Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Photo of you and your first deer

My first deer was an antelope. Wyoming 1962.

That's too bad!

I might have to do a little search among the photos on my computer, but know I have photos of my first mature WT and MD bucks somewhere.

I have my first little rack, will take a pic of it tomorrow

Killed my first deer at 17 in 1965. Taking pictures of deer was just not something we ever did, which was funny because my father was quite accomplished as an amateur photographer. I don’t recall ever being photographed with a deer until I killed a real trophy 10 point WT buck around 1986 or 87.

My first was this little spike from west Texas. Shot him at 210 “yards” (steps 🤣) with a R788 in 22-250. I realized about half way along our 5-hour trip to the deer lease that I forgot my boots, so I had to hunt in my baseball cleats.

Funny you should mention your choice in footwear. For reasons only known to a 10 year old, I killed my first gobbler while wearing a pair of baseball cleats. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Very cool photo!

While photography wasn't as easy back then as digital is today, it's good to see some "period" photos....

John

Southern AZ Coues 1980. No camera available until back in town. Happy but tired...

Somewhere I have a photo of my first. I remember Norm very well. Tried to buy the magazines for the stories he wrote. I didn't know he passed that young.

Rem 870 12 ga

8 year old me. With childhood friend from the neighborhood. Old deer dog named April.
Killed running dogs in Bunnell, Fl
Ithaca model 37 20 gauge

Flhoundhunter28,

Cool photo!

It's always interesting to me how many folks used shotguns on their first deer--and many probably still do, despite newer regulations that allow specific rifle rounds in some areas.

Of course, I was born and raised in Montana, but in recent years some public areas near towns don't allow rifles. My wife especially has used shotguns to take not just deer but a young cow moose. I've also used them some in other places, such as British Columbia to take my biggest black bear, and in Iowa to take a whitetail buck....

Yeah, we had to use shotguns up until 3 years ago. They legalized straight wall rifles and I hope I never have to shoot another 12ga slug for the rest of my life.

My son's first deer when he was 11. Rem 870 20ga Junior Model.

No pictures of my first deer. It was 1978 and I was 17 and had a '70 Camaro RS. I was by myself and I shot it late in the day. After dragging it out, I loaded it in the trunk of my car and headed off to the local country store to check it in. Man, I was on cloud 9. When I finally got home, it was pretty late. My parents were worried about me and my old man was pissed. My father only hunted geese and had never been deer hunting. I told them I shot a deer, so we go out and pull the doe from my trunk to hang it in a tree. There was about 1" of blood in the bottom of my trunk. So my old man blows a gasket and proceeds to give me a rash of schit for getting blood in the bottom of MY trunk. Man, he really knocked the wind out of my sails that day. Don't get me wrong, the old man was a great guy, but he had a bit of a temper and was pretty strict with us kids. I think it all started because I was 2 hours late getting home and they were worried. I cleaned the blood out and it was all good. So, no pictures, just a rash of schit.

It's a region thing for sure. Just about every kid you pass standing on a dog box next to his dad is carrying a shotgun to this day including my own son.
Graduate them to a rifle when they are 13-14 years old. No laws that say they have to it's just the way it is

Fall of 1975 from the original home place of my father's family in Arkansas. I used the Remington 742 that belonged to my uncle. No camera in deer camp. The photo was taken the minute I got home by my proud mother. And yes-those are the clothes I wore that day minus the rubber boots and oversized coat.

Not my first deer, but first branch antlered buck (and first picture I have with a deer. 17 years old senior in high school.

Great buck Cheesy!!



Here’s mine, 16 years old in 1996. I’d never been around deer hunting but wanted to give it a try. I borrowed a boat paddle Ruger 30-06 from a friend and my older brother helped me pick a spot to sit. I shot this guy about 10 minutes after sunrise at 30 yards. I took it by the high school ag department to show it off and ended up getting by butt chewed by the principal for not being in class. Also stopped by the gas station/coffee shop in town. The new owner there offered to help me gut the buck, followed me home and took this picture. That guy ended up dating and then marrying my mom. He’s still my stepdad 27 years later.