Am I a bad hunter?
I guess I probably won't like the answers, but I guess I deserve honest feedback.
I shot my first deer this morning, from about 80 yards away. She was in a field, so I didn't have any frame of reference for size. But she ended up being young doe. I was very nervous and missed my "best" shot, but still went above the shoulder, breaking her back. She still died very quickly.
So on the one hand, it was a more-or-less clean kill, and we still harvested her for meat (of course). On the other hand, I feel a bit bad because she was a "baby." No spots, and it was all perfectly legal. And I did get my first out of the way (I was very anxious and excited).
Did I do wrong, or is it OK?
Personally, I feel remorse that I could have been more selective. But I know I will be more patient in the future.
I shot my first deer this morning, from about 80 yards away. She was in a field, so I didn't have any frame of reference for size. But she ended up being young doe. I was very nervous and missed my "best" shot, but still went above the shoulder, breaking her back. She still died very quickly.
So on the one hand, it was a more-or-less clean kill, and we still harvested her for meat (of course). On the other hand, I feel a bit bad because she was a "baby." No spots, and it was all perfectly legal. And I did get my first out of the way (I was very anxious and excited).
Did I do wrong, or is it OK?
Personally, I feel remorse that I could have been more selective. But I know I will be more patient in the future.
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The fact that you feel remose is a good indication that you will grow to be a fine hunter. Congrats on your 1st deer. 0 -
as you stated it was your first deer,so what you got a small one shot was placed a little high..practice at the range shots will get better.i have taken a smaller one threw the years from time to time.not that big a deal from the way i look at it.it is venison in the freezer/as long as it dont have spots on it yet dont worry..congrads on your first deer kill. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
The fact that you feel remose is a good indication that you will grow to be a fine hunter. Congrats on your 1st deer.
+1
I'd also like to add that the thought of veilison is making my mouth water.
Ben0 -
Theu sure taste good that small 0 -
Congrats on your first deer, You'll get better at judging size with experiance[;)] 0 -
Congratulations hunter, and that's what you are. In fact, you're one of the GOOD hunters, one who cares about what he shoots. Speaking of that, if you shot her on a day that was legal for does, you did great. As a meat hunter myself(Don't care about trophies), I think you've succeeded in getting the very best you ever will in venison. A young doe is the ultimate,in my opinion. 0 -
Calltuku, Ya done good! Gut it, skin it and eat it whole. GRD are you paying attention?[:D]
To answer your question: No! Your shot placement will get better and YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CHASE IT. I prefer lung or neck shots but it doesn't always work out the way you want it to. I have spine shot two deer myself. just be sure to administer the kill shot quickly so they don't suffer too much. Bon Apetite!0 -
quote:Originally posted by guntech59
I have spine shot two deer myself. just be sure to administer the kill shot quickly so they don't suffer too much. Bon Apetite!
I immediately got down from the box stand to administer the kill, but she was dead when I got there. I was relieved. She died right where she stood.
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. I feel better now.0 -
quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
The fact that you feel remose is a good indication that you will grow to be a fine hunter. Congrats on your 1st deer.
It's hard to say it any better than that.
F.0 -
No harm, no foul...U didn't break any laws, and you will now be all the better judge of size/weight for it.
I don't think you'll get any "guff" from anyone here. I gut-shot the first one i killed,and felt bad about it for a long time.(I was 9 yo)
Get more range-time,talk to friends with more experience, and ENJOY THE "VIELNISON" [:p][:p]
Jeff0 -
callktulu,......hunting is a very weird thing, and the feelings that accompany it.
When I was young, I hunted deer, turkey, dove, boar, quail, etc.
I always went by the rules, and did not take shots that I was uncertain of.
A while ago, while hunting in the state of my birth, WV,....I had hiked up into the mountains, and out of nowhere came a beautiful big buck,......I don't remember how many points now, but at least an 8.
For some reason, I changed, I had the shot lined up, but didn't pull the trigger.
I dropped my rifle, and asked myself why I was going to kill this animal. I personally had no need to, as I have never even really cared for venison, and certainly did not need to feed my family.
I never shot, and stood up, and yelled to scare him off.
I have not hunted since then, but am by no means "anti-hunting".
As long as you were going by the law, and made a quick kill,.....you have nothing to feel bad about![;)]
All of us change, and at different times.
My great uncle that tought me to hunt, as he got older, only wanted to be in the woods, and only "pretended" to hunt.
As long as you enjoy it, continue on,......if, and when the time ever comes that it makes you feel uncomfortable, then follow those feelings.
I will most likely draw "wrath" for my story, but folks do change, and there is no right, or wrong, as long as you are following the laws.
