WYO300RUM
Well-Known Member
I started shooting first when I was around 10 yrs old with bb rifle then pellet rifles and pistols. I still have some of them. When I was 11 or 12 my dad bought me a Marlin bolt action 22. Wish I still had it. Just shot 22's until I was 18. Then bought a Mossberg Chuckster 22 mag. It had a 26 in. barrel .I wish I had it still . I've never even seen one except the one I bought .I was in heaven. Then came the Remington 788 22-250. Wow!
At 18 my best friend and I decided we were going to deer hunt. I bought a Ruger M77 7 Rem mag. My uncle had given me a press, 7 mag dies, bullets, cases, etc. so I bought a 7 mag. On 4th year in 1979 I finally shot a buck. I was hooked. I started deer, lope and elk hunting out of state in 1983 and never stopped. My son gave up on hunting after 2012. I cherish the hunting days I did have with him. All along the way I did plenty of preditor hunting, duck, goose, pheasant, chucker , quail , dove hunting. I still do. Some buddies I hunt with are only concerned with killing something. I'm way past that. Probably last 20 yrs or more. I enjoy being out in the woods, fields, etc. the most. With nature. Seeing and watching animals and birds and what they do. It's spiritual, mind clearing, relaxing. Time to forget about all the other crap going on in the world and your troubles. I enjoy trying to out wit an animal on it's home turf. Stalking, etc.. I have softened in my older age but I know I'm there for a purpose and have no problem pulling the trigger. I do let the small ones walk for awhile now. And I'm not disappointed to go home empty handed. I am somewhat if it's an out of state hunt but been there done that. I think children need to get interested in the nature aspect of hunting first before the killing and work on shooting skills. If that's done and they shoot a buck. Pretty sure most will be hooked. I still remember my son , my dog I had sitting behind a dead log glassing for deer. Son was around 4 years. He whispered, dad, I think I see a deer. I said where? I pointed right there. I told him good spot. I saw that and also thought it was a deer. Told him I call those decoy's. It was a stump at about 100 yds. That looked like a doe laying down. Priceless. I've shot a few bucks in the last few years that I spined and had to give knife to the heart. I always feel bad for a long time after. I always wonder what that deer is thinking with a human next to him. I'm sure scared to death . I just say a quick prayer and pet it's head and do my part to end suffering quickly . Sorry for the long post.
At 18 my best friend and I decided we were going to deer hunt. I bought a Ruger M77 7 Rem mag. My uncle had given me a press, 7 mag dies, bullets, cases, etc. so I bought a 7 mag. On 4th year in 1979 I finally shot a buck. I was hooked. I started deer, lope and elk hunting out of state in 1983 and never stopped. My son gave up on hunting after 2012. I cherish the hunting days I did have with him. All along the way I did plenty of preditor hunting, duck, goose, pheasant, chucker , quail , dove hunting. I still do. Some buddies I hunt with are only concerned with killing something. I'm way past that. Probably last 20 yrs or more. I enjoy being out in the woods, fields, etc. the most. With nature. Seeing and watching animals and birds and what they do. It's spiritual, mind clearing, relaxing. Time to forget about all the other crap going on in the world and your troubles. I enjoy trying to out wit an animal on it's home turf. Stalking, etc.. I have softened in my older age but I know I'm there for a purpose and have no problem pulling the trigger. I do let the small ones walk for awhile now. And I'm not disappointed to go home empty handed. I am somewhat if it's an out of state hunt but been there done that. I think children need to get interested in the nature aspect of hunting first before the killing and work on shooting skills. If that's done and they shoot a buck. Pretty sure most will be hooked. I still remember my son , my dog I had sitting behind a dead log glassing for deer. Son was around 4 years. He whispered, dad, I think I see a deer. I said where? I pointed right there. I told him good spot. I saw that and also thought it was a deer. Told him I call those decoy's. It was a stump at about 100 yds. That looked like a doe laying down. Priceless. I've shot a few bucks in the last few years that I spined and had to give knife to the heart. I always feel bad for a long time after. I always wonder what that deer is thinking with a human next to him. I'm sure scared to death . I just say a quick prayer and pet it's head and do my part to end suffering quickly . Sorry for the long post.
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I'm still in "deep doo doo" for stopping her from killing the first elk we saw for several seasons in a row! 
Several seasons in a row….we ate elk tags! 
