Second Small Buck this year.

[Patocazador]

I hunt public areas in Florida and trophy deer are few as on most public areas. It's a good thing I'm not a trophy hunter. I got a small 3 point with my muzzleloader and yesterday got a spike with my slug gun.

We have small deer here but it seems I'm the champ for the smallest of the small.



I shot him at 65 yards.

 

[brainwake]

meat is meat! The young ones taste better. Congratz!

 

[ldlfh7]

Those little deer are sooooooo tasty

 

[Arkansas Paul]

^ They sure are.
My daughter killed her first deer, a 50-60 pound doe last weekend. I killed a big 100 pounder the next. The hams on her small one was more tender than the backstraps on the one I shot. Those little ones are just right for the frying pan, no doubt about it.
Young bucks are no different when it comes to quality of the meat. Grind the old ones, fry the young ones. Man, this is making me hungry.

 

[msnden]

Congrats on the deer, What do those deer live on down there? (what do they eat?) Ya gotta be a good shot!!

 

[Patocazador]

Congrats on the deer, What do those deer live on down there? (what do they eat?) Ya gotta be a good shot!!

Just like anywhere, they thrive on acorns, browse shrubs, and even eat poison ivy. I've seen them eat mushrooms too.
Due to the sandy soil with little fertility, they need to eat a lot but don't get much nutrition from it.

 

[gspn]

Nice buck! I killed my first deer with an 870...brings back some great memories seeing that one laying across a deer.

 

[Patocazador]

I killed my first dozen or so deer with an 870 Wingmaster (different one). It was my only gun at the time. I still have it.

 

[taliv]

if you let them live another year, they get bigger

 

[Thunder Struck]

I agree with the mod ^^^^

I hunt the Florida/Alabama state line. I hunt on a 1000 acre lease we use to have 5000 acres but our president lost it and embezzled all the money and farm equipment. I went and got some of it back. Everybody was killing everything that came out, if its brown it was down. They would take out complete family's, does and yearlings. Those days are over. Now when you go you have a chance at harvesting a nice buck. Not a big brusier like on the tv shows but what we call pencil racks. I shot a 3-4 year old 8 pt that was pretty respectable last year. We do harvest a few does but we watch them for a while and make sure they do not have little ones with them. I did soil test on our soil through the Whitetail institute and they said the land was so poor not to plant till we get it right. Come to find out we have been putting out the wrong kind of lime for our food plots.
Now before the bashing starts i know all about hunting on the public lands and if you let it walk Jim Bob, 200 yards away will shoot it. And yes i do like the younger , tender deer, everybody does. All i'm saying is I agree with what the guy above me said.

 

[Doug S]

Looks like a nice deer that will be good eating this winter.

 

[LeonCarr]

He will eat just fine .

What slugs were you using?

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Patocazador]

He will eat just fine .

What slugs were you using?

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I have a Hastings rifled barrel on it and tried about 5 different types of slugs with sabots (very expensive). None of them grouped particularly well so I just tried "el cheapo" 12 ga. Winchester Forster 2 3/4" slugs at ~ $5/box. They grouped better than the expensive ones I tried so I just buy them by the bulk pack of $13 for 15 of them. They have worked pretty well out to 80 yards.
They aren't MOA shooters but work pretty good.

 

[Field Tester]

Bob,

It's still bigger than anything I've ever hunted. Growing up with a liberal family limited my outdoors and hunting experience. Funny that my parents were hardcore anti growing up and now through me educating them in the past 9 years they both own. My father has recently really taken hold to acquiring more firearms and range time.

Been trying to find a mentor to teach me for several years. No one wants to take the time with me. It's not like I'm super young or immature. I'm almost 30. But I understand people have busy lives these days.

I look forward to my first hunt. Be proud of that deer sir.

 

[wankerjake]

Looks like a tasty one.