How many years?

[azmulyhuntr]

I have been reading a lot of posts lately talking about how many deer people have killed over the years and the Big Bucks year after year. I got me thinking back to the start of my hunting. So I was wondering how old were you when you killed your first Mule Deer, how many years had you been hunting before you killed one, and what was it?

I am kind embarrassed to admit this but I am 30 years old and still havent harvested a mule deer. I started hunting when I was 16 but was learning as I went. Nobody in my family was in to hunting so I was on my own. I had a couple close calls when I was 16-18. After high school my priorities were not in the right spot so there wasnt much hunting durring those years. Then when I turned 21 I joined the Army and thats where I have been ever since. I have only made it home to AZ to hunt Mule Deer once since then and passed on 3 fork horned and a 3 pointer missing one antler. So this winter I an hopeing that I can finaly make things happen. I havent had the chance to scout but I will be in the area a week or so ahead of time and have had a lot of pointers and advice from some great people here on MM.

So lets hear it. Think back to the start of it all.

Thanks,

Jason

He loves his country best who strives to make it best. ~Robert G. Ingersoll

 

[sageadvice]

azmuley, your case is nothing to be embarrassed about. Thank You for your service to our country!

Probably like many here, i started off the easy way, hunting on property that was posted and owned by my family. At a very early age 45 years ago, i learned that getting a deer wasn't that hard to do on the ranch so i started trying to get the biggest bucks that i possibly could. Such was life and not until much later did i realize just how good i had it.

It sounds like you didn't have that same opportunity, many don't, so there should be no real responsibility felt or otherwise to compete with what others similar to myself have done or do. Just get out to the range and get good and familiar with the equipment that you have or will get, gain confidence that you have the needed ability's, and then try really hard to find a bit of decent deer holding country not too close to roads or hunted by a lot of people that will/can be hunted most every year even though you may hunt other places or areas as well. Learn that area well as your home or core area!! That little or lightly hunted area that you will call your own will pay off big-time for you through the years.

Your time has come if that/this is what you wish to do. Enjoy the hunt, respect the animal, our public lands, others around you, and make sure you post up that good buck when you do finally fulfill your wish!

Joey

 

[one_dryboot]

My first buck was a 17 inch 3 point shot the first year I could hunt. That was 14 years ago.
My thinking is this, Every year I have to kill a buck bigger then the year before. If its not bigger I let it walk and keep hunting. Well the first few years were easy. but then I started shooting decent 4 points and then it was a challenge but I have still managed to shoot a bigger deer most years.
MY thinking a changed a little, I will still hunt for a monster deer bigger then my biggest. But if I come across a 180+ buck I will most likely shoot it because that is a awesome deer.
Also depends on where im hunting. If im hunting N. utah public landI would shoot s 170 buck all day long.




<Stu Padasso Pro Staff

<Dixie Nourmous Field Staff

 

[arrowone4me]

1963 - 15yrs - 10x8 buck - 10" wide and 8" tall. Still have the monarch and pictures to prove it.

 

[gb22]

I killed my first deer in 1964, when I was 13. It was the first year I got to carry a gun and it was a doe. My first buck was 3 years later, a very generic 3x4. I thought it was Godzilla's big brother. I still remember a more experienced hunter who stopped and let me "tell him the whole story.....he even said he was jealous"; ADDED TO A FANTASTIC DAY!

It is now many seasons later and I've taken approximately 85 deer, three of which are typicals that exceed 200 inches. Still looking for a truly "killer" non-typical.


Within the shadows, go quietly.

 

[kawboy]

Arrowone4me. I want to see those pics,
My first buck I shot a 2x3 that was 19in wide, thanks to the help of my younger brother and good buddy. I was 16. Still one of the most memorable hunts I have been on



I'll tell you who it was . . . it was that D@MN Sasquatch!

 

[chase]

I am 27 and, like you, have yet to harvest my first mule deer.
I grew up hunting whitetails in tx. In earlier years I shot anything with horns but more recently i hold out for big mature bucks. I now have a couple of 160's under my belt.
I started hunting muleys when i moved to AZ. I have passed on many small deer with my bow and missed a nice one. I want to hold out for a nice mature muley even if it takes me several more years. I am building points for a strip tag but hope to shoot one with my bow before then. No shame man, keep trying!

 

[never_satisfied]

sageadvice said it best .Thank you for the serves to our country
I started hunting when I was 12 years old and harvested my first buck at 13(2x2 about 10" wide)Then went 7 years before taking my second buck.

 

[azmulyhuntr]

Hey thanks to all of you for the support. Its great to hear everbodies stories. I feal pretty confident this year. I am currently dployed so all of my scouting has been by the internet, word of mouth, and maps. I still feal realy good about this year. Even if I dont kill anything just the time I get to spend outdoors relaxing is all worth it.

Lets keep them coming. Lets hear about your first deer. When was it, how old were you, and how long had you been hunting.

Thanks
Jason



He loves his country best who strives to make it best. ~Robert G. Ingersoll

 

[Bura Nut]

Jason, when/where is your tag? If at all possible I will help. I am in Mesa. I have a Nov hunt on the Kaibab, but maybe I can look around or gather info for you. If at all possible I will go with you, glass etc.........shoot me a email either here or at [email protected]

I shot my first deer a doe in WA state at the age of 11..........Thanks, Allen Taylor......

 

[justr_86]

I've been on my dad heels for as long as I can remember. I pushed kawboys first buck to him when I was 12. Killed my first buck when I was 14. He was a little tiny 2x3 buck closing night after missing I don't know how many other bucks that season. I am to the stage of eating tag soup unless its bigger than my last. My biggest buck to date is a 26 inch wide 3x4. Hunting here and in nebraska I have killed 9 3 points, one 2x3, 2 3x4's and 1 4 point with a rifle and 1 2 point with my bow. I love to hunt elk, well I love to hunt anything but I really really love to hunt deer with this year being especially hard after stumbleing on 3 huge bucks! I'm very very limited on time so I can't really hunt them. Hopefully they get left alone for next year, then they're in trouble!

 

[Ed]

First deer was a coues deer buck when I was 23 from 35B and the next year I killed a mule deer buck in 17A. I'm 42 now with about 7 or so mule deer since then and two more coues deer.

 

[SPIRITELK]

my first is a 5x4 28 wide 30 tall. didnt have him scored until i was 36. 195 grose 185 net. the 6 inch kicker off his g3 didnt help the score. he was enterred in the sunset sporting goods b b contest. he held first place for 8 days then was washed outa contention. dang i wanted that baby blue cj.

 

[NV4Life]

My first buck was when I was 12. It was a 23" wide 3 point.

Spiritelk - you need to share some pics of your 30" tall buck.

 

[NotNew]

Sounds like you have been having fun with it anyway.

I started hunting when I was 32. No one in my family had ever hunted and I just decided I wanted to give it a try.
Got lucky and killed my first buck the first year, a neck shot at 300 yards (like I said lucky). He fell so fast I thought I missed, good thing I went over and took a look just to be sure.....I was such a novice I did not even have a knife with me...had to drive back to town to get one.

Do more looking than walking, you will get one.

 

[Zeke]

My first deer was a doe in 1967 (I was 14 yrs old). I have not missed many years of taking a deer home.

There have been way too many harvested to recount and probably too many to post here without being called on the carpet. All LEGAL but from several states in some years.

But.... I'll bet some hunters on here could blow our minds with the number of deer they have harvested. I'm not sure we need to know.

Good luck to all this harvest season

Zeke