[seniordep2010]

The hunt was AWESOME!!! My first deer hunt ever and on opening day I got out to the stand at about 6:15 and about 15 mintues later I heard alot of grunting and snorting in the brush behind me. Next thing I know a doe runs across the path, about 15 mintues later, while still very dark I see a antlered deer come out of the woods for just a few moments then go back in.

Not too long after that a does came out of the woods and stood broadside for about 5 minutes and ate leaves off a bush but I didnt feel comfortable making the shot because it was still just a bit too dark to see out of the scope good.

Very little activity after that until I saw the same doe stand up where it had beded back down but I could get a clean shot, so I passed it up thinking I probably missed my only shot of the day when I first saw it.

After about 45 minutes to and hour later I began to get weary and started to kick myself in the butt for not taking the shot on the broadside doe, since there was no activity at all except for 1 grunt a quick bit of brush movement.

Then I was comtemplating how I was going to go pee :p thinking should I get out of the stand and walk away but then they know where I am, or pee off the stand and risk them smelling it, but I had to go soo bad.

Then I saw alot of movement and there he was....the deer I was soon to harvest. He made his way down the game trail and stopped to eat berries, but I could see him through the bush, he trotted away and I thought my short window of oppurtunity was over. Then the buck stopped right in the only clearing on the trail and I knew this was my only chance.

I leaned as far out of this little stand that I wasn't strapped into (dumb me) to get a better shot while 12 feet off the ground. I FELL OUT!!! hahaha just kidding, thought I'd get your attention :D.

Ok so as I said I leaned out and took the 50 yard shot, the Marlin 30-30 dropped the buck in it's tracks. I did decide to take another shot about 45 seconds later to dispatch the animal faster even though he wasn't about to get up and run away.

Here he is! 7 point buck, roughly 150 pounds or more. (didn't weigh him)

http://i35.tinypic.com/10d8jup.jpg

http://i37.tinypic.com/t7nyhj.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/6y1r4l.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/6tl3cn.jpg

Wat'cha think?

Edit: Oh yea and he was a real goofy lookin' imbred, his bottom jaw was about 2 inches shorter than it should be, and he looked all bucked tooth haha.

[61chalk]

Good job! I remember my first deer, must be nice to hunt with a 30/30 right now...we have to bow hunt only until the middle of Nov.

[seniordep2010]

Thanks, I'm so excited. I called one of my friends soon after I got him, and I guess word spread like wild fire cause' all my friends were callin me and congradulating me on my first deer, sure is nice to have good friends. Even the people who didnt call me were spreading the word :D You got any deer this season?

[03Shadowbob]

Great job! And the marlin 30-30 does the job once again for the 100 millionth time!!!

[seniordep2010]

That's why I just had to have a 30-30, I mean it's probably killed more deer in North America than any other rifle in history, so I hear.

[CajunBass]

I remember taking a fellow hunting for his first time ever years ago. We hadn't been in the woods ten minutes when he killed a 7 point buck that weighed about 165 lbs. As we stood over the deer, he looked at me and said "That's all there is to it?" :what: He never went hunting again, as far as I know.

I don't think you'll have that problem. :D

Congratulations. Good job.

[Sav .250]

Nice buck and you used a Marlin 336...........even better.

[dakotasin]

that is a great job!
deer looks healthy, it is a hunt you'll remember, and the adrenaline rush is unbeatable. good job.

oh, and just pee from the stand. the deer don't mind as long as you aren't peeing on them.

[SheepNutz]

Great job! I too will be hunting with 30-30 this modern gun season.

[High Tower]

Good job on your first hunt. Nice buck. I used a Marlin 336 in 30-30 for my first deer way back when and this last season my son got his first deer with a Marlin 36 in 30-30. Great guns.

[interlock]

well done, welcome to the club

[seniordep2010]

Im going to cook one of the backstraps today and Im looking up tones of recipes. Anyone got a favorite to share?

[GodGuns&Guitars]

Just barely braze the backstrap steaks, then stick them in a crock pot with cream of mushroom soup. Let cook near all day, then serve over rice. So tender you can cut the steaks with just your fork.

[schlockinz]

marinate in burgundy wine, with italian parsley, some garlic, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
Grill till medium rare

[seniordep2010]

Wow those sound really good, I think I might try the crock pot one since my grill like blows up when I try to use it :what:, really need to get a new one.

[PBinWA]

Congrats - I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow. I'm waffling over which gun to take but I may have to take my 30/30 now!

[jbkebert]

Congrats on your first deer. We like to cut the backstraps about a inch thick. Then coat both sides with your favorite dry rub. Place in a baggie with a few glugs of extra virgin olive oil. Let sit over night after removing most of the air from the baggie. Grill until medium rare. We serve it with wild rice and baked potatoes. Once again congrats

[seniordep2010]

These all sound soo good, im going to have to kill some more deer to try em' all :D. Oh and I don't know if I mentioned it but im going to skull mount it I think, or just mount the rack cause' I cant afford to mount the whole deer.

[nathan]

Congrats bro. That is one experience of a lifetime ! Great job and more deers to come ! And u hit it right on the boiler room, perfect shot ! Lungs are busted alright !

[seniordep2010]

Right on the boiler room :D I like that. Im cookin up a backstrap right now. Yum:neener:

[shaggy430]

Congratulations. My first "real" buck was a 7 pointer. It still is one of my favorite deer. Hope you have many more to come.

