So here in just a few, I'm leaving for my first deer hunt of the season. While I hope to shoot a deer, I particularly hope to get my friend that is joining me one.

I grew up hunting, but I actually never shot a deer as a child. For whatever reason, for as much as dad liked to hunt and fish, we never practiced with rifles or distance or what not, so I got to shoot AT a few deer, but never connected. Fast forward a few years to when I was 12 or 13, and my dad got cancer and eventually died when I was 15. During those couple of years, we obviously did not get out too much to hunt. Then, with no dad to take me, and busy with sports in high school, and coaching in college and grad school, I did not get to hunt much during that time except for (very appreciated) pheasant hunts with my good friend and wrestling coach.

Then I moved to Waco 3.5 years ago and was able to get back to hunting, since I was no longer coaching every weekend, and was in a location suitable for hunting. Since I've been here, I have shot my share of does and pigs (no bucks), and have shot a few deer back in my home state of OK. Not to mention plenty of birds here and there. While I wish I could have shared my first deer with someone meaningful, I took it by myself, on my own. Oddly, I appreciate that I was able to do it on my own... in some way is was a way to make my dad proud, even though he never saw me shoot one and is no longer with us.

In any case, when I moved here for school (PhD), one of the other students that came at the same time had a similar situation as me. He had hunted throughout his youth, but he lost his dad while he was in college and had consequently quit hunting. Finally, 3.5 years later, I'm taking him on his first hunting trip in a decade. It is rainy, we are only after does, and hell, we might strike out, but he is excited about it (as am I), and I think it could be a really good opportunity.

All that to say, though I certainly hope I get to put a bullet in a deer and meat in the freezer, I'd much rather see him get some success on his first hunt, back out in the field for the first time without his dad and hunting partner. Whether or not he ever goes again, I don't really care; I just hope that it is meaningful to him, the way it was for me. For that reason, he gets the first shot.

After that, all bets are off. Will post up results later.

I hope you guys get a double.

X2

x3

X4

X5

Well, hate to be a let down. We came home without any meat in the truck.

We got situated around 4:15. We were hunting over a peanut field that was absolutely covered in prints/tracks and deer crap. Around 5, four does came out on the other side of the field, just out of comfortable range. We were told that there was a doe that still had a fawn with her that they would like us not to shoot, and these two were two of the four that came out. The other two left pretty quickly. So, with only the doe and fawn out that we could/would not shoot, we decided to move a bit so that we could shoot anywhere in the field. We got situated in a good spot... and nothing else came out the rest of the evening. Doh!

It was still a good time. My friend made it a point to say that even though we did not get a deer, he more than appreciated the time outdoors, and that he would like to get back out again sometime this season.

So, did not get him a deer, did not get me a deer, but we both had a good time, so I'll count that a win.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm going again Friday with my FIL, so hopefully that will go better. Hope my buddy and I can connect with one later in the season.

Good luck to you both!

You sure had good intentions, that's what matters. Good luck to you and your FIL.

hope you and your FIL bring back a deer good luck

We will certainly give it a go again Fri morning.

For me, watching my kids shoot their firsts was always an experience like no other, but next is taking new hunters whether it be friends of my kids or coworkers, watching them connect for the first time, then watch them get the fever to go again and again. Btw, I mostly duck hunt, but the excitement is the same I believe! Don't give up, because the reward will be that much sweeter!

Got my FIL his first deer. Nice 75-80 yard shot. Double lung shot. Dead Right there. He loved it! Was a spike buck. It was good to share that with him. I shot a small doe as well.

Here is the picture of my FIL's Spike. I did not take a picture with my doe.



I think he had a great time!

spikes taste better than nasty old bucks anyways, congrats!

Congrats!