Syracuse.com - First-time hunter, 49, bags 10-point buck in Lafayette

[HuntingNY-News]

He got him on his third time out.

Tim Smith, 49, poses with his first deer -- a 10-point buck he shot in Lafayette.

He wrote: "I never hunted as a child, but many of my friends did. My father hunted as a teenager, but chose not to after starting a family. I always wanted to, but circumstances prevented me until this year.

"I attended the hunters safety course, (and passed), so I got my sportsmans license. Finding someone to teach me to hunt was difficult to say the least. I spent the summer practicing my marksmanship at the Bridgeport rod and gun club, but finding a mentor was proving difficult.

"A new employee at my place of employment agreed to teach me to hunt. His name is Master Sergeant Pete Palumb, U.S. Army, retired. This is a picture (above) of my first deer, my third timeout -- of my first season ever.

"I am happy to say that this buck died instantly, with a shot just behind and below his right ear. The last thing I want is for an animal to suffer needlessly. Without the help and guidance of Pete, I never would have had the opportunity to harvest this trophy.

"P.S. Did I mention that I used a borrowed shotgun from Pete? Sarge said it was dead on at 100 yards, and boy was it!"

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog