Got my first buck!!!!!!

[Hotdoger]

Got my first buck of my life. Hunted several years in Florida dogs. Shot at a few running deer but never hit one. Hunted in Lower Alabama several times never saw one.
This year I changed my life and decided to finally hunt in In. After moving here 15 years ago. (Bucket List!)

I missed a 8 point in shotgun season. But learned a valuable lesson. IE. shot the ammo you site your gun in with!!!!

I have seen at least 50 does this shot gun and muzzleloader season. But only 4 bucks. I have been waiting on a buck for my first deer.

Sat. afternoon I was in a treestand in Warren County and saw 9 deer come from a corner of the field to right of my tree stand. Saw the biggest buck through the binoculars, put them down pulled the muzzleloader up , sighted him in and shot. It was approx an 80 yard shot. + or - my
missteps.
He took off to the edge of the field then stopped, stood there for several minutes. Then went in the woods aways, down a ravine and laided down.
I waited a while. Got a call from my daughters boy friend across the field in another stand asking me if I hit him. I said I thought it was a good shot. We waited a while, then met and tracked a large blood trail into the woods. and found the deer expired.
I shot him without a scope. The placement I was not happy with. It was more of a center body shot. 4-6 inches farther foward would have been much better. I think it would have droped him where he stood.
I hunt in some dense woods and in open fields . I now know I should have different wepon setups for the dense bush and for longer open field shots.
And knowing the proper shot limits of each.

BTW. The deer has a weird rack. 4 on on side and 3 on the other.

Now I have to figure out how to post a picture.
Any help out there?

[Cwood]

Congrats!!!!


Here is a how to post pics......

http://ingunowners.com/forums/break_..._tutorial.html


until then..................

[techres]

Congrats! Was the meat still harvestable?

[Hotdoger]

[antsi]

Nice buck. Congrats!

[oldrookie]

Nice job on a good looking buck...congrats. I am back to the bow and still looking.

[Hotdoger]

Originally Posted by techres

Congrats! Was the meat still harvestable?

Took it to a processor here in Lebanon. She said it looked fine.
We dressed it near a water supply. Lifted it up with a tractor front endloader and chain. Then washed the cavity out.
It was the first time dressing one too. My hunting partner (DaughtersBF)
did most of it.

[Cbarnett]

Great job and nice buck!

[spainy79]

Nice buck!

Originally Posted by Cbarnett

I may be way off base but sounds like some more time shooting under the conditions you hunt in may help. Its important to practice shooting under all conditions. Hot, cold, rain, morning, high noon, all these things will affect you and your weapon. Even the clothes your wearing. If you've only shot your weapon from a bench on a warm day wearing a T shirt , you may be way off target wearing winter gear and shooting in 20 degree weather from a tree stand. ( Not implying this is you )

CBarnett is on the money with that statement. I did not get the best shot on the buck I killed this year with my bow. All of my target time was done in warmer weather and never did attempt it with my heavy camo coveralls on. I was getting good at shooting a bow while being attacked by mosquitoes.

[jennybird]

Congratulations Hotdoger! Nice buck! That "buck fever" is somethin else isn't it?

Sounds like you managed a gut-shot. It happens. Not a big deal if you get it cleaned out quickly, which it sounds like you did. Worst part is that it tends to smell pretty bad if the stomach is punctured.

You dun good!!!