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View Full Version : Son's first deer this weekend!


TNDadx4
01-20-2009, 05:08 AM
This past weekend was a Young Sportsmans hunt for our state. As some of you may remember, Neither of me son's had any luck the last time that we went.

This time, my youngest son (12 y/o) got himself a nice doe, his first deer. We are all very proud of him. He had great aim (the doe dropped on the spot) and he remembered his firearms education and engaged the safety after his shot.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2127/192/111/1561581100/n1561581100_126863_903.jpg

My older son wasn't able to get one and in a strange twist it was my fault. We were hunting on a hillside overlooking a stream, meadow and another hill with a thicket. When we had arrived, I misheard where our friend (who has access to this land) said the boundary of the property was. My older son had 11 deer in sight and I told him that he couldn't shoot them because they weren't on the property, but it turns out that they were... :-[

I will never hear the end of that. He razzes me for it. I felt so bad for him... I told him that turkey season is in March and he'll probably get one then.

Anyway, we took the deer back and skinned it. We butchered it last night. It took us all 1.5 hours, but now we have some really nice meat in the freezer.

Now, I have a question... We have the pelt and my son wants to tan it and we are trying to decide if it's something that we can do. I've read about it and it doesn't seem that difficult, but I've also heard horror stories of the fur slipping off, etc. (he wants to keep the fur intact)

Any ideas?

Hampster
01-20-2009, 07:50 AM
congrats on your little boys deer... good for him...

I don't think it cost that much to take the hide to a professional ... then you can practice another time with another deer.. not your sons' first...

TNDadx4
01-20-2009, 08:20 AM
Thank you. He's a good son :)

I've been calling around and so far have found one in our area that will do it for $100.00 and he said that it will take him 9 months...

m44mag04
01-20-2009, 02:25 PM
It's great to see another member in the hunting family. Depending on what you want to use the hide for, I used a kit from Cabela's on my first hide, and while it is far from perfect, the fur stayed on and it has been a good rug for almost 10 years. Hanging on a wall might be longer!

Uncle_Jim
01-20-2009, 02:33 PM
Tell Him congratulations and good shootin.

I haven't heard many good things about home tanning. Seeing that it is his first one I'd reccomend having it tanned professionally so he will have it for many years to come.

flatwater
01-20-2009, 05:06 PM
Good first kill and will be all the better eating