My First Buck!!!!

[shaneman153D]

Thanks for the replies guys.

[NWBREW]

Congrats on your mulie buck. Thanks for being honest. I would invest in a range finder too. Facing away at 400 yards is asking for trouble even if your rifle is on. Don't shoot beyond your confidence level...that to is asking for trouble. Just my  I'm glad everything worked out the way it did.

[Machias]

You didn't mention your wife was backing you up on the 3pt part.    Nice buck, congrats.

[nw_bowhunter]

Glad to see you got your first buck, now this will help you work out the details for your next deer hunt. Congrats!

[Pathfinder101]

Shaneman, compliments on handling the criticism gracefully.  A lot of guys would have gotten nasty or defensive right away.  You can tell when a guy's got thick skin.  

(...hmmmm... retired Army... it's almost like you've been yelled at before... )

One of the things I had to adjust when I moved to this area was the long shots.  Mostly hunted whitetails in the woods when I was a kid, most shots under 200 yards.  I can already tell you will be better prepared next hunt.  And yes, a new scope may be in order.  
Here's to your continued success

[t6]

Maybe you should just forget about the scope and consider using open sights until you have some experience.  Shooting at that distance on a questionable buck?

Spending some time getting closer so you dont have to ask yourself "Gawd I hope he's legal" 

Yeah, I know.. I shouldn't rip on the guy.. Its his first, but lets be realistic... those of us with experience wouldn't teach our Sons, or Daughters to hunt this way so we shouldn't condone it either. 

[carpsniperg2]

congrats to you on your first buck but i agree with what is being said know your gun know the distance know the animal are good things sounds like you did alot of guessing and i hate to be the first to say it but in the field picture and the hanging picture there is bile from the guts coming out of his nose i know when a animal has the guts in it and is hanged it will run out the nose but not in the field for the pictures unless its has its bowles messed up "The bullet went in his upper back, severing the spinal cord and exiting out the center of the neck.  He dropped like a sack of potatoes!!  I still don't know how far that shot was, but it was beyond my confidence level, so there was some luck involved." are you sure thats where the bullet went in at seems a bit weird to me but congrats anyways

[Gutpile]

Alright guys you've chewed him out enough. He knew it was a 3 point as stated in the story but was thinking "what if" when he was walking up to the deer. Thats never happened to you? Well, I'm thinking "what if" every time I shoot a deer since they changed the rules and I do count the points every time.  Also, I KNOW 90% of you, if not more have taken long pokes at deer in the past, I have and frankly I just don't believe you if you say you havent. I would also be willing to bet some of you have lost deer in the past. From the pics, he didn't. That said, the above statements are true, know your target, don't shoot past your ability. But for gods sake can we stop beating a dead horse. Geez. Now we're even questioning where the bullet hit? You know what they say about glass houses, right?  

[rasbo]

congrats on the buck.Hope you and yours have many a good meals together and reminisce

[Wyoming08]

   Nice Buck!  Don't look so happy in your next years picture. OK!
How come he looks like he's been gut shot with the green stuff coming out his nose, and there is a bunch of it on the ground?  Did you shoot him twice?  Just some observations.  Dang nice buck though!!!

[shaneman153D]

Nope, only hit him once, no organs were punctured that I could see.  I didn't know that was bile, can't tell you why it happened that way. 

I am not a veterinarian.

[rosscrazyelk]

Hey congrads on your first buck. being your first buck and all could you smile more next time. You look pissed