Ben Nicholson
Well-known member
Sure did with an old 870 wingmaster with a smooth bore slug barrel.
Did you shoot your first deer with open sights?
- Thread starter Nameless Range
- Start date
QuazyQuinton
Well-known member
My first deer was with my dad's old Husqvarna .308 and Bushnell scope. A few years later my wife shot her first few animals with that rifle, also. Since then my kids have all killed their first animals with scoped rifles. I think it makes the most sense.
I have also killed deer with open sights on a couple of muzzleloaders, a shotgun, and a lever action 30-30. Definitely fun if you are looking for a challenge to make a hunt memorable.
I had a dilemma when I got my Marlin 45-70. Peep sight or scope? Eventually I defied tradition and put a 2-7x scope on it. Seems to have worked out well for me.
QQ
I have also killed deer with open sights on a couple of muzzleloaders, a shotgun, and a lever action 30-30. Definitely fun if you are looking for a challenge to make a hunt memorable.
I had a dilemma when I got my Marlin 45-70. Peep sight or scope? Eventually I defied tradition and put a 2-7x scope on it. Seems to have worked out well for me.
perma
Well-known member
My vote has an asterisk next to it; my first take ever was a pronghorn with an open sight muzzleloader. My deer was my third ever take, and that was with a scoped rifle. As cool as I’d like to be in the yes under 40 group, you said deer so I will answer honestly.
VOLhunter
Well-known member
First was with my uncle's Remington Model 6 pump 30-06 with a fixed scope at the age of 12. Next several were with the Mossberg 500 12ga I got on my 13th birthday shooting smoothbore slugs.
tarheel
Well-known member
No, first was in 1957 with a shotgun and #1 buck. First Western game (antelope) was with iron sights, last deer was with irons also.
Mine was with a Win 94 30-30,iron sights. 1972.
My uncle Dave had taught me to shoot with his Win. 32/20, and I used his 30/30.
Had it in the leather scabbard tied to my bike. Rode to the forest boundary and hiked up a hill.
Shot a little 3 pointer and dragged it down the hill and put it in the shade.
Walked 1/4 mile to the Nature Center and called David. I had it gutted when he showed up with a pick up and we broke it down in my folks garage.
A year later I was manning a duece and my rifle was a M16.
He gave the 32/20 before he died.
My uncle Dave had taught me to shoot with his Win. 32/20, and I used his 30/30.
Had it in the leather scabbard tied to my bike. Rode to the forest boundary and hiked up a hill.
Shot a little 3 pointer and dragged it down the hill and put it in the shade.
Walked 1/4 mile to the Nature Center and called David. I had it gutted when he showed up with a pick up and we broke it down in my folks garage.
A year later I was manning a duece and my rifle was a M16.
He gave the 32/20 before he died.
jpc01101
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2021
- Messages
- 546
Winchester cowboy commemorative 30/30. Age 10. 8 pt basket whitetail. Sitting at the base of an oak tree while my Dad slept in a pile of leaves. I shot and the deer dropped into a ditch and Dad lost his mind. Thought I shot accidentally or just for fun. Had to essentially drag him 50 yards to the dead deer. Fun memory.
rjthehunter
Well-known member
My first deer was with my bow at 12 years old. But it's been a mix of open sights in the shotgun zones, and scoped rifles everywhere else. But I mostly bowhunt.
Farmerj
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2021
- Messages
- 1,072
Dad’s 1952 870 wingmaster with a modified choke and a front bead only.
Hem
Well-known member
Nope.
A borrowed scoped Ruger #1 .
Late start in life. Think I was 26 or 27.
A borrowed scoped Ruger #1 .
Late start in life. Think I was 26 or 27.
TRS_Montana
Well-known member
I like thinking about this, but have to admit that I’m paralyzed by the relativity of it. I think, ultimately, what my dad (and consequently, I) tried to avoid is instilling a brittle spirit. In other words, easy come, easy go.
There are so many facets of life today that are relatively easy compared to even 50 years ago. It seems so common to hear the preceding generation say things like “I made my kids learn on x” without considering that those before them looked on with disdain, considering that very technology to be cheating.
My dad killed his first deer with a 12 gauge shotgun and buckshot as an adult. I shot my first deer with a scoped .243 at age 12. My oldest son shot his first deer at age 7 with a scoped .223 and my second oldest shot his first with the same gun at age 6.
I think it was more important to my dad that I learn how to hunt and have a greater chance of success because those were the dues he was willing to pay having not had a dad that taught him how to hunt.
The idea that there is only one path to an appreciation for hard work and practice just doesn’t make sense to me.
There are so many facets of life today that are relatively easy compared to even 50 years ago. It seems so common to hear the preceding generation say things like “I made my kids learn on x” without considering that those before them looked on with disdain, considering that very technology to be cheating.
My dad killed his first deer with a 12 gauge shotgun and buckshot as an adult. I shot my first deer with a scoped .243 at age 12. My oldest son shot his first deer at age 7 with a scoped .223 and my second oldest shot his first with the same gun at age 6.
I think it was more important to my dad that I learn how to hunt and have a greater chance of success because those were the dues he was willing to pay having not had a dad that taught him how to hunt.
The idea that there is only one path to an appreciation for hard work and practice just doesn’t make sense to me.
westbranch
Well-known member
Yes, 12 yrs old and it was a rem 700 30-06 with see-through scope rings. Rainy weather and I couldn't see through the cheap old scope and used the iron sights. Got scoped as well, but did not draw blood. I bought that gun from my dad and made a few upgrades.
I don't know of any pics of us hunting while growing up and it was only 20-25 yrs ago.
I don't know of any pics of us hunting while growing up and it was only 20-25 yrs ago.
Southern Elk
Well-known member
Anyone else see the resemblance?
Nick87
Well-known member
Not a resemblance that's a dead match.
Nameless Range
Well-known member
First deer was a doe with a rifled barrel 870 borrowed from an uncle for youth hunting season. Was pretty hi tech back in 97 or 98 with the old bri sabots. Hunted every year since then and have shot exactly 3 animals with a scope and probably 30-40 with open sights for big game.
First was a bison with a 1-6 Burris in 2019, 2nd was an antelope in 2022, and I shot a doe with a scoped bolt gun this last Sunday mornin with same rifle and scope I shot bison with at the amazing distance of 12 yards.
Carry either a lever gun with a skinner peep and patridge front sight or slug gun with fiber optic open sites. Just seems to work for me and way I hunt.
The 4 kids that have shot deer(ages 6-12) all used scoped bolt guns or single shots. However all have shot squirrels and rabbits with open sighted .22s.
First was a bison with a 1-6 Burris in 2019, 2nd was an antelope in 2022, and I shot a doe with a scoped bolt gun this last Sunday mornin with same rifle and scope I shot bison with at the amazing distance of 12 yards.
Carry either a lever gun with a skinner peep and patridge front sight or slug gun with fiber optic open sites. Just seems to work for me and way I hunt.
The 4 kids that have shot deer(ages 6-12) all used scoped bolt guns or single shots. However all have shot squirrels and rabbits with open sighted .22s.
