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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quote:Originally posted by Johnnylikesguns
Well Calktulu did you gut or field dress the deer?
We strung her up and dressed her. He showed me a way that doesn't remove the organs from the carcass. We removed the backstrap, shoulder, and rear haunches. The rest he dumps on the way back of his property for scavengers. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....0 -
quote:Originally posted by callktulu
quote:Originally posted by Johnnylikesguns
Well Calktulu did you gut or field dress the deer?
We strung her up and dressed her. He showed me a way that doesn't remove the organs from the carcass. We removed the backstrap, shoulder, and rear haunches. The rest he dumps on the way back of his property for scavengers. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust....
You threw out alot of good meat![:(][:(][:(][:(]
You could have atleast got burger out of it! I use the burger in lots of recipes!0 -
quote:Originally posted by fishermanben
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.
Ben
+2
Did you gut it yourself???0 -
I do not mean to down grade your first deer! And I am sorry if that is the impression you got!
All I am saying is if you are useing it to eat there is no reason to feel sorry for shooting it![;)][:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by git_r_done
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!
I don't either Kevin...
I've let hundreds walk, just admiring them and enjoying watching them...but I've never felt remorse for killing one...or if I did, it was never long enough for it to be memorable.0 -
"We strung her up and dressed her. He showed me a way that doesn't remove the organs from the carcass. We removed the backstrap, shoulder, and rear haunches. The rest he dumps on the way back of his property for scavengers. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
Ahh, Grasshopper, you left the best part of the deer, the inside strap.
Got to gut the deer to get to them.
Grasshopper, I am afraid that with your current Sensei, you will not attain enlightenment.
Also, the neck is a great roast, although most people toss the neck.0 -
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
"We strung her up and dressed her. He showed me a way that doesn't remove the organs from the carcass. We removed the backstrap, shoulder, and rear haunches. The rest he dumps on the way back of his property for scavengers. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..."
Ahh, Grasshopper, you left the best part of the deer, the inside strap.
Got to gut the deer to get to them.
You need a new Sensei, Grasshopper.
Also, the neck is a great roast, although most people toss the neck.
I got my neck roast![;)]
I made sure to ask the prosesser to make sure I got it![:D]0 -
gitrdone: Have you tried the Lipton's powdered onion soup neck roast recipe? Unbelievably good, and very easy, the Batchelor's special. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
gitrdone: Have you tried the Lipton's powdered onion soup neck roast recipe? Unbelievably good, and very easy, the Batchelor's special.
No. I just happen to remember my grandmother useing the neck roast and made sure this year to ask for it in my cuts.0 -
There wasn't much on the neck that I could see. She was pretty small. I'm still learning, so thanks for the advice. 0 -
Callktulu, clean kill[ anything that drops where you shoot it and is dead before you get there is pretty darn clean to me], and a legal animal makes you a good hunter.[^] I have shot spikes before, and understand what you mean about it being a young deer. But like others here have said, with experiance will come greater judgement and discretion. Good job, and enjoy the meat. 0 -
Sprinkle a package of Lipton powdered onion soup mix on the neck.
Put six slices of bacon on the neck. Wrap the roast in aluminum foil, seal tightly.
Bake for 6 hours at low temp of 225. Unbelievably good.0 -
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
Sprinkle a package of Lipton powdered onion soup mix on the neck.
Put six slices of bacon on the neck. Wrap the roast in aluminum foil, seal tightly.
Bake for 6 hours at low temp of 225. Unbelievably good.
[:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]0 -
Or...On the neck.. Bay leaf, onion, garlic, hot red pepper..Any seasoning you like...All in a pot, boil it until you can remove all the bones and trash them. Use what's left as the best damned soup base you've ever seen in your life..From there, use your imagination. 0 -
Every time I killed a game animal, I felt a little sad. But no remorse, ever. And I have never killed a male anything: always does or cows. What the hell they taste better. And you can't eat the horns.
You did fine.0 -
remorse show that your human and of a good spirit, as long as you take a animals life for food, and not waste, or to put it out of misery, if injured or sick, you are within the graces the creator has established. enjoy your hunt and successful kill and remember that all kills must be with purpose. congratulations [;)][:D] 0 -
Bottom-line...If U think you are a "bad hunter" you are.In 1969, when i gut-shot my first deer, my pop gutted it and told me not to worry.
So i didn't.
Their was no "internutt" back then....
Jeff0 -
quote:Am I a bad hunter?
No, but go here and you will find the difference.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=270833
Huh, it got poofed. ????0 -
Ah. Good point. I don't feel bad anymore. A lot of guys at work congratulated me and gave me a hard time for shooting Bambi. I know they wouldn't have given me a good ribbing if it wasn't OK.
And thanks to all of you who reassured me. I appreciate the kind words of wisdom.[8D]0 -
WTG! Congrats. 0 -
Vegetarian - Native American for "bad hunter"
So, no, you're not a bad hunter in the classic definition. Now, you've felt bad about taking something you would rather not have, and that takes a good conscience. So, I'd say you are a great hunter.
Life is a learning experience.0 -
You did absolutely nothing wrong. As long as you followed all of your state laws taking a doe, even a young one is perfectly ethical, and legal.
Brian
P.S. enjoy the harvest and congratulations[:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by Frogbert
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.
+1[:D][:D][:D][8D][8D][8D]0 -
Congrats on your first deer. You followed the law and it was a one shot kill. Great.
Also, the smaller deer are easier to drag out!! Or even put in your game pouch!!!![:)]0 -
callktulu: I am serious about the inside straps. The best meat on the deer.
They are small, on a deer the size you shot the two of them might weigh a pound.
They are parellel to the backstraps, but found just below the spine, inside the body cavity. You have to gut the deer to get them. They are located right along the spine. They are like the backstraps, only much smaller.
Plus, if you have a dog or cat, they love the liver and heart.
I know that neck didn't look like much, but it is 90 percent meat. Bake it the way I described with the Lipton soup and you can pick meat off of it for days. Even on that little deer you had a 3 or 4 pound roast.
Venison tends to be dry, but a roast baked in this fashion is quite moist, and delicious.0 -
I have pictures of the hunt and the field dressing. Is it OK for me to post them here, or do we have rules against that kind of gratuitous image? 0 -
Post 'em up. I'd like to see them. No rules aginst it. 0 -
OK, here goes:
View from the deer to the box stand. You can just make it out in the center of the tree line. About 80 yards, maybe? I'm a poor judge of distance. Need to get a range finder for Christmas![;)]
Here's the shot of the doe.
And here's me after we skinned and quartered her. Nopte the blood on my face. Apparently I'll never successfully shoot another deer if I don't undertake that ritual. It's cool, i was down with it![8D]
I know when my mom sees that shot she's going to say "Stand up straight!"[:D] What was I thinking? SLOUCHER!!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Marc1301
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.[;)]
you sound like my dad. rest his soul. i must agree with you 100%. couldn't have said it better myself[;)]0 -
I wouldn't spend any money on a rangefinder unless you have someplace to hunt that offers shots over 250 yards. Depending, of course, on what cartridge you're using.
Congrats on your first deer. Hunting is a blast, isn't it?[:D] (no pun intended)0
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