Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting How old were you when you kill your first deer???

Self taught at 13

29, a doe with a bow. Went hunting for the first time at 15 and loved it, but didn't shoot anything until 29. Didn't shoot my first buck until 33. I don't shoot many, but I'm still hopelessly addicted.

15 a button buck

20

9--H&R single shot .410 slug. Doe at about 50'.
G

11...it was one of the most important days of my life at that point and deer season is still a schedule changer for the family around here.

12, 7 pt., Win. 94 30-30, Washington Parish, La.

Very cool that you've hung onto that, BGG.

11, December 12th, 1997. A 7 point that would have most likely been an 8, but his right main beem was busted off just past the G2. I shot him with a Marlin 30AW that I got when I was 9. The shot was downhill, overlooking an oats patch that he was standing in. I shot him right at the end of shooting light, just before my godfather came to pick me up. My godfather hunts deer with a 22-250 and is a big proponent of head an neck shots, so that's what I went for. The buck was facing me at about 80 yards and I shot him right through the jugular. I was using 150 gr Core Lokts, which put the buck on his back. I didn't waste any time getting to him after I shot and he was still alive, bleeding profusely when I got to him. To this day that is the most blood I have seen come out of a deer. That might be just because it was a neck shot, which anchored the buck, but didn't take his heart out, so the blood kept on coming. I've got photos. I will have to get them scanned so I can post them.

I was 12 in 1991, button buck shot with a 12 ga slug hunting a river bottom in west central MN

I was 12. January 2, 1994. I'll never forget that day. I don't think I've ever seen such a smile on my father's face.

7. 47 years ago. Still clear memory. Dad was there, but didn't help. Spike buck with .222.

stumpy

13 years old.

Six-point whitetail with the bow. I recall shaking uncontrollably and not being able to get the bow back at first. When I finally did, I missed. He jumped, turned around and began sniffing the arrow. The second shot found its mark - though I don't recall aiming.

Ironically enough, that is STILL what happens when I shoot at a buck with my bow. I've missed em all man tough ones, chip shots, gimmies. Spikers, forks, 6's, 7's 8's. One of these days...

Man they shake me up with the bow and I friggin' love it!

I love reading the comments about the fathers' and grandfathers' involvement and reactions. I didn't have that pleasure, but sure hope to be there when my son or daughter take their first. Awesome memories folks. The stories about how many of us nearly blew it are good as well. I don't recall how many I missed or spooked before even getting a shot, but they would cover a nice sized wall.

11.... Button buck with a 32WS. Still got the buttons mounted on a plaque.

15, 44 years ago. Sporterized (Bubba'ed) 7x57 Mauser, Western Maryland. I waited 'til the old man came around, thinking he would gut it for me. No dice.

My dad's involvement in mine was rather humorous. He tended to hunt quite close to me when I first started hunting and on that particular evening, he was maybe 200 yards away. (within shouting distance)

Two bucks came together and were quite close to my tree - I picked out the 1.5 year old that made for the better shot and released. (of course missing) When I connected on the second shot, I hit the buck just underneath the spine and pinned him though he was violently trashing around.

In the meantime the bigger buck exits toward my dad and like a knuckle-headed youngster, (some things haven't changed) I'm hollering to my dad at the top of my lungs that I'd gotten the buck. Well, he can't quite make out my jibberish hollering and with the commotion the buck beneath me is making, assumes I've fallen out of the tree.

Pops was out of his tree in a second, buggering his shot opportunity because he thought his kid was on the ground in pain.

When he got toward me, he could see me still in the tree and finally understand my mutterings of "I got him"....His reply was, "no, son, you didn't, he was standing by me when I got down - and he was perfectly healthy".....Finally he got to me, and could see the now expired buck beneath my tree.

He had no idea at the time what kind of whitetail monster he had created but I'm forever grateful, and, to this day, it remains my fondest hunting memory.

When the knee(s) stops shaking, either before or after the shot, it's time to hang it up.

14 with a bow as that was the minimum age at the time in NY.