Richard Saalborn – Illinois
I generally plant about 10 acres of food plots. Imperial Whitetail Clover has been our best product. We have attracted more deer, and the quality of the bucks is improving every year. I can best show you the quality of our deer by showing a picture of my 7-year-old grandson’s first buck. He was very proud of his first deer three years ago (picture 1). He did not shoot a buck two years ago because he was looking for a larger deer. He hit the jackpot this past season at age 9 when he killed this 10-point with one shot from his 20gauge Remington (picture 2). I was in the stand with him when he shot it. I was unbelievably proud of his accomplishment. I had more enjoyment
watching him shoot it than if I had. Next year, he will be looking for a bigger deer. I can assure you that it will be over a Whitetail Institute product.
Grandpa Bob Lloyd – Minnesota
13-year-old Evan was on his first deer hunting trip with his dad on one of Grandpa Bob's food plots. We had 6 inches of snow come down opening morning. The first two days, Evan saw several does and fawns come into the snow covered plot that had been a mix of 3/4 Imperial Whitetail Clover and 1/4 Tall Tine Tubers. The deer had been hitting the plots hard with the 1/2 foot of snow. The turnips were what they were coming in for. They would paw through the snow and dig up the big turnips. On the third morning, this nice buck came trying to sneak across the far end of the food plot, but Evan got his first deer with a shot of just over 100 yards
First Deer is presented and sponsored by TRACT OPTICS. Visit them online at www.tractoptics.com. Email your First Deer photos and story to info@whitetailinstitute.com or send them to: Whitetail Institute of North America, 239 Whitetail Trail Pintlala, AL 36043, Attn.: First Deer Dept.
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/ Vol. 29, No. 1
Charlie Massey – North Carolina
I have been planting and using Whitetail Institute products on my small farm for the last ten years. The number and quality of deer I now see has improved considerably since I began using them. Last year’s deer season provided my best hunting experience to date, when my son, Tanner took his first deer. Tanner has hunted with me for several years, but last season was the first season he was big enough to shoot my 20-gauge slug gun. Tanner and I hunted a number of times and saw deer each time, but Tanner was determined to take a mature buck as his first deer. I explained that most people take does for their first deer, but Tanner is a patient and determined boy. On Nov. 16, Tanner and I climbed into one of our favorite stands for an afternoon hunt. We saw deer almost immediately, as the rut had the deer moving. About an hour into the hunt, we had a nice young 8-pointer come into the field we had planted in Winter Peas Plus and Whitetail Oats Plus. I thought for sure the young 8-pointer was going to be Tanner’s first deer, but after a short conversation regarding the age of the buck and the knowledge of older deer in the area, Tanner chose to pass on the young 8-point. I think he was starting to second-guess his decision as the afternoon hunt was starting to come to a close, but then out of what seemed like nowhere appeared a large-bodied, heavy-horned 8-point. I instantly recognized the deer from trail camera pictures we had gathered earlier in the season, and I told Tanner this was the deer he had been waiting for. Tanner calmly raised the 20gauge slug gun and got the sights on the buck. I nervously told him to wait until the deer stopped before shooting, and just then, the buck stopped as two does made their way out of the woods and into the food plot. Tanner took the shot and the deer ran about 40 yards before piling up just off the edge of the food plot. I was more excited about Tanner's first buck than probably any buck I have ever taken, and I wanted to say thank you to the Whitetail Institute for helping make that memory for Tanner and me. ^ www.whitetailinstitute.com