The Hunting Thread...

[Fodderwing]

I was sitting in a ladder stand with 3 shooting lanes that crow foot, left middle and right. Had a doe cross left going west just feeding. Few minutes later to my right a doe crossed to the right, just feeding.

About 830 a doe scoots into the left lane, squatted and urinated, tail sticking straight out. The doe is fidgeting, looking back, circling, etc. So, I get the rifle up on the trigger stick, brace against the shooting rail and wait. A few moments later, last year's fawn pops out. I think, no way that fawn is causing that doe so much anxiety.

Then I see 4 legs under some tree limbs. Finally ol big boy clears the tree, turns at a good angle and I line up the shot and let it rip. Buck reacts and I know I have a good shot placement, but does take of running, towards me. Just as I bolt another round in the buck ducks into the brush and weeds. I wait 15 minutes to calm down, climb down and go find my buck laying 10 yards off the lane.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

I was sitting in a ladder stand with 3 shooting lanes that crow foot, left middle and right. Had a doe cross left going west just feeding. Few minutes later to my right a doe crossed to the right, just feeding.

About 830 a doe scoots into the left lane, squatted and urinated, tail sticking straight out. The doe is fidgeting, looking back, circling, etc. So, I get the rifle up on the trigger stick, brace against the shooting rail and wait. A few moments later, last year's fawn pops out. I think, no way that fawn is causing that doe so much anxiety.

Then I see 4 legs under some tree limbs. Finally ol big boy clears the tree, turns at a good angle and I line up the shot and let it rip. Buck reacts and I know I have a good shot placement, but does take of running, towards me. Just as I bolt another round in the buck ducks into the brush and weeds. I wait 15 minutes to calm down, climb down and go find my buck laying 10 yards off the lane.

Sweet! What did you shoot him with? Range?

 

[Fodderwing]

Sweet! What did you shoot him with? Range?

125 yards or so. 7mm rem mag Ruger M77. 140 grain Nosler Accubond bullet.

This stand offers shots out to 300 yards, so I took enough gun to cover all of the bases.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

Great choice on the 7mm. Flat shooting and great terminal performance. Got the job done!!

 

[Fodderwing]

Great choice on the 7mm. Flat shooting and great terminal performance. Got the job done!!

On one lane on the stand you can see 400 plus yards. But a miss on a 400 yard shot would go into the neighboring property, so I just watch walk the deer off since I don't know who or what could be in the background. The stand is elevated 14 feet, plus on a bit of higher ground, so a 250 - 300 yard shot should stay on our side of the fence.

 

[Spearo Gator]

Better than a football game any day of the week.

Fine Buck!! Congrats!

 

[NVGator]

Buddy of mine last week.

 

[NVGator]

Another Buddy of mine today.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

Nice Elk and Dahl Sheep!! Congrats to your buddies! Gotta walk and climb a lot of miles to get either of those animals.

 

[NVGator]

Nice Elk and Dahl Sheep!! Congrats to your buddies! Gotta walk and climb a lot of miles to get either of those animals.

Elk hunt was done in 3 days. Today marks 1 week for the sheep.

 

[CDGator]

The moment a caribou sheds its velvet.

 

[Fodderwing]

The spike buck I killed in LA running dogs last week.

Well, part of him.

He qualified for the Spoon & Crockpot Club.

Used the Mississippi roast recipe to make venison stew.

 

[Spearo Gator]

 

[Spearo Gator]

Geez. Attaching the pics is giving me a fit. Finally got one down in GA. Not a beast but a solid GA buck. Thought I missed due to suffering from buck fever. I had almost given up looking for him and was sick to my stomach when I finally found him. Then back to pure excitement and relief. I ended up hitting him right where I wanted (behind the arm pit) trying to double lung him. Shooting Browning 7mm. 70 yards. No blood trail found. Bullet didn’t exit. Happy hunter here! More cube steak!!
Going back for one more hunt Mon-Wed. Merry Christmas all.

 

[Spearo Gator]

Doing euro mount.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

Holy crap thats a nice buck. Love those brow tines. Congrats to you for sticking with the search and not giving up. When you get him processed, tell us where the bullet went. A 7mm at 70 yards should tear the hell out of the dirt on the other side of the deer.

 

[Fodderwing]

Geez. Attaching the pics is giving me a fit. Finally got one down in GA. Not a beast but a solid GA buck. Thought I missed due to suffering from buck fever. I had almost given up looking for him and was sick to my stomach when I finally found him. Then back to pure excitement and relief. I ended up hitting him right where I wanted (behind the arm pit) trying to double lung him. Shooting Browning 7mm. 70 yards. No blood trail found. Bullet didn’t exit. Happy hunter here! More cube steak!!
Going back for one more hunt Mon-Wed. Merry Christmas all.

I like those red foreheads frequently seen on GA bucks.

 

[Spearo Gator]

Holy crap thats a nice buck. Love those brow tines. Congrats to you for sticking with the search and not giving up. When you get him processed, tell us where the bullet went. A 7mm at 70 yards should tear the hell out of the dirt on the other side of the deer.

Thanks and me too on the brow tines! He actually has 2 small kickers on the back side of each tine big enough to put a ring on. So I guess “technically” you could call him a 10…? I’m calling him an 8.
I’m ashamed to say it but thus far I do not process my own deer. I take it to a local place so unfortunately I won’t know where the bullet ended up. I do want to start doing my own though.
I can tell you there wasn’t one drop of blood anywhere which is why I couldn’t initially find him and I was by myself. Blood on the ground in pic was from his mouth.
He ran less than 100 yards and there was a spike out as well. They were zig zagging a little as they ran and in the heat of the moment I wasn’t sure who went where.
I could barely climb down from the stand my knees were shaking so bad. Pure adrenaline and excitement!

 

[Spearo Gator]

Entry

 

[Fodderwing]

View attachment 52737
Entry

Bullet probably lodged in the left shoulder. A couple inches left would likely have been a pass through and a blood trail.

A little higher would have taken out the spinal column.

All in all, a clean kill.