Just got my first deer! I'm 45 years old and this is my first season hunting. I just moved to Illinois from California and have always loved the outdoors. Before moving I was mostly into surfing and sailing, but now i'm here and . . . well, when in Rome. I love that hunting gets me outside and also all the education I'm getting about habitat, behavior, movement, tactics, equipment, and, and, and . . . I only have access to public land here, and on my third trip out I got this beautiful 10-point buck. My wife is totally anti-hunting so I needed a share my story. Thanks for listening, or I guess-reading. I'm totally hooked now! See ya in the woods.
Thanks! And as for the wife, I doubt it, but as long as I don't bring an animal home or try to get her to eat it, we'll be o.k. I must say that this experience was awesome! Having that buck walk within 10 yards of me (I hunt from the ground) was unbelievable. I was sure my heart was going to leave my chest. I'm pretty sure he could hear my heart pounding. As he crossed in front of me he jumped and started to run, but he never looked in my direction. I thought i'd lost him, but after just a few yards he stopped and spun around, snorted and stamped his feet a couple times and started back towards my decoy. I hit him a little high, but still got both lungs. He ran about 40 yards and that was it. The whole thing still seems surreal. I'm just really glad I got a good shot on him. As nervous as I was, I was afraid that I didn't get a good shot on him. One of my biggest fears is wounding an animal and having them suffer. Just happy it was a decent shot.
Congrats, and nice job on one hell of a first buck. Just make sure you practice as much as possible and don't take any shots outside your comfort zone. Now that you got a buck, time to start scouting for one to tag next year!
Thanks for the advice and I put a limit on my shots right now at 20 yards. I have been practicing tons with my bow over the last several months and am pretty confident to that distance. And the nice thing about IL is I can still take another buck this season. I never thought I'd get that first one. With my inexperience, I would think the odds that I'll get a second are pretty slim, but I figure the more time out in the field the better.
Welcome to the addiction. You'll never forget this day and that moment... And you'll spend countless waking (and sleeping) hours chasing that rush again... Grats on the first of many successful harvests!
Congrats on your first deer! Now you're ruined. I'm curious, if your wife wont let you bring one home what do you did you do with it?
Lucky duck, I still haven't shot a buck in the double digits and i have been hunting for almost ten years. Great buck and congratulations!
I took it to a buddy's house. It was kind of a drag cause I just wanted to be able to stare at it for awhile after I got it. Oh well- it's a small price to pay to keep the boss happy.
A nice buck on public land from the ground AND it's your first deer harvest with a bow? Now THAT is an accomplishment! Very well done. You're definitely hooked now!
Welcome to the site, that is one great looking buck, this sport is very addicting, but as you have experienced self-rewarding as well. Congrats on a wonderful buck and best of luck in the future with the new sport (and the wife) lol.
