What did you kill your first deer with?

[Walter45Auto]

American Rifleman TV rerunning the top10 hunting rifles inspired me to ask. I killed my first deer with a Winchester model 70 in .270 Winchester. Borrowed it from a friend of mine, who was in the stand with me at the time.

[blackwolfe]

!966 Plymouth Fury I.  318 caliber.

[GUNS-R-US]

Remington 1100 12ga. 00buck

At less than 10 yards 1 pellet found it's mark with a lung shot! Where the other 8 pellet went to I haven't a clue!!

[JSC3ATLCSO]

The only deer I have killed is after I hit it with my truck I emptied my Walther 40 cal into it with gold dot hollow points.  Then a hispanic guy stopped and asked if he could have a salvage tag for the deer and my investigator issued it.

2 others I hit were killed by responding LE.

[Dakotaranger]

Model '94 .30-30.  And it was some good eating.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

Weatherby Mk. V in 30.06 when I was 13. About seventy yards out, hunting with my granddad. Good times.
FQ13 .

[Rob10ring]

I've never done it. Is there some way to get mentored in? I have a pretty good idea how to take one down, but not how to stalk it and especially not what to do once it's down. There are actually deer around here, but no hunting. My dad was supposedly always pretty good at all of that stuff, but never really liked the taste, so he lost interest. He's moving to UT this summer and says he's going to get an elk. I might have to tag along.

[Dakotaranger]

I've never done it. Is there some way to get mentored in? I have a pretty good idea how to take one down, but not how to stalk it and especially not what to do once it's down. There are actually deer around here, but no hunting. My dad was supposedly always pretty good at all of that stuff, but never really liked the taste, so he lost interest. He's moving to UT this summer and says he's going to get an elk. I might have to tag along.

Yeah there is a way to get mentored in.  The way I hunt looks more like I'm running a standard search pattern rather than stalking.  I know the signs to look for, but never really was taught how to do it properly because dad wasn't a hunter.  So, I'm basically a trial and error 'hunter'

[fightingquaker13]

Its actually pretty easy, assuming the area isn't overpressured and you aren't after a trophy, just a legal animal. I am an unapolgetic meat hunter and will cheerfully let you have a ten point buck in exchnge for a doe or spike, but that's a personal thing. The deal is this. Deer are big rabbits. The require water, sheltered bedding areas and browsing areas. They tend to travel the same paths at the same time of day. Look for game trails and tracks, hair on oaks, scrapes, scat etc. They like comfort. Sunny hill sides on cold days, thick stuff in wind and rain, prefer edges both of terrain and time of day. You will rarely see a whole deer. You will see movemnt, a horzontal line (uncomman in nature, a slightly lighter shade of dun etc.). Park yourself by a watering hole at dusk with a view of a game trail. Move slowly and quietly through bedding areas mid-day (paying attention to wind). Park yourself between feeding areas and bedding areas at dawn. The key is just scouting a bit before you hunt (if not in your huting rea, just in one where deer are common so you learn the game) and buying a good pair of binoculars (8-to 10 power). Look twice before you move and move slowly. Still drizzly days when the leaves are wet on the ground and the branches quiet (wear fleece and just get wet so you're quiet) are a gift from God. Practice a few weekends this summer and you'll be good in the fall.
FQ13 who will note this applies tho white tails and hogs. I have zero experience on Mule deer or Elk (Moose, I will leave to Palin as that is just too damn much work and my freezer isnt that big ).
 

[Hazcat]

30cal m-1 carbine