First Deer Shoot.........

delboy · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject: First Deer Shoot.........

Hi guys, I'm back around again (groans from the club....) and went on my first deer stalk last Friday. I went with Deermanager on his ground and would like to say what a hell of a nice guy he is. We set up a target and, using his .243 I managed to punch two holes about 1/2" apart at 100yds, which was good enough for him to let me go on and shoot the Fallow deer that I wanted. We crept around and mooched around, saw a lovely big old stag and then, after about an hour or so he spotted a couple of promising targets. We crept up to within 200yds of them and I settled to take my shot. Peering through the scope in the moonlight, I could just make out the outline of the animal. I settled the crosshairs on it's chest, paused with my finger just touching the trigger and then .................... slid the safety back on! I knew I could hit it but I wasn't confident of hitting it just WHERE I wanted to - so I passed over the shot. Maybe I was right, maybe I was wrong - but I wasn't about to gutshoot an animal on my first outing just so that I could tell everyone what a great hunter I am. I don't need it that badly. For me, there just wasn't enough light to be certain. Deermanager took it very well under the circumstances and agreed with my feelings on the matter. So......... for all of you that remember that I promised you pics of my first, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a couple of weeks until I go again as the season still has until the end of the month to run.
Driving back, we came across a field with 6-8 deer in it - lit up by the headlights. I was offered the shot but they were only 60-70yds away and frozen in the lights. I passed up on that one too, it would have been like shooting fish in a barrel and that's not what I went there for. I could have arranged to have a tame one tied to a tree and gone and shot it from three feet away if that was the name of the game. I guess a lot of you will think me dumb for not shooting, tough if you do as to me at least, there has to be SOME sporting aspect to it - if not then I might as well have just bought 50lbs of venison from him and put a round through it. Anyway, I still enjoyed myself and we will be out again pretty soon. I think there might also be a budding friendship as a by-product of what I did, or didn't, do on the day - which is worth far more to me than a wounded animal that couldn't have been found for twelve hours. Deermanager - thank you very much for an outstanding afternoon and I'll be back soon.
Del.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: First Deer Shoot.........

Howdy delboy. Don't for one second think you did the wrong thing by not shooting. I have alot more respect for a man that will pass on a leary shot then shoot when the conditions are not right. You respect the animal your hunting that's something to be proud of. My hats off to ya Salute

.
Joe

ps Welcome back

coyotehunter_1 · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject: Re: First Deer Shoot.........

delboy, I'll second Joe's comments.

Two thumbs up to you.

Chet

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

1) Its Awsome you found a friend / good place to hunt over there

2) Kudos on passing on a shot you arent comfortable with... EXPECIALLY under peer pressure Smile

I hope your return trip nets you something large and out of the ordinary.

-DallanC

Vince · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:06 am Post subject: Re: First Deer Shoot.........

Delboy, I support wholeheartedly your decision not to take a shot you weren't comfortable with, well done....better a missed opportunity than a badly injured animal.

The first time I went deer hunting, and it also was fallow, I did the same thing. Unfortunately the guy I went with gave me hell, but he was suffering badly from "buck fever". He came around later after settling down.

Congratulations on the budding friendship and good luck on your next outing.

Cheers, Vince

deermanager · Member Joined: Jun 17, 2005 Posts: 50

Hi there Deer manager here!

Del proved himself on range to be very competant shot, able to shoot a group under half an inch just lying prone off the bi-pod. We did it this way as due to the kind of terrain we would be hunting in, this would be the most likely scenario for a shot. It was clear Del had honed his skills alright! So without wasting any more ammo and time as it was now that lovely time in the evening when you know at somewhere on the edge of a wood there will be deer feeding on the grass and crops.

Like Del said numerous annimals were seen, and there was a tiny window of opportunity for a shot which sadly got tighter and tighter as we had to crawl a good couple of hundred yds which by the time we had done it the light had beaten us! As a true sportsman Del declined from shooting and i respected his decision giving me confidence in the guy that when he shoots its one shot one kill!