First deer hunt

[DblTap]

I got my first deer (with a rifle) last sunday. It was a small 2x2 Mule deer but I am still excited about it anyway. I had some bigger animals in my scope but they were either walking slowly away or running off. I didn't want my first shot to be at a moving target. I wanted everything to go smooth.

I had a really hard time judging distances. I thought my deer was about 80 yds away but when it was lasered with the range finder I found out it was 240yds. There was a 4x4 that I guessed was 850 yds away but when lasered it was only 470 yds. I don't know if I just get over-excited or what. I try to imagine football fields between me and the target and how many will fit. I guess I need a new strategy, or a real fast range finder. I wonder if they make rifle scopes with built in range finders? If they do they are probably out of my price range anyway.

Anyone have any deer recipes? I've found a few on the internet, some look good and some look kinda weird. I know I'm going to make some jerky, maybe some chili and stew too. Any other ideas?

[Flinter]

I like to fry the loins (backstrap) in a little olive oil with some onions and garlic.

Shoulders are really only good for roasts.

The hams get cut into steaks or used for jerky.

[Clint Boyer]

Mmmmmm!

I did a whole, small fork horn buck in jerky last year.
http://www.molalla.net/~cboyer/jerky3
http://www.molalla.net/~cboyer/jerky2

[Largo]

I will give to you the secret family recipe for back straps.
you must guard with your life though.

Simple fried backstraps is the best way to cook them, first soak the deer in saltwater over night. this removes the blood and prepares the meat for cooking, changing out the water over time will yeild the best results.

Next take regular flour mix with a tablespoon salt and tablespoon pepper, fresh ground pepper is better then pepper from a box.

then deep fry in olive oil.

we eat them faster then we can make them here. I even cut roasts up to make the hand streaks for this. its easy and tastes great.

and if you fix them invite me over for a mess.

[Flinter]

first soak the deer in saltwater over night.
Interesting....I've always been told NOT to soak deer meat in salt water.

We soak squirrels/rabbits/coons...whatever. But never deer.

I was always told that it would make it slimey.

No?

[neolithic hunter]

i always soak mine in milk and onions like my momma did. seems to work. congrats on your first hunt. i can still remember the first deer i ever killed, it was standing beside a brontosaurs, and or it was a long time ago. :cool:

[7of7]

Congrats on your success. I remember my first deer... It was a 2X2, moving at about 75 yds. I got it with a winchester 30-30. Shot 3 times... first shot, it went down, got back up, second shot, stumbled some more and then the third shot it went down and stayed there. The first shot did what it was supposed to do, as it entered just in front of the shoulder and exited just behind the other shoulder, the second shot, just went under the skin above the shoulders, and the third shot,... God knows where that one went because I sure don't. I was so excited my dad ended up field dressing it for me. Of course, I ended up field dressing his later on.

On the range estimation, the Duplex reticle scopes with a variable power are good for estimating range, if you have the time. All you need to do is check out a measured target at 100 yards, or 200 yards, note the distance between the heavy part of the cross hairs and the thin ones. Then, when hunting whatever animal, most have an average size, and use that as your estimate. If at 100 yds it measures 18 inches, and the back to chest is smaller than the thin parts, it is over 100 yards, if it is larger than the thin parts, it is under 100 yards...
On the Leupold VXIII, it has some numbers so you adjust the scope to where the animal fits in between the heavy part of the crosshairs, and read the distance, depending on the animal, of course.

[BigEd63]

Freind of mine brought in a a bunch of deer stew at work Monday.

Mmmmmm......Good.:lick:

[Coyote]

DblTap, in my experience younger deer taste better.

Hope you have many more successful hunts.

[RIKA]

Congrats on your first deer, its a good memory that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

RIKA