My first buck (a dead animal thread)

[Wild Country]

Thanks, MM. I appreciate it.

I doubt many of you on this forum have the same problem. My wife was downright anti-hunting and had a hard time understanding my new found interest. She did not want me to be successful and even after I got back from my trip, she didn't want to hear about it.

It wasn't until I was describing my hunt to a friend that she changed her mind. She heard me mention that I thanked the buck and the wilderness for their gift to me and my family. After that, she understood better that sportsmen revere and protect the animals they hunt. She has since really enjoyed eating mule deer and she hopes I get an elk this fall. However, I don't think she'll be ready for a shoulder mount in the house anytime soon.

I'll never forget how beautiful my first buck was. I have thought about the experience literally every day since. I'm sure that is a problem we all share! I don't need his antlers around to remind me. That is not a nock on trophy hunting. If circumstances were different, he'd be hanging over our fireplace. My wife just really doesn't want that, and the meat and experience were far more important to me anyway.

Very impressive.....and congratulations. I am very impressed with your ethics and want of trying to do it right! I completely understand picking your battles as a married man. I am fortunate enough that my wife has no issues with animals on our walls. Welcome to the world of hunting and I have a lot of respect for you and the way you went about it.....if all new hunters took the time and effort to do it the way you did we would have a better image as a group. Keep your high standards and I wish all the best in your new found passion,

 

[Fink]

It wasn't until I was describing my hunt to a friend that she changed her mind. She heard me mention that I thanked the buck and the wilderness for their gift to me and my family.

I'm not sure how I missed this thread originally, but congrats on a great buck, Eric. No one can understand the feeling of killing a big game animal, and the thanks that we give to that animal for it's sacrifice, until they've done it themselves. I hope you eventually go back and get the antlers, cause there's something special about holding them and thinking about the hunt years later. You don't want to deprive yourself of that.

 

[robiland]

Nice Buck. That is a shooter in my book! Congrats!!!

 

[Allnighter]

That's a awesome first. I hope to pull a tag for my first in Wy this year and bravo to you on doing it alone.