Bagging your first critter

[crush]

I took the nephew out for his first hunt/shoot in the field today.

First trip out and bagged himself a fox

Years ago now, and not very exciting but a regular old bunnie was the first critter in my sights. The nephew couldn't get enough of the old war stories though

If you can even remember, what was the first thing you bagged?

[Chronos]

good job mate, sharing your passion for the outdoors, hunting and feral animal control with the young bloke

my first critter? well i came to shooting later in life than most shooters. i spent a good few years target shooting before i did my first hunting. living in the city hunting opportunities are few and far between so we booked a paid hunting property. On the drive in we spotlighted a couple of deer so things looked promising.

The next morning we set out on foot hoping to catch deer moving to cover without luck but on our way back to camp we crossed paths with a pig moving between us. no shot presented itself so the rest of the day was spent looking over the property for suitable hunting areas. Although we spotted another deer at quite a distance we didn't get a shot away.

The next morning i set off alone predawn to a spot i had picked out. i sat glassing the area until the sun had risen without any sign of game. So i made the call to up and move to a gully with some cover i thought may act as a highway for game.

Within 5 minutes a mob of pigs appeared using the gully to move across the block. i selected the bore and squeezes off a shot from the 7-08 and hit the bore in the engine room.

Although i didn't plan on taking the meat i took the time to gut the animal and work out the primal cuts. time well spent as i believe any experience that takes you into unknown territory that is taken seriously can only benefit you later on in your hunting/shooting career

Chronos

[Baldrick314]

The first thing I learned to hunt was a small bird similar in size to a spatchcock that ran rampant on a property we used to camp on. My dad loved eating them but you had to shoot them in the head or you ruined all the meat. Made me a good shot with a 22 though

[nords]

Although i didn't plan on taking the meat i took the time to gut the animal and work out the primal cuts. time well spent as i believe any experience that takes you into unknown territory that is taken seriously can only benefit you later on in your hunting/shooting career

I reckon.

I'm no master butcher, but its irked me a few times when people have said they shoot deer for meat but only take the back legs because they don't know how to do anything else.

So wasteful

[Lorgar]

I successfully took many tree stumps when starting out

And finally a fox

[saucy]

living in the city hunting opportunities are few and far between so we booked a paid hunting property.

Where was that if you can remember?

[Chronos]

living in the city hunting opportunities are few and far between so we booked a paid hunting property.

Where was that if you can remember?

oh yes, I remember

Chronos

[Warrigul]

Rabbit, six years old then rabbit after rabbit after rabbit, then roo after roo after roo for a while then repeat.......................................................................................... all with dads semi auto browning .22(with a dot of white on the open sights for use at night off the tractor) or my uncles brno(that had a scope so was the holy grail but he was only home on weekends and I had to ask him) until I got my own semi at the age of 12.

[Oldbloke]

My first shot out of my first rifle, a brand new stirling .22lr self loader at my first rabbit. Sheesh that was a long time ago!

[dustin]

Also busted a bunny for my first time

[Aster]

A fox on my 2nd or 3rd trip out I think.

Got a decent Fallow on the 5th trip, can't argue with that