Knocked down a couple

Jhop

LSB Active Member
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IMG_20181224_074730890.jpg One of the Ranch managers I hunt for let's me take one deer per year. However I have to shoot one of his ranch hands a Doe first. The particular property is only 300 acres or so and just the one ranch hand takes care of it for the most part. While I hunt pigs on this place 4-6 times a month, it's never during the day. Lucky for me the ranch hand gave me the all the info I needed on the daytime deer movement. So I set up under a big oak tree looking across a big open bottom. Wind is blowing fromfthe south. Just like clockwork I see a small group of Doe walking along a small tank. I quickly realized I should have set up in a different location. Oh well, I range the creep feeder at 240 yards. The Doe I shoot is past that, I figured at least a 250 yard shot. It was now or never I adjust my scope to 250 yards, put the cross hairs on the her neck. I'm standing up shooting off a tripod got just a tad bit if wobble. Too much for me to take a high next shot, so I switch to a low neck shot just in front of the shoulder. I squeeze the trigger and the 180gr Sierra gameking stikes home. Only missed my point of aim by about an inch and a half. The Doe dropped in her tracks with a puff of hair flying in the air. The other Doe in the group jump but only go 10 yards or so. My Savage model 10 FCP-SR with suppressor is really quite. One even walked back to check on her. At this point I'm thinking I'll get a Doe for myself too. The Doe I pick out is now about 275 yards out. As I'm getting ready for the shot I see a couple bucks in the background. I wait, but they head stick to the tree line as they until they suddenly dash across the bottom clearly. Too far and moving to fast for me. I didn't want to take the chance on a 450 yard shot on a moving buck.
 

Jhop

LSB Active Member
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Fast forward to the next weekend. I've got a north wind this time and I set up so the deer will be closing on me. Again, like clockwork I see a group of Doe crossing the field heading to the bottom clearing. This time about halfway across the clearing I'd put 5 applies that I cut into quarters out across the area I thought they'd cross. No bucks! I count over 10 Doe. As the head to the tree line they disappear. I thought I'd missed my chance. I could have shot one about 250 yards out no problem. I'm in a pop up deer blind this time and I'm thinking they seen it and scared off. I'm sitting there disappointed but not willing to quit just yet when two Doe appear. Slowly the rest of the group appears and begin jumping the fence into the bottom clearing. At the back of the group are two bucks following them. Not the big boy I'd seen last week but big enough to be legal. I decided to take the bigger of the two. They were walking pretty fast when one of the Doe stopped to eat on of the apples. Minutes go by while the group eats the apples. I can't get a clear shot on the buck. They've closed the distance to 150 yards, maybe a little less. Finally I get a clear shot. It's a front quartering shot. I squeeze the trigger and the 180 gr Sierra gameking hit just inside the front right shoulder and exits out the last rib on the left side. Buck does a crop hop and takes off on a dead run spraying blood and lung everywhere. Hits the group after about 25 yards and slides and kicks for another ten. This time the rest of the deer scattered. Not a trophy, but it'll eat good.IMG_20181229_082904769_HDR.jpg IMG_20181229_084640893_HDR.jpg
 

der Teufel

Livin' the Dream …
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Nicely done, congratulations.
Best of the New Year to you!
 

Chopperdrvr

Deep East Tx
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Nice! Hope you have just as good of a year in 2019
 

Jhop

LSB Active Member
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I think I'll head back tonight and see if I can't catch some pigs coming into that bottom along the river. Seen lots of pig damage there.
 

Ratdog68

LSB Official Story Teller
LSB TURKEY BUZZARD PRESERVