Topic: Got my first deer

[Cvillechopper]

So, I've been going out into the woods off and on since I was about 14.  Spent a couple seasons going with my uncle when I was in highschool, went a few more in college with a family friend, never saw a damn thing I could shoot at so I kinda gave up.  3 years ago I decided to start back up.  Bought a .270 and went into the woods.  Still nothing. 
Last year I asked my father-in-law about bows since I was thinking about buying a used one to start hunting on our property (no gun county).  I'd like to say it was purely due to my interest in various skills and not my wife's reaction to me getting lost in the woods on opening day for general firearms while hunting on public lands but I might be fibbing a bit if I did.  He sends me one of his cast-offs.  Since he's a competition archer his cast off is a high-end Matthews so I've got incentive to really not embarrass myself.  I'd been practicing as much as I could before the wreck in June and was able to start slinging a few arrows about 4 weeks ago.  Feeling pretty confident I got all my gear ready for open day of archery season in VA.
Oct. 1 was a nice cool morning.  I got geared up and climbed into the tree stand at the top of the property and spent a couple hours listening to deer tromping through the brush but none that I could get a shot on so I came in and we went about our day.  My mom came into town to visit with the little one (16 months now) and we had a nice day.  After dinner and bath time I casually announced that I was "going outside for a few" right about sundown.  The wife did NOT notice me sneaking my bow out with me.
5 minutes later I see a doe in the distance make a turn directly across my ideal shot path.  She crossed into the clearing about 35 yds from my porch (where I was stealthily standing in the most conspicuous clothes you can imagine) and I took the shot.  Not a perfect shot (ended up spining her) but no one had told me that they sometimes end up hunching down at the sound of the string.  I ended up having to put 2 more through her to make it as quick as I could and actually choked her out at the end to get it over with since the wife didn't want me cutting her throat in the yard.  For me, this was not the ideal way to kill my first deer but there was no way I was going to be a hunter that lets the kill take longer than absolutely necessary and my wife (having grown up helping to process her dad's kills) actually found it kind of endearing that I was telling the doe that I was sorry for this taking longer than it should have.  Sentimental?  A touch but it is my first kill after all.
Did I mention yet that the wife was NOT happy about the timing of this.  Mom was still in town, I haven't gutted a deer in over 15 years, and it's not cold enough out to hang her and process tomorrow.  Luckily I find a place about an hour away that'll do it all and load her up for the drive (the deer, not wife).  This was all last Saturday, Oct 1.  I got the processed meat back on Friday, bought an upright freezer, and we had tacos with the burger tonight.  They were good.
I didn't go out this weekend.  Instead I stayed in and watched several videos on field dressing, skinning, and processing deer.  If I get one next weekend when I head out I'll be ready.

Anyone have a recommendation for a good skinning knife? 

James

[fmctm1sw]

My uncle used to make jerky from deer.  WAY good.  RIP Uncle Andy...

[Duke McDukiedook]

Good on you! I got tired of falling asleep in trees and seeing deer in the back of other people's trucks.
I dove hunt instead, a lot more exciting and keeps me awake.

[Robbnc]

Good on you! I got tired of falling asleep in trees and seeing deer in the back of other people's trucks.
I dove hunt instead, a lot more exciting and keeps me awake.

Same here.  I deer hunted from age 10 til I was 42 but finally got tired of getting up early and freezing my arse off. You get to do a
lot more shooting dove hunting.  Besides, I could probably kill a deer with a rock, there were 9 standing in my backyard this
morning and they didn't even flinch when me and the dog went out.

[Bob Wessner]

Gave up deer hunting years ago. Nothing wrong with it and glad you cashed-in, but I migrated ( ) to birds also, grouse and woodcock. A flushing grouse continues to get my heart pounding big time. 

[BobbyR]

Congratualtions! I almost collected two Deer myself yesterday but I was able to stop in time.

They are like fleas on a dog around here.

[kirkn]

Congratualtions! I almost collected two Deer myself yesterday but I was able to stop in time.

