First game animal?
 

What is the first "game animal" that you ever shot? I kinda have a feeling where most of this will land, but I'm kinda curious.

Mine was a ruffed grouse, when I was 14.

Mine was a dove (i.e., other) when I was about 9 years old. A full limit the next year when I got to use a 12 gauge and my first 2 pheasants that same fall with the 12 gauge.

I guess it depends on your definition of game animal. Where I came from no one ate squirrel, rabbits were just for gloves. But my first big game animal was a yearling mule deer when I was 16.

My was a dove, too. Then I started hunting squirrels, then deer. I still hunt for all three, and more.

Canada goose when I was 12.

Squirrel with my good ol' .22LR when I was around 11 or 12. We ate it of course. I don't see 'elk' on the list, I guess that would be 'other'. I have a friend that I taught to hunt whose first bagged game was a bull elk. I started little and worked up but he just started big....
Reminds me of folks with first motorcycles nowadays, but that's something for another topic....

Mike

Squirrel here too. I was probably about 12 yrs. old. Seems like I read somewhere back in antiquity that most hunters start out with them and finish up with them.

Squirrel at age 8 or 9.

Squirrel with my grandpa's 32 rolling block at age 10.

jplonghunter

My first game animal taken was a pheasant when I was 10 yrs. old. Had a brand spanking new model 37 winchester .410. Still shootin pheasants, but have upgraded to a 20 ga.:D This is a great thread. Nice memories.:)

Age 14 5x5 white tail deer. Still the biggest typical white tail buck I have ever shot.

My first was the "Prince Of The Treetops" too. Used my first shotgun, a Noble 20 gauge pump (still at Dad's home). I quickly added dove and ducks to my early list. And the odd fat Robin and giant Woodpecker - back when you wouldn't get thrown in prison for shooting them. A fat Robin is better than quail and most doves....... Dad said in the Great Depression, that was a staple for the poor folks.

Squirrel, and yea we ate 'em too...

GoodOlBoy

squirrel
 

actually #1 was a red squirrel. Shoulder shot that my dad said was impossible at that distance :D

Taken with my first rifle - Sheridan Blue Streak..

still have it 40+ years later.,......still shoots great

then came rabbits, phez (remember when MI had those!?) and my first woodcock shot on the wing with a 22 (lucky shot)

Wow so long ago:D I think it must have been a cottontail with a pellet rifle. I was around 9 or 10. First big game animal was a mule deer. I was 13-14 with a model 94 30-30.
muledeer