Thread: First deer

Sometimes it's hard to get that perfect weekend where everything is lined up with weather, work, sports, family commitments so the other weekend we finally had an opportunity so we took it although the weather wasn't the greatest we figured we'll just go and have an adventure and there's more to hunting than just shooting!

We got access to a new property which I was keen to explore and see what's about.

At the end of the day we get to look over some new country and if we see or get something then it's a bonus!

After meeting up with the farmer he showed us a map of the property pointing out to where the deer are. He drove us in his ute up to the back of the property to a large shed and pointing us in the direction and left us to it also pointing out to where some Fallow hang out which I was keen to get into as there one tasty critter.

We walked along the fence line as was instructed with the kids behind me thinking if we get onto a deer Liam who is only 12 will be up for first shot as he's yet to shoot a deer, he's been on plenty of hunts but hasn't yet shot a deer.

The weather was a little miserable as it had been raining hard for the past few days and the paddocks were water logged.

We had only walked 500 mtrs from the shed along some bushy areas interspersed amongst the paddocks when I spotted a red hind 80 metres away looking at us.

Busted I thought as I raised the rifle prepared to shoot her but I really wanted Liam to shoot her so by the time I got Liam set up with the rifle she wondered off.

No biggy I said... all part of the game so we wondered on another 200 mtrs where you could look down into a grassy broken bush type gully and sure enough two hinds were there.

I got Liam all set up with the .284 and after a bit of coaching in an awkward position he was set up ready for a shot but they were standing there facing towards us.

I told Liam to wait for a broad side shot as I watched both the hinds thinking to myself please shoot the one on the right as she's smaller than the one on the left

Finally the moment came and the one on the right obliged and presented a broad side shot and Liam fired, the hind lurched to a heart shot before disappearing into the bushes.

Many a father knows this feeling when their son/daughter shoots their first deer as it's a moment to remember, a moment of joy, pride, satisfaction and many other words.... it's just a BIG WOW moment!

We walked down or should I say slipped and slided our way to where we last saw the deer and sure enough just a few metres inside the bush was Liam's first deer.



After still taking it all in wishing I had bought a tripod so we could have that father and son's photo I started the butchery process thinking this will be a hard carry hoping my dodgy shoulder will be ok with the weight and in the meantime it started to drizzle!

While I was gutting the hind I looked back up to where we were and there was another hind standing there looking at use.

Jamie said, "Can I shoot it?" to which I said... go on... give it a crack knowing full well he won't miss as it was only 180 mtrs away.

He grabbed the rifle, got set up and chambered a round and shot her in the chest, I expected the hind to run off but she walked around in circles and then fell over as I've never seen a deer do that before when shot.

I thought to myself... I'm really gonna be fucked carrying these deer and we've only walked 800 mtrs from the shed so I hope my dodgy shoulder will hold up!

I told the boys to head up to the second deer and Jamie who is only 14 and bless his cotton socks used his initiative and started butchering the deer as I struggled with the weight of this deer on my back slipping and sliding in the mud which doesn't help in these situations.



After getting up to the boys we decided that I'd continue up to the shed with the first deer and that we would cut the second one into pieces where Jamie would carry the back quarters, Liam the back steaks, rifle and bumbag and we'd come back for the rest.



Finally we got everything at the shed and it was a great achievement with a lot of venison.

From here it was late afternoon where we had maybe an hour of light left so we headed off through the property getting to see some of the land scape. We didn't see any more deer but there were no shortage of deer sign about.

Later back at home instead of processing everything myself I dropped it off to the local butcher who turned everything into steaks, sausages and mince where we ended up filling our freezer (small one) well and truly but we never wanted to keep all the meat and prefer to share it around.

The boys and I made up some "care packages" of steaks, sausages and mince which we dropped off to 6 different families we know of some of whom are in much need of meat with finances being tight due to Covid and some people loosing jobs.

I felt this was an important thing for the boys to learn by teaching empathy and caring for your community so it was the boys who handed over the care packages to the families... not me.

As good as it gets.

Top job, that first deer is such an important one to get the interest fired up and create a life long interest in hunting and the outdoors. Great idea sharing some of the meat to people who need it.

Memory making at the finest, well done 7/10ths.....i am fortunate enough to have a family photo with daughter with her first and son with his first stag shot minutes apart dragged together, minus mum who is not present...was very emotional

Hamish

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Perfect

good on you for passing on the good fortune...

Fantastic, well done lads. All three of ya.

Awesome with a big 'A' right there. Very cool.

Yeah bois!

Awesome too dad!

Well done, great memories for you and the boys.

Very cool. All round fantastic result.

Nice.

Good to see the .284 introducing another young hunter to a whole new world. If he’s like my boy, your conversations will be filled with the appropriate first caliber fir him now! :-)

Awesome result, well done guys.....

Top Marks , great stuff