Everyone remembers their first deer right, I’ll never forget mine, but more so I’ve helped a few people shoot their first deer now which I actually find more enjoyable than shooting them myself. None the less I took my nephew out ( he’s 11 ) for his first deer a couple weekends ago.
He’s been out a few times now, I’ve shot goats while he watched and we have seen a few deer but never managed to get one with him. Im lucky enough to get a private block once a year so thought this would be a great opportunity to get him onto his first deer. as we do, I show him the ropes, the do’s and dont’s repeatedly, even sent him photos of where to aim on a deer. After a couple hours of no luck I sit down with him and watch over a clearing and within two minutes spot a young stag feeding. Being 11, I have to get him laying with the bi pod etc. even before I get the rifle off my shoulder he’s whispering, I’m so excited.
Once he’s all set up he lays a bit of gold on me. Me; remember aim for the shoulder and squeeze the trigger don’t pull it. Him; which shoulder the front one or the back one. I almost burst out in tears.
It was a 115m shot with the 308, in pretty gusty conditions, he’s shot out to 200m at the range and I’m confided he can bag anything 200m and under in the right conditions.
I load him up and he’s good to go. He hits it a little far back but puts the young stag down. I’m not sure who was more excited me or him. Then to top if off, couple of mates turn up with some dogs we catch a 130lb boar right on the road, he sticks it and admits afterwards that he was shitting his pants. A days hunting both of us will never forget.
