Did you shoot your first deer with open sights?

[Buffs35]

My first deer was right outside of Alma. Deer drive and I was on the end. .300 wby from 5 to 10 yards, 4x fixed scope. The little buck did cartwheels before it came to a stop.

 

[Nick87]

Yes 1998. 11 years old open sights with an 870 12 gauge smooth bore.

 

[David658]

I was about 33 or 34 when I killed my first one. 70 paces, with my scratch-built full stock .50 cal Hawken. As a matter of fact, all of my deer have been taken with open sights (in Central Oregon), elk with scoped rifle.

David
NM

 

[Perlodid]

First deer was with a remington 870 (rifled barrel) with open sights. Pretty sure I was 14, so 2011? Michigan youth season. I think it's something definitely worth doing at least once in your life, but I don't feel like it necessarily has to be your first. At the time, I didn't think anything of it, and I think I would have been just as happy with a scoped gun. I actually had a scoped Savage 220 that I didn't trust as much as this gun (firing pin issues), so I opted for the 870.

 

[Bullshot]

1988, double barrel 20ga, bead sight, with foster type slug

Last deer I that I killed with a gun, 2022, open sight on 58 cal T/C and round ball

Killed many other deer with open sights. And two elk.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

How things have changed. I have a grandchild coming. First thing is a Daisy Red Ryder. Open sights. mtmuley

We have that too, and it got plenty of use. I was referring only to the things that went bang. The .22 was better for helping with ground squirrels.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Does a shotgun bead count as open sights?
12 years old in Grandad’s cornfield. Got lucky with buckshot at about 40 yards.

 

[mtmuley]

We have that too, and it got plenty of use. I was referring only to the things that went bang. The .22 was better for helping with ground squirrels.

I don't think there is a downside to teaching kids how to shoot with open sights. mtmuley

 

[Schaaf]

2004 with a Savage 30-06/Bushnell combo and I’m sure my dad had the scope at max power. I was so afraid of that damn rifle.

 

[JohnBud]

The gold bead on the shotgun barrel was standard equipment in the '70s. We killed deer, ducks and grouse with the same shotgun.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

I don't think there is a downside to teaching kids how to shoot with open sights. mtmuley

If they are also taught to shoot with a scope before going hunting with a scope, then I agree 100%.

 

[mtmuley]

If they are also taught to shoot with a scope before going hunting with a scope, then I agree 100%.

The open sights might be a generational thing. mtmuley

 

[howl]

Only technically. I shot it through the heart with a scope, then shot it on the run with the irons. Then I shot it again after it fell.

I don't really see how a peep sight is much of a handicap if you have good light. In the age of scopes and red dots people are ignorant of the great precision you can attain with irons even at distance. We have a 30/30 that most of the men in the family have taken deer with. My son took pride in joining our ranks when he was the same age as your boy. He's an aperture sight aficionado and uses one in 4-H, too.

He finally conceded a scope is better for low light hunting. So there's one on it now. That'll probably be his deer rifle from now on. BUT I'm in GA and you don't get many shots it won't handle. If he draws an elk tag I'll loan him something else. I feel like we should be careful to not give our children too much. They need to want and find a way to earn.

You didn't ask, but a 30/30 with full-house loads is a pain to shoot. It's the guns, not the cartridge. Load a Speer 130gr with a starting load and it's right pleasant. Max load still isn't as bad as full house 150gr. I'm a fan.

 

[MTTW]

Military Mauser in .243 with a peep sight at about 100 yards in 1974. A spike mule deer. Only game animal I have ever killed with open sights. I am going to try to change that this next week with the muzzy.

 

[Dave N]

Yes, killed mine in 1976 with an Ithaca Model 37 Deerslayer 12 gauge. Little 7 point buck that I used my own money to have shoulder mounted. I was 15 and it cost me $145 to get done.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

The first deer I ever killed was a spike blacktail when I was 12. Winchester Model 94 with iron sights! I still hunt with it on occasion.

 

[Nick87]

Yes, killed mine in 1976 with an Ithaca Model 37 Deerslayer 12 gauge. Little 7 point buck that I used my own money to have shoulder mounted. I was 15 and it cost me $145 to get done.

Never forget the price will ya? I won't either...first one I had mounted was $350 in I wanna say 2003.

 

[Mallardsx2]

I was 12 and I was looking down the side of an arrow.

 

[Mica Man]

Trophy forky whitetail with the Model 94 I inherited from my grandfather. I should pull it out and use it sometime.

 

[Chad Gus]

First deer was a little 5pt, shot him with a Remington 7600 .243 at 10 yards. Had a cheap tasco 3x9 scope on it.
Have killed several with open sighted 30.30 and muzzleloader and countless rabbits and squirrels with open sighted 22.