, if anything? the important thing is that you are passing on a love for the outdoors to the next generation

you all have good points. i should of been more clear on what i wanted to say. i see taking a management buck or a spike, but i wouldn't let them shoot a huge buck until they learned that its not the size of the rack you bring home but the meat and good time you have out there. I hunted a long time and the biggest buck that i shoot so far has been a spike. and its because i watch the big ones walk because to me my day will come when i will shoot a big buck. all i'm saying is that i won't pay the money for a little kid shoot a 180 class deer.

I say let a kid shoot whatever legal animal they can/want to. My first deer was the third I saw on my youth day hunt when I was 12. The first two saw me move and ran off. It was 81 lb button buck with a belly full of corn at 7:45 am. You always remember your first, regardless of what it is. My second, at 14, was a 4 point that dressed out at 130lbs. Those are the deer that mean the most. I think with the few numbers of kids actually getting into hunting, we shouldn't be limiting them. So what if a kid gets a Booner on their first try. So what if in the beginning, they're more about antlers than the joy of being in the woods, or hunting for meat. That'll come with time. But it's far more important to get them hunting. Just my take on it.

Yep its a loaded quetion, Because it depends on alot of factors, where are you hunting? Here in Mi if you told a kid he had to wait for a book deer that kid will be fishing next year, but if you are in ILL or IA you might want to wait alittle bit and teach paitence. What if you were in the woods that first day and a 150 class walked up your dad was going to tell you no you have to wait?? I vote personal choice if a doe makesthe kidhappy and that is whats there go for it if its a spike or 180 go for it.. Walt