[seniordep2010]

I hope so too, I think Ill be going back this week so I can have more venison. I found all these great recipes and want to try them all :D

[shaggy430]

If I might give you a suggestion- keep a log of the deer you kill. My grandfather started doing this years ago when he first started hunting and we keep records of every big game animal that anyone in my family takes. It tells you a lot and it's cool to reminisce on past hunts. We enjoy taking them out and looking over them and telling stories. You also can see patterns as to when and where the best animals are taken from year to year.

Here's the information we keep up with:
Date
Number (how many this is for you of this species)
Weight
Sex (antler points on males)
Weapon used and ammo/arrow-broadhead combo
Distance
Where you hit it
Shooting right handed or left handed (a great skill to have for hunters)
Animal walking, standing, running, or bedded
Weather conditions
County and State (if it is a WMA, we note that also)

[AKElroy]

Great job! I too will be hunting with 30-30 this modern gun season.

Ditto. I have not taken any of my bolt guns to sight in this season; only two model 94's; one scoped, one OEM. That is ALL I plan to use this year.

[AKElroy]

Congrats - I'm hoping to get out there tomorrow. I'm waffling over which gun to take but I may have to take my 30/30 now!

Where do you folks live that you are able to hunt tomorrow?? I am north zone Texas, and I get to wait until 11/7!

[wyohome]

If I might give you a suggestion- keep a log of the deer you kill.

I wish I would have done that when I was young. I can say that I have killed over 40 deer and 6 or 7 elk, etc, but the details have long escaped me. It would be fun to remember who I was with, where we camped and so on.

[PBinWA]

Washington State October 17 is the first day for two weeks then there is a late season in November.

[paintballdude902]

very nice i too got my first deer with a marlin .30-30

where are you located ? eastern nc had their opener saturday

[deerhunter61]

Congratulations! It has been nice reading all of your posts! It is pretty obvious you are really excited with getting your first buck! Good luck with your meal. Let us know how it tasted!

[seniordep2010]

Yea Im eastern N.C. about 45 min from Raleigh. And the backstrap came out great! Tasted just like a pot roast and so tender you could cut it with a fork. :cool:

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Great Buck, glad you waited him out.
Hope you did not have to carry him to far.

[seniordep2010]

Me and a buddy had to drag him about 30 yards before we pulled him up on the back of a pickup, not too bad, only took like 5-10 minutes. Atleast he didnt run, then it would have taken alot longer. :D BTW, went out tonight with the smae friend, he saw 3 does at his stand, I heards alot of movement behind mine but never saw anything. I was at teh same stand I was at on Saturday, I'm gonna go back in the morning before class and see how it goes.

[jbkebert]

Kansas rifle season isn't until 12/02. Guess its good that I like to bowhunt.:D

[MrCleanOK]

Congrats on your first deer! I remember mine, an 11" spike that I killed after pulling the trigger on a great buck only to get a click, and a weakly dimpled primer. Sounds like you're hooked, and that's great!

I would like to offer a comment on the "dispatch" shot. If your first shot was good enough to drop him where he stood, he didn't need the second one. He was content to lay there and die. When the damage has been done, sometimes that second shot can be enough to motivate that deer to get up and make a try at running away anyway. I have seen it before.

Also, regarding bodily functions in the tree stand. Number 1, bring a 32 oz. Gatorade bottle or similar with you (don't empty it on the way to the stand, or you're guaranteed to just fill it up again). Dump out full bottles far from hunting areas if you're too civilized to just bring it home and dump it out in the yard. Number 2, just hold it.

[Tim the student]

Nice job. I would cut them about an inch thick and wrap with bacon and grill em up. Whatever you do, don't overcook them.

[paintballdude902]

very nice buck for eastern nc lol

im from down in new bern

[iyaoyas98]

Nice first deer! It took me a couple years to get a buck. Does eat the same, but it ain't the same "feeling".

[lgbloader]

Congrats on the score...

My favorite eating is right after the harvest and in camp a couple of hours later. Clean the liver and heart (cut out all the white you can) cut into small pieces with some potatoes and bacon, fresh onion & garlic, and pepper and cook in a cast iron skillet over the camp fire. Eat close to the fire with everyone telling their own story of the day. Now that's living...

* Optional with the above, Grab some New Mexico green chili stewed with garlic and tomatoes and a couple of thick tortillas, some beans with bacon (if you have them), a small pad of butter and a couple of cans of your favorite ice cold brew.
OH... MY... GOD...

LGB

[juk]

That's alot better than my first deer! I didn't even own a firearm when I bagged him. I had to borrow everything from a friend. Now that I have my own deer gun I can't seem to get the time to hunt or I just don't see any. You should remember that deer for a while though.

[climbnjump]

Also, regarding bodily functions in the tree stand. Number 1, bring a 32 oz. Gatorade bottle or similar with you (don't empty it on the way to the stand, or you're guaranteed to just fill it up again). Dump out full bottles far from hunting areas if you're too civilized to just bring it home and dump it out in the yard.

Ditto on the pee bottle, but I'd go with something heavier than an empty pop bottle - get a Nalgene water bottle as they're pretty indestructible and seal well. They also come in rectangular shapes which are easier to hold on to than round shapes.

Funny thing about pee bottle use while in a stand... About the time you've put down your rifle, dug out your pee bottle and your other gun, a deer will walk by. Kind of an interesting process of carefully, quietly and quickly switching tasks, but over the years, I've shot two deer after successfully making the transition in time. One other time worked out in the deer's favor when I knocked the pee bottle out of the stand while reaching for the rifle. I guess you can't win 'em all.