I took my first deer during the gun season of 1996 if I remember right. It was a doe. She crept up on me to about 20 yards. I was sitting on the ground overlooking a river bottom about 10 yards off railroad tracks.
It had been shortly after light when she came walking along the top of the cliff cut into the hill the tracks ran through. I was basically sitting on the trail she would have continued to follow if I hadn't put a 12 gauge slug dead center in her. She was facing right at me.
Well, I forgot to mention that this was my first year deer hunting as well, so, when she bolted off like lightning and started down the side of the cliff towards the river bottom, I emptied the chamber on her. I didn't know I hit her on the first shot. Shot 5 times at her total, before the 3 round restriction, and hit her a total of 3 times...2 of which were on the run, down the cliff, full speed. She dropped and died at the bottom of the cliff.
Adrenaline was pumping!
It was the following year, same identical location, I took my first buck with a gun as well. A small 7.
It wasn't until 2005, 5 years after I picked up bow hunting, that I had taken my first deer with a bow. It happened to be a buck at that. 9-point.
Great memories made and ones that you will remember for years to come. The buck stories are a little longer because I documented them well in a journal. Maybe I'll share them later.
Is there a 'journal' thread where everyone can share stories of their past experiences?