First time deer hunting

[tangleknot]

I would imagine most people remember their first time out, whether they get a deer or not so I thought I would share my first two times out.

I have been scouting an area for much of the year and picked out a spot that I have seen a lot of signs of deer, in addition to seeing deer. Last night was my first night out and my husband and I hunted together. I whispered way too many questions and "what if's" but I figured it was a great education even if I was being too loud. I had a lot of ?'s that I received a ton of advice on. At one point, I heard tha-thump tha-thump. I turned my head to look over my right shoulder to see a deer making a uturn through the apple trees, busted. ;) It was a great evening, we had a great time.

This afternoon, I went out on my own. I was enjoying the sounds of the outdoors. The squirrels were in a tiff, the cardinals were busy, and the chickadees were as chatty and curious as ever. Next, I heard what I thought were steps coming through the orchard. Sure enough, I can see deer legs coming through. My heart started pounding and I raised my gun slowly. Out of the orchard row steps a small doe, maybe 10 yards in front of me. I decide to pass since it's a very small, young deer. I do have my antlerless permit for this area. I hold my pose so I don't spook the deer since I'm hoping for more to be following.

The deer then starts walking towards me, stepping closer and closer. Puts it's nose to the air, sniffs a few, and does a slight agitated stomp. I think, thats it, I'm busted. Nope, this deer keeps coming closer with it's head kinda bobbing and sniffing. Then it decides to start eating. My stomach makes a really loud growl(shoud have eaten first ;) ) and it lifts it's head. I nearly starting cracking up but held it in. We're maybe 12 feet apart. It's tail was covered with a huge ball of burrs. This goes on for what feels like a long time but probably only lasted 5 minutes.

By now, my arms and shoulders are burning. I don't want to move since I can't see to the right of me to see if there are any more about to come through. Finally, the deer starts walking off and nothing followed and I could relax, lol.

A little bit later, I hear steps coming through the corn North of me. I'm ready! Wow, pheasants make a lot of racket! :) I'm going to try it again in the morning.

[gunrod]

The stomping and head bobbing is an attempt to get you to move. They think something is out of place and can't pick you out so they try to make you move. If you don't move they will go back to what they were doing or walk off.

Nice story. It won't be long and the big fella will be showing you how to gut one.:help:

[trout]

Great story!
I know your going to do just fine now.
Keep us posted, I can hardly wait to read the headlines TANGLEKNOT GETS HER FIRST!
Don't forget the cell phone, so John can drag it out :yikes:

[Thunderhead]

LOL Pretty cool isn't it?
No worries, you'll get your chance. :)

[tangleknot]

The stomping and head bobbing is an attempt to get you to move. They think something is out of place and can't pick you out so they try to make you move.

Almost worked! ;) It was obvious that this deer knew something was there, it was looking in my vicinity and was looking right through me at times. I very slowly closed my eyes for a while since I felt my eyes would stand out and I didn't want to make eye contact. I couldn't believe how close we were!

Thanks for the encouragement Gunrod and Trout! What an exciting evening hunting and observing behavior.

[tangleknot]

LOL Pretty cool isn't it?
:)

;) No doubt, very cool! Is it morning yet? :p

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

Thanks for the great story brings back memories of many hunts of my own. I love being in the outdoors.

Also Im very impressed that you were able to sum up the size of the doe and pass on her when she was the first deer to come in. Thats takes alot. Most would want to get a deer so bad the buck / doe fever would have goten the best of them and they would of pulled that trigger.

Excelent story.

[Steve]

That is cool when you can get that close to them. Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes ;)

[gunrod]

I very slowly closed my eyes for a while since I felt my eyes would stand out and I didn't want to make eye contact. I couldn't believe how close we were!
It's funny you say that. A guy at work who I consider a very good bow hunter says that you don't need to cover your face with paint or a mask because the deer just see the eye movement. He says to squint as the deer have a hard time seeing your eyes move. Seems like a small thing to me but it just might have some merit to it.:SHOCKED: :dizzy:

[Steve]

Oh it definitely has merit. Everytime I have deer come up on me real close and give me a good looking over I close my eyes or squint.

[dinoday]

I totally agree with the eye thing.I had a doe giving me THE STARE last year so when we were eye to eye ,I gave her a blink to see what she'd do and she bolted.....I'm sure she didn't see or smell me...it was the eyes.I like a full head net(I wear glasses) that way they can see the eyes or the glasses.Good luck...you'll get one :)

[tangleknot]

I've been out 3 times since. One time I didn't see anything. Yesterday morning I saw one but I had absolutely no shot before it trotted off.

Tonight, I had 3 come in(about 12 yards in front of me). I was waiting for the doe to take a couple steps more past the apple tree and into the lane when it sensed me and off they went. :chillin:

I about jumped out of my skin a couple of times since the snow was melting and falling off of the branches on me and around me. Back at it in the a.m.

Wierd thing is, every close encounter I have, I get a stupid headache after. :bash: Being a migraine sufferer, I'm wondering if it is the stress of the moment or from my heart pounding (blood vessel migraine.) Who knows. :16suspect

[gunrod]

Wierd thing is, every close encounter I have, I get a stupid headache after. :bash: Being a migraine sufferer, I'm wondering if it is the stress of the moment or from my heart pounding (blood vessel migraine.) Who knows. :16suspectProbably. Practice breathing techniques (if you think about it) to calm yourself. In through the nose, hold for a few seconds and then out through the mouth. It will help when it's time to shoot too.

[trout]

I hope ya get a deer TK.
I take Alegra sp? seems to help me with everything: sinus headache, etc.

[tangleknot]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I'll work on the breathing, kinda like lamaze, lol!!! ;) :tdo12: I'll have to check into the Alegra since I don't like to take my migraine medicine unless I absolutely have to.

[gunrod]

I'll work on the breathing, kinda like lamaze, lol!!! ;) :tdo12:
Like you don't know how to do that.:yikes: :p ;)

[Lil Mama]

umm well i have 4 kids never good get that breathing down right, usually the drugs kicked in and never needed it LOL :lol:...but cant use drugs to hunt so back to learning i go, maybe this time around i get it right

[tangleknot]

Like you don't know how to do that.:yikes: :p ;)

Lol! I think lamaze was calming enough to save a certain individual from being attacked in the delivery room. ;) :lol: Should work wonderful while hunting. :cool:

[wildboar6768]

Great story TK. Keep em comin. Good luck on your first deer. Muzzleloader season is a great time in our neck of the woods.

[tangleknot]

Well, to say I enjoyed deer hunting this year would be an understatement. I have gone out morning and evening the past few days and have seen deer each time. They have been all around me, with no consistency as to which way they will come in or what way they will travel. I had a nice clear shot tonight that I didn't take since I was not ready. The deer came in from an unexpected direction and by the time I compensated, it was too late. Each time is a lesson. One of these times everything will come together. ;)

I'm going to start shopping around for a bow for next season and also a muzzle loader. :) Good luck Wildboar.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the time outside as much as I have!

[Shoeman]

The deer came in from an unexpected direction and by the time I compensated, it was too late. Each time is a lesson. One of these times everything will come together. ;)

You will learn that deer are sneaky bastards. That's why we kill 'em. :)

Glad you enjoyed your hunt. By the time the boys come of age, you guys will put a serious dent in the population

[chromium]

I'm going to start shopping around for a bow for next season and also a muzzle loader.

Don't forget the fertilizer for the money tree!! :whistle:

[trout]

10 to 1 odds you'd better find that tree fast :)

[tangleknot]

I've been out for late antlerless the last 3 days in Lapeer, mornings and afternoons. I've seen tons and tons of tracks but no deer in the SW corner of the property I'm hunting. As many deer as there are, it's kind of difficult to figure out any rhyme or reason to their activity do to the layout of the 80 acres. Easy travel for them in all directions since the tree plantings are in rows with no brush. ;)

I decided to hunt the NE corner this afternoon and get a good view of the acreage and possibly see where they are coming in at during daylight, if at all. Well, 3 come bounding in to my West so I get this idea that I'll walk up and hope they will cut across ahead. :bash: I take maybe 15 steps and hear something in the ditch behind me......Yep, two deer coming through that would have passed about 20 feet west of where I was waiting originally. Of course, we now acknowledge each others presence and wave goodbye. Me by hand, and two white tails in return.

I just have to laugh. :chillin: Back at it tomorrow!

[Thunderhead]

DOH !!!!!! :) LOLOL

Fun ain't it ?
Hang in there, your seeing deer........
Your bound to come face to face with one anytime, which will probably be when you least expect it. :)

" As many deer as there are, it's kind of difficult to figure out any rhyme or reason to their activity do to the layout of the 80 acres. "

Look for valleys, or some contour in the ground that will drop them down from the average line of sight. When going across a fields or thru a woods, deer will travel in these little depressions, we don't really pay much attention to'em, mainly because we don't even notice them till were watching a deer walking along and then all of a sudden it drops out of sight, but the deer know that they're there and that it's harder to see them walking that route.

Detail, details, details..........Good Luck Sarah ! :)