They are like fleas on a dog around here.

Boy, ditto that.  Every other morning I walk the neighborhood.  Just before dawn.  Never see less than half a dozen.

Had 3 in my back yard the other day.  My old dog sauntered out into the back yard, had a casual look around, peed and came back in.  Deer looked up, kept and eye on her, but never left till after she came back inside.

[faux fiddy]

 finally got tired of getting up early and freezing my arse off.

That was my only experience, dropped off before dawn, sitting very still and freezing cold. Didn't take  a shot.

Never could justify taking a moose, just too much to deal with for one, and no cold storage infrastructure at the time.  Packed a hind quarter out of the swamp a time or two, got some meat out of that deal.

[CrankyOldGuy]

A friend of mine had a van we ended up calling "Deerslayer 1".  Nothing worse than looking out the front window (at night) and having a deer looking back at you while you are doing 50 mph.

You may be asking why we called it "Deerslayer 1", but that's another story.

Harry O.

[Radam]

Congrats! I'm guessing you were using a compound bow? I killed my first deer when I was 10 with a crossbow. Pretty much a gun that shoots an arrow (bolt). I haven't been hunting in around 10 years now. I've been practicing with a longbow for a while now so I can try to get one with it. My dad builds longbows so I've shot them most of my life, but he gave me a new one not long ago to hunt with. I've gotten good enough to put 4 out of 5 arrows in about a 4-5 inch circle at about 20 yards, so I think I'm ready to hunt. Hopefully I'll be posting a pic of me with a dead deer and a big smile soon.

[coldwave007]

Anyone have a recommendation for a good skinning knife? 

Congrats!!  For a good knife, I'm partial to the ColdSteel Master Hunter series.  I hunt moose and that's one of the few knives I've found that'll keep a good edge with their thick hides. 

[bender01]

Good job! Season here is 2 months old and still nothing for me yet. Probably the loggers clearcutting 60 acres in a semi circle 3 weeks ago beside me didnt help, but the deer are back in my area...just at night!
  Skinning knife? Just the sharpest you have. I use an old Uncle Henry 7" Shrade lock back. . I do have a newer Gerber but the Henry is always first out.
 If you have access to a 150 Qt cooler they work well to process deer. Keep some large chuncks of ice frozen in containers and break them in the bottom of the cooler. Drees the animal into 1/4s and lay a garbage bag down on the broken block ice. Set the 1/4s and loins on the plastic. Lay out the rest of the trimmings also. Tip the cooler on an agle with the plug out to drain.
 I only wait 36 hours to process it. Shoot sunday night, grind slice and freeze tuesday am.
 I also hit the grocery store butcher for beef fat. They will usually give it to you. Makes the burger that much better. Some use pork but Im leary about medium rare pork additives

[70CB750]

Congratulations!    I can fully understand what you are talking about on the as quick death as possible.

I need to yet kill a deer with bow, this is the fifth year I hunt and so far no deer gave me the opening I hope for.
But our area - Fauquier - is open to MZ and rifles and everything and I always hunt with the biggest weapon they allow me.  I prefer the rifle, since it kills fastest, the MZ is next and bow is really low on my scale.   We hunt till the end of March too over here.

For a knife I invested in Puma and I am very happy with it, use it for skinning and butchering too. 

[Rocking-M]

pfffftt. I got one once with a Ducati ST4, now that's real sport hunting.

[boatsdickson]

Congratz on the deer and thankyou for the merciful death. As a virgin deerslayer thats my biggest concern. My wife bought me a skinning set by Gerber with a large hunting knife and a hooking blade for skinning. No model #s or pics to offer you. Good luck with whatever you choose.

I love going out hunting. The super early morning coupled with bitter cold and hyper senses as the sky turns from black to dark blue. Oh the perfect time of day. Ive only been out 2 - 3 seasons and never taken the shot yet but my kill will happen next year when we move to the country. 22 acres in a valley surrounded by high walls all around. Already practicing my jerky making.....Boats