My 2008 gun opener - buck down!


Squirrelhunter91

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I hunted up at the property this past weekend with my brother and dad. We were out to get my brother his first deer and possibly get me my first gun deer. Despite the rainy and warm opener we had throughout most of Southern NY, we were out there and the deer were moving!! My brother and dad were covered in does all morning, but no bucks. My brother didn't have a doe tag so he had to wait for a buck. My dad had a doe tag but he was trying to get my brother to shoot before he shoots one. My bro was texting me telling me about the does he had in front of him. I didn't see a deer until 8:38am. I sat alone in a 2 man ladder stand on the far end of the property and the only deer I had come in was a lone spike. Because the woods were wet he snuck up on me from behind and I didn't see him til he was 50 yards to my right. There was maybe 7-10 seconds total between when I saw the deer and when I shot it. My Mossberg 500 20ga with the slug barrel shooting Brenneke slugs dropped him on the spot. He required a follow up shot as he was still alive on the ground. I shot him in the neck from the stand again. Turns out in the heat of the moment I forgot the ballistics of the slug. It's 1.5" high at 50 yards and because I aimed for the center of the lungs, that 1.5" high put my first shot right in the spine.

He's not a huge buck but he's my first deer with the gun and obviously my first gun buck. I had 10 days from opening day Nov. 15th to shoot a buck smaller than the 3 point antler restrictions up there. Hunters under 17 years old are exempt from these restrictions so I took advantage of my late birthday (Nov 25th). :) Anyway.. sorry to ramble, but I had a great weekend and wanted to share.

Also.. this buck did have a slight limp to him while he was walking, turns out that his front right hoof was busted and healed over. See pics below..

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