My first successful deer hunt

okiewita40 · November 11, 2013, 12:45 AM

As the title says I got my first deer ever today. Ashamed to say that at 46 y/o. This is only my third season hunting deer. Got a small spike buck. I am a happy camper.

The shot was only 60 yards but had to thread it through a gap of only 15" between the trees. The deer ran about 40 yards all down hill and piled up. The family will be eating good for awhile.

cdmckane · November 11, 2013, 05:25 AM

Congrats. Don't be ashamed. Be proud of yourself for picking up an activity and being successful.

"JJ" · November 11, 2013, 06:42 AM

Nice job! Nothing to be ashamed of at all!
Well, unless you have been trying for the past 40 years!

2damnold4this · November 11, 2013, 07:50 AM

Congratulations!

globemaster3 · November 11, 2013, 07:58 AM

Sounds like you did great on a challenging shot! Great job!

.284 · November 11, 2013, 09:01 AM

I know guys your age that have never shot a deer and hunted for 20 years. As mentioned sounds like you made a heck of a shot. Nice job.

Now it's time to remind you of one of the unwritten rules of the TFL:

Show us a picture of the beast or it didn't happen.......

shortwave · November 11, 2013, 10:06 AM

Don't see a thing to be ashamed of.

Never to late to start.

Good shootin and enjoy your bounty.

shortwave · November 11, 2013, 10:11 AM

Don't see a thing to be ashamed of.

Never to late to start.

Good shootin and enjoy your bounty.

FWIW, There are some really tasty venison recipes in the 'sticky' thread started by the late Brent(aka. hogdogs) at the top of this forum page.

WWWJD · November 11, 2013, 09:09 PM

I grew up in a family full of deer hunters. Didn't go myself until I was 34. Work. School. Divorce. Being broke... it'll eat some years.

Panfisher · November 11, 2013, 09:17 PM

Well Done Sir!

Major Dave (retired) · November 12, 2013, 08:03 AM

which is pretty bad for a born and raised Texan.

Then, to add insult to injury, I had to go to Oklahoma to shoot a deer. Like there weren't any deer in Texas for me to hunt.

This morning I am heading out to Bannister WMA, Angelina Natl Forest, east of Lufkin, TX, to continue the pursuit!

A cold front is coming thru, with high 20's expected by tomorrow morning. Makes my neck swell, just thinking about it!

doofus47 · November 13, 2013, 05:40 PM

Congrats! Don't be ashamed that you didn't get one until 46.

Just tell the haters you "were waiting for a shooter!"

That seems to give a free pass on most hunting TV shows.

okiewita40 · November 13, 2013, 11:52 PM

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. This is only my third year of deer hunting.

MJFlores · November 14, 2013, 12:29 AM

Great job...nothing like it!! Once you get one there's many more to follow so be ready.

AllenJ · November 14, 2013, 10:01 AM

Congrats Okiewita40, first deer are never forgotten. Sounds like you made a heck of a shot.

Deja vu · November 14, 2013, 10:16 AM

Grats! I love to read stories about people getting there first deer.

Like many here I have gone through times where I did not hunt. I was more concerned with my (at the time) young family. Had to take care of the wife and the kids. Now I am not saying I did not go hunting at all but it was rare and usually consisted of "harvesting" a deer near my home ever few years. It wasn't until my oldest son got old enough to hunt that I got back in to it.

I did not know how much I missed it. Some thing about hunting with your own family that really adds to the experience. At least for me.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · November 14, 2013, 10:20 AM

It's Never/ Ever!! too late to start hunting. And threading a bullet thru tree limbs you say. I'll bet got that got the old pump-a-thump'in? 40-yrds is a fair distance to track. You did good. {a heck of allot better than a few fellows I know that have been hunting for years & years.} a Spike to boot. Hey that deserves congrats. Especially from this end of the web site. S/S

mwal · November 14, 2013, 11:22 AM

Congrats on your first deer!!!!! I am 51 and killed a management doe on Monday and it was just as exciting as my first when I was 12 years old. To me every deer is a hard earned trophy whether it's a spike or a doe. Congrats and good eating. Don't get to wrapped up in the horn fetish unless trophy's are your goal. Enjoy your time in the woods first and foremost and try to introduce a kid or somebody new to the sport of hunting or shooting.

Mwal

gaseousclay · November 15, 2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

As the title says I got my first deer ever today. Ashamed to say that at 46 y/o. This is only my third season hunting deer. Got a small spike buck. I am a happy camper.

why be ashamed? I'm 41 and still haven't had the opportunity to go hunting. I say enjoy it while you can, and if you don't get a buck then no biggie.

huntinaz · November 15, 2013, 01:08 PM

Awesome! The first one feels great, no matter the age when it happens.

okiewita40 · November 16, 2013, 03:18 AM

Thank you again for all the kind words. Both of my kids are grown and gone. I am just going to have to wait another 6-7 years for my grand-daughter to get big enough to deer hunt and move back home.

I think I will try and save up enough money to go out to my daughters next year and try elk hunting in CO with my son-in-law.

Jack O'Conner · November 17, 2013, 06:19 AM

Good shooting! Young animals of any species are genuine trophies on the dinner plate!

Jack

November 11, 2013, 12:45 AM	#1
okiewita40 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 409	My first successful deer hunt As the title says I got my first deer ever today. Ashamed to say that at 46 y/o. This is only my third season hunting deer. Got a small spike buck. I am a happy camper. The shot was only 60 yards but had to thread it through a gap of only 15" between the trees. The deer ran about 40 yards all down hill and piled up. The family will be eating good for awhile. __________________ What on god's green earth do you think your doing?

