At about 6:15 this morning on the way to work, I killed my first deer for the season. I don't particularly like the way that I did it.

It was still dark even though there was a full moon. I was driving along about 60 mph or so when I saw someone coming my way flashing their lights at me. 

I saw a flash of gray-brown and heard a crash at the same time. I knew what it was. I pulled off the road and a car pulled off behind me. I was uninjured but I can't say the same for my van. I think the lady in the car behind me was more shaken up than I was.

Thankfully I have an old Ford E250 van. It's a tank on wheels. 

A left headlight was knocked out. The fender was bent and the door was slightly caved in.

The deer was a huge white tail buck. I figure it was six or eight points. I couldn't tell for sure.

He was dead when I got to him. The impact must have broken his neck.

I stopped back by there this afternoon on the way home to collect his antlers. Someone else had beaten me to it.

In retrospect, I should have called my daughter to come collect the animal. We could have recovered the hide and used the flesh at least for food for the dogs for a few days.

I do hunt, but not avidly. We eat what we kill or catch: rabbits, turkeys, perch, bluegill, etc. I've been deer hunting many times but have never actually taken one. 

We get quite a few hides from friends and family each year. My daughter and I flesh out and scrape the hides. She tans them later as suede and makes some clothing items for herself and for the grandchildren. 

I do hope to bag one later this year.