First critter was a Grouse with a home made bolo (I was six). For that I was ecstatic.

First Deer with a rifle was met with relief, for I had finally conquered buck fever.

My first Deer with a bow was met with disbelief. I simply couldn’t believe I had hit the bloody thing!

I snagged a bullfrog with a jig and dispatched him with a filet knife when I was about 10 yrs old. It was a long long time before I could kill again. Fortunately for me, I was alone when I did it so no one could tell me how to feel about it. There was no one to push a “macho” attitude on me, no one to try to justify my action, no one’s guilt but my own. I hope I can give my kids this sort of space after their first kills. I love to hunt and I tell every animal I kill, “Thank you for your life.”

Shot a robin off my mother’s clothesline when I was six. Felt bad afterwards and gave the poor thing a proper burial.:cry:Never shooting another unless I’m in a survival situation. Wayne

I don’t remember the first kill but shot a lot of pidgeons in the barn and felt I was doing a good thing as other wild animals would have a free meal and the barn would be cleaner. Shot an old sow coon out of the hay mow with a .22 and she would not die. She soaked up 14 hollow points and stood there growling at me. I felt like hell for doing that. That was when I learned how tenacious wild creatures are and to aim for head shots to kill them quickly. And to always use enough gun.

Sill waiting for mine (with trad gear), though I doubt it will change. With rifle, I cannot really explain. As I looked down the sights at a doe that was about 30 yards away, what I was about to do struck me. It was not a pleasant feeling. I was about to take a life, plain and simple. To this day, I still actually (secretly) hope that no animal will come across within shooting distance from me while I’m out on a hunt. If one does, so be it, but being out there is what I cherish.

I was out yesterday on a crop damage hunt (rifle) at a local farm. I saw a few doe (legal to shoot under the red tag program here in PA) that were too far away. At about 300 yards they spotted me and there was no opportunity for a stalk. My rifle is a lever action .44 with iron sights. I do not soot beyond 50 yards. On my way out, I spotted a buck (not legal to shoot under the red tag program here in PA) at about 50 yards. Point of the story? I had a blast (no pun intended) and I didn’t get dirty having to field dress anything. I guess that’s why it’s called hunting and not just killing.

Alex

🙂