November 11, 2013, 06:42 AM	#3
"JJ" Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2010 Location: NE Texas Posts: 576	Nice job! Nothing to be ashamed of at all! Well, unless you have been trying for the past 40 years! __________________ ~ "JJ"

November 11, 2013, 07:58 AM	#5
globemaster3 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Posts: 1,482	Sounds like you did great on a challenging shot! Great job! __________________ NRA Life Member "We have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."

November 11, 2013, 09:01 AM	#6
.284 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2009 Location: davison, michigan Posts: 665	I know guys your age that have never shot a deer and hunted for 20 years. As mentioned sounds like you made a heck of a shot. Nice job. Now it's time to remind you of one of the unwritten rules of the TFL: Show us a picture of the beast or it didn't happen....... __________________ Guns have only two enemies, rust and politicians! Deer are amazing creatures....so please don't burn the sauteed onions and I'll pass on the steak sauce, thank you.

November 11, 2013, 10:11 AM	#8
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Don't see a thing to be ashamed of. Never to late to start. Good shootin and enjoy your bounty. FWIW, There are some really tasty venison recipes in the 'sticky' thread started by the late Brent(aka. hogdogs) at the top of this forum page. Last edited by shortwave; November 11, 2013 at 11:38 AM.

November 11, 2013, 05:25 AM	#2
cdmckane Member Join Date: April 8, 2012 Location: Locke, NY Posts: 76	Congrats. Don't be ashamed. Be proud of yourself for picking up an activity and being successful.

November 11, 2013, 07:50 AM	#4
2damnold4this Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 2,526	Congratulations!

November 11, 2013, 10:06 AM	#7
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Don't see a thing to be ashamed of. Never to late to start. Good shootin and enjoy your bounty.

November 11, 2013, 09:09 PM	#9
WWWJD Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Central KY Posts: 552	I grew up in a family full of deer hunters. Didn't go myself until I was 34. Work. School. Divorce. Being broke... it'll eat some years. __________________ *~Mark* NRA Endowment FTW

November 11, 2013, 09:17 PM	#10
Panfisher Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,337	Well Done Sir!

November 12, 2013, 08:03 AM	#11
Major Dave (retired) Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2008 Location: Between Dallas and Shreveport, LA Posts: 569	My first deer was at age 28, which is pretty bad for a born and raised Texan. Then, to add insult to injury, I had to go to Oklahoma to shoot a deer. Like there weren't any deer in Texas for me to hunt. This morning I am heading out to Bannister WMA, Angelina Natl Forest, east of Lufkin, TX, to continue the pursuit! A cold front is coming thru, with high 20's expected by tomorrow morning. Makes my neck swell, just thinking about it! __________________ Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be but a vulgar brawl.

November 13, 2013, 05:40 PM	#12
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Congrats! Don't be ashamed that you didn't get one until 46. Just tell the haters you "were waiting for a shooter!" That seems to give a free pass on most hunting TV shows. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

November 13, 2013, 11:52 PM	#13
okiewita40 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 409	Thank you all for the words of encouragement. This is only my third year of deer hunting. __________________ What on god's green earth do you think your doing?

November 14, 2013, 12:29 AM	#14
MJFlores Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Posts: 539	Great job...nothing like it!! Once you get one there's many more to follow so be ready.

November 14, 2013, 10:01 AM	#15
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	Congrats Okiewita40, first deer are never forgotten. Sounds like you made a heck of a shot.

November 14, 2013, 10:16 AM	#16
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	Grats! I love to read stories about people getting there first deer. Like many here I have gone through times where I did not hunt. I was more concerned with my (at the time) young family. Had to take care of the wife and the kids. Now I am not saying I did not go hunting at all but it was rare and usually consisted of "harvesting" a deer near my home ever few years. It wasn't until my oldest son got old enough to hunt that I got back in to it. I did not know how much I missed it. Some thing about hunting with your own family that really adds to the experience. At least for me. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

November 14, 2013, 10:20 AM	#17
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	It's Never/ Ever!! too late to start hunting. And threading a bullet thru tree limbs you say. I'll bet got that got the old pump-a-thump'in? 40-yrds is a fair distance to track. You did good. {a heck of allot better than a few fellows I know that have been hunting for years & years.} a Spike to boot. Hey that deserves congrats. Especially from this end of the web site. S/S

November 14, 2013, 11:22 AM	#18
mwal Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 91	Congrats on your first deer!!!!! I am 51 and killed a management doe on Monday and it was just as exciting as my first when I was 12 years old. To me every deer is a hard earned trophy whether it's a spike or a doe. Congrats and good eating. Don't get to wrapped up in the horn fetish unless trophy's are your goal. Enjoy your time in the woods first and foremost and try to introduce a kid or somebody new to the sport of hunting or shooting. Mwal

November 15, 2013, 01:08 PM	#20
huntinaz Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2010 Location: az Posts: 1,332	Awesome! The first one feels great, no matter the age when it happens. __________________ "When there’s lead in the air, there’s hope in the heart”- Hunter’s Proverb "Feed me, or feed me to something. I just want to be part of the food chain." -Al Bundy

November 16, 2013, 03:18 AM	#21
okiewita40 Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 409	Thank you again for all the kind words. Both of my kids are grown and gone. I am just going to have to wait another 6-7 years for my grand-daughter to get big enough to deer hunt and move back home. I think I will try and save up enough money to go out to my daughters next year and try elk hunting in CO with my son-in-law. __________________ What on god's green earth do you think your doing?

November 17, 2013, 06:19 AM	#22
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Good shooting! Young animals of any species are genuine trophies on the dinner plate! Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.