My 13 year old shot his first deer, just hours into opening day! I was in the blind with him, priceless! 😀 A nice six point like this is getting hard to find around this area.
Both my hunters and I. 
Atta Boy!
That's something that he (and you) will never forget. Congratulations young man.
Andy
Congrats, But Who Took Care Of Business ?
No matter the size, That Is A Trophy.
Is that his Winchester? If not it should be.
I can remember my first deer. My father in law said, "Pay attention" and gutted it out. Then he said, the rest are all yours to deal with. My nephew did my son's first deer and he has been on his own ever since.
Years later I paid my father in law back by gutting out his last deer.
Thinking of all the things we've done with family members, hunting tops the list. Even the women that don't partake understand the importance. Tonight I sleep at my son's, one grandaughter sleeps at NaNa's. We will walk as far as my son's rear yard line, he will post on his tree stand and I will post on a camp chair by the rabbit hutch. This morning I was up at 5 to find our neighborhood piebald doe and fawn under our swing set. For this deer I wake my wife up for a look, under the moon she is unbelievable. Last month we saw her under the full moon, like a light bulb. This is her third year. We saw her as a fawn, last year she had two of her own, this year we only ever saw her with one.
What is crazy is to wake up with deer in our yard in town, then go out into the country and not see any to shoot.
Paul in PA
Congrats, But Who Took Care Of Business ?
> What is crazy is to wake up with deer in our yard in town, then go out into the country and not see any to shoot.
>
> Paul in PA
haha....It sounds like the deer know where to go during hunting season. They must be communicating their ideas to one another. 😀
If that isn't a bonding moment, I don't know what qualifies.
A hearty congratulations! :good: :good: :good:
Congrats, But Who Took Care Of Business ?
That part was pretty funny, he did not like the smell. He did his best with some help from his older brother, who had to show him how to reach in and pull out the heart. We told him to pack a cloths pin for his nose tomorrow 😀
My Dad has deer with big racks in his subdivision and drives 3 hours to hunt where he grew up and has not seen a buck in the past 4 years. :-S
That's Good stuff! I personally like deer Jerky!
N
Not many things mean more to a father and son than the first deer.
I have the picture with both Stefan and Ross in some album.
The next biggest thing is teaching the kid how to process the deer, if they make it through that, then are are hooked for life.
Congrats.
Congrats! I love to hear first deer stories. Wish more folks would pass down the hunting traditions.
Paul in PA
"I can remember my first deer. My father in law said, "Pay attention" and gutted it out."
Your father in law? How old were you when you killed your first deer?
That is just priceless. There is something real special about deer hunting that far exceeds harvesting a deer, something the anti-hunting group will never understand.
Although gun season is yet to open here, our bow season is. I told my wife the other day that when I'm scouting, preparing, and hunting with my 17-year old son, he is not only my son, but one of my best friends. It's hard to explain, but others of you who have the same situation can probably understand.
Paul in PA's First Deer
My first pheasant and rabbit were with a 410 single shot, hunting around home, as a youth. I accompanied my father once deer hunting, crossing a stream going in, his bad knee gave out and he plugged the rifle into the stream bank. End of day, end of hunting for a long time. I had earned Marksmanship merit badge in Scouts, 22 (prone, kneeling, sitting and standing, military style) and took NRA rifle safety and fired 30-06 at Philmont Scout Reservation. My dad sold most of his guns, keeping a 12 gauge Remington 31.
Fast forward to my son being 12 years old (Rifle and Shotgun merit badges, they did away with the Military Marksmanship) and wanting to hunt. We took hunter safety together, I took him to a gun show and he picked out a 30-06 as his first gun, his money his choice. I borrowed a 30-30 that first year. Later on I bought and later upgraded. My father gave the 12 gauge to my son. My father in law had a cottage at a rod and gun club in the Poconos, as did a brother in law, so our first hunting was with my wife's side of the family. On my father's side are cousins that have several farms around my parent's home. On and off over the years.
So yes, my first deer was in middle age.
For quite a few years I hunted with quite a crew, father-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law, 2 nephews and my son, plus various friends, nephew and nirces sons, one at a time. Father-in-law and both brothers-in-law passed on, cottages sold, one nephew moved to Colorado. Down to nephew and son, only three make it hard to cover much territory, and sometimes difficult to even get 3. Rifle seaon we have a friend promised to join us and I am now "The Old Man".
I stayed at my son's last night and we were out till about 9 AM. Saw 5 doe move from one yard to another, but out of bow range. My nephew was off to see Central Florida pummel Temple where his daughter is in the band.
Bow hunting I just like to be out, rifle season is good but I really love flintlock season after Christmas especially in snow.
Paul in PA
That's a great result on opening day, congrats! 😀
Paul in PA's First Deer
Neat story, Paul. I was thinking most of yesterday that it was kind of strange that a person of marrying age would begin deer hunting, but seeing how you hunted as a youth it all makes sense now. I have seen very few folks take up hunting as an adult, seems like everyone takes it up as a youth. That is why we should all (and seems like everyone on this board has) take our sons and daughters out and teach them how to hunt and fish. My grandfather also insisted that we always buy a combination hunting and fishing license even if we didn't think we would ever use it. That is also a good lesson to impress upon our children as it provides money to support the states needs to fund wildlife and fishery programs and not very many legislators are willing to try to dip into those funds for pet projects. Aside from the nurturing and bonding that taking a son or daughter out hunting or fishing affords, it is going to be more important than ever if future generations are going to be able to enjoy the outdoor sports.