I would hunt again, if I needed to feed myself, or family, but I grew out of it.
Some of us are "shooters", and some of us are "hunters",......the majority of shooters, don't hunt, and the majority of hunters don't get into competitive shooting. Of course the lines cross, but that is the overall truth.
Sorry for the long story, but thought it might help.
You are fine, and what you feel is not surprising!
Simply shows you are a good guy.[;)]0 -
You are a good hunter.
I have done the same thing you did.
I was in a stand on a logging road, it went straight for about 250 yards. Like with your shot, I did not have a point of reference.
A big doe came out, it was about 140 yards away.
I fired, the deer went 5 steps and collapsed.
As I walked up, every step I took, the deer got a little smaller.
It turned out it was a button buck 80 yards away, so only a six month old deer, probably the same size as yours.
It was about the 70th deer I had killed.
I figure, if the deer was legal, and you made a clean kill, you had a good day. Those little ones taste good.
callktulu, I recommend some range time for you. Buy a deer silhouette and put a box of shells through your rifle. You can make a better shot than that at 80 yards.
I used to get refrigerator boxes and make my own silhouettes. It is the best way to practice.0 -
Callktulu
Like the others have said you are not a bad hunter by any means. It happens.....only time in the field can help you become a seasoned hunter. I think most hunters have taken animals they would not want to brag to there buddies about once they got up to them and realized they where not as big or had quite as many horns as when they were looking thru their scopes. When I am hunting meat in the early season I do a couple of things....if the deer is alone it means its old enough to fin for itself and I have no problem taking it. If you see a doe be sure to watch her for a few minutes just to make sure she has no fawns with her....talk about feel bad if you make a quick shot on a doe and a few minutes later see her fawn tring to wake her up....Another piece of advice....get a good scope or binoculars....because nothing like shooting a doe and then walking up and seeing 2 nubs on the top of his head....These things have happened to me before when I was first getting into hunting....it happens to most hunters.....all you can do is learn from these situations and it will make you become a better hunter.
Mike0 -
No, as already said you didn't have to chase it.
The fact that it was dead before you walked 80yds says to me that it was a humain kill.
When I hunt cow elk the younger the better. I don't target the calve calves. I look for cows with medium small sized bodies to take.0 -
What they said...[^][^] You are on the way to many years of enjoyable hunting. The next thing to do is surround yourself with hunters just like yourself. [:)][:)]
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.then, make a cook out of one of them. [:D][:D]
rider0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
I will most likely draw "wrath" for my story, but folks do change,
No wrath from here. That is a great story. I've considered putting down the rifle and picking up a camera on more than a few occasions.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rider
What they said...[^][^] You are on the way to many years of enjoyable hunting. The next thing to do is surround yourself with hunters just like yourself. [:)][:)]
.
.
.
.
.then, make a cook out of one of them. [:D][:D]
rider
Every camp needs a good one![:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
I will most likely draw "wrath" for my story, but folks do change,
No wrath from here. That is a great story. I've considered putting down the rifle and picking up a camera on more than a few occasions.
Thanks Elk.[;)]
All of us,.....hunters, and shooters, need to be a big group, and not divided.
I used to love it, and never felt a qualm one, but something in me changed. I have no explanation for it.
Probably the fact that I was always giving away the venison,....I ate the rest though!
Hunters are needed, especially for deer populations. I don't think anyone wants to see them starving to death from overpopulation,....I know I don't.
The only hunters I despise, are the ones that hunt drunk, which was another big reason I quit in Florida, and "poachers".
I am not a softy,.....I could put a bullet in their head without a thought, or any remorse.
Other than the remorse, of having a "boyfriend" in prison!
Happy hunting all.[:D][;)]0 -
Congratulations on your first deer. Like you said the first one is out of the way and you put meat in the freezer. The rest will come with practice and experience. 0 -
Killing to a hunter, a REAL hunter is kind of a two way sensation. There's no doubt, it's thrilling to realize you've succeeded, and admittedly to some of us, it's a thrill to make the kill. To me, the number one part is being out, being a part of nature, breathing the fresh air, and realizing at the same time that I came from primitive beginnings, grew up on the earth and am a part of earth. It feels good to know that I can survive and feed myself alone.
The other side is..I have empathy for that deer, I don't feel the pain, but I'm aware it exists and that I'm the cause of it. Like my ancestors, I feel gratitude to the animal for giving me the pleasure of success, and the taste of his body later, but I also accept his pain and the sacrifice he has made for me against his will.
If you're religious, you can take comfort from the bible in this area. I can't do chapter and verse, I just remember childhood exposure.
Paraphrasing then: God gave us, his people, dominion over all the earth and all its creatures. He created the animals for our needs and benefit. He expected us to use them as we saw fit, but not wastefully, which would be sinful.
To those of you who love the hunt but don't like killing, like Marc..You also have my respect, and you can get the same pleasure, or at least most of it by shooting something a bit less lethal than a rifle. Try cameras. You will go through all the same procedure that we meat hunters do, up to the shooting point. At that instant, instead of a "Bang," you will work to reach a "Click." Actually your "trophy" will last much longer than mine, but it won't taste nearly as good.
[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]0 -
You did fine for a first deer, for any deer. One way to get an idea if a deer by itself is a yearling or an older deer is to look at it's face. Yearlings faces' appear short, where older does faces get a longer look to them. When you get more chances to watch some deer, try to look spacifically at this and you will gain ability to identify young ones....not that you shouldn't shoot one for the pot! 0 -
Let me say this. That deer you shot is going to be the tenderest meat you can get. If it feed off a farm with corn or soybean on it. You are going to have a great taste to it to boot. If a buck comes bye and is not bigger then the mount I have on the wall, I pass. If I have couple of doe's come bye, I shoot the smaller of the group. If I am eating a steak or roast I prefer tender and good taste. 0 -
I must be a bad hunter by some of ya'lls standards!
I have never felt any remorse for any animal that I have killed for the purpose of eating it!
I truely believe that god put these animals here for our cunsumption and I will never feel bad for harvesting them as long as I am useing them for that reason!0 -
Now dang it GRD..Ain't that whut I dun said??? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by oldgunner
Now dang it GRD..Ain't that whut I dun said???
You were about the only one![;)][:D]0 -
Well Calktulu did you gut or field dress the deer? 0 -
I figured this would happen!
I never said that I was anti-hunting,.....simply that I choose from my own free will, not to do it at this point, as I am not interested!
To oldgunner,......I am not anti-killing.
I know where the chicken, and steaks that I eat came from.
Probably a lot less humane than hunting, and there are a boatload of humans that I would have no problem sending them to their maker.
To GRD,......since I appear to be the only one you could possibly be referring to in your first post, I am confused?
I never replied to your "fawn" post, nor do I care how many of the same you shoot.
You hunt, and like venison,.......I don't.
Get over it!
This is the stupid controversy, that divides the gun community IMHO!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
I figured this would happen!
I never said that I was anti-hunting,.....simply that I choose from my own free will, not to do it at this point, as I am not interested!
To oldgunner,......I am not anti-killing.
I know where the chicken, and steaks that I eat came from.
Probably a lot less humane than hunting, and there are a boatload of humans that I would have no problem sending them to their maker.
To GRD,......since I appear to be the only one you could possibly be referring to in your first post, I am confused?
I never replied to your "fawn" post, nor do I care how many of the same you shoot.
You hunt, and like venison,.......I don't.
Get over it!
This is the stupid controversy, that divides the gun community IMHO!
I was not refering to your post alone!
Many sounded like they feel sorry for the animals they kill to eat!
I personally would never feel sorry for the animal because I believe that God intended for me to eat any animal that I kill!
That is also why I refuse to hunt anything I am not going to eat unless it is a problem or sick animal!
Those where the points I was makeing.[;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
quote:Originally posted by elkoholic
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
I will most likely draw "wrath" for my story, but folks do change,
No wrath from here. That is a great story. I've considered putting down the rifle and picking up a camera on more than a few occasions.
Thanks Elk.[;)]
All of us,.....hunters, and shooters, need to be a big group, and not divided.
I used to love it, and never felt a qualm one, but something in me changed. I have no explanation for it.
Probably the fact that I was always giving away the venison,....I ate the rest though!
Hunters are needed, especially for deer populations. I don't think anyone wants to see them starving to death from overpopulation,....I know I don't.
The only hunters I despise, are the ones that hunt drunk, which was another big reason I quit in Florida, and "poachers".
I am not a softy,.....I could put a bullet in their head without a thought, or any remorse.
Other than the remorse, of having a "boyfriend" in prison!
Happy hunting all.[:D][;)]
Marc I have passed on many a deer for that very reason just did not feel the need to take the shot so I took it with a video camera
I still hunt because I love deer meat but I enjoy being out in the woods if Im hunting or not.
Its great now because my kids are getting into it [:D]0 -
GRD,......I guess I apologize, but not really![:D]
As long as you follow the laws, and eat what you shoot, or give it to someone that will use it,....zero problem from me!
I know I am in the minority on a gun board simply by saying I don't like venison, but it's the truth. Sorry!
I have almost been shot twice in Florida, from drunk rednecks.
That is why I gave it up here,........the cover is too close, and the deer are about the size of what you shot.
Didn't want to be laughed at![;)]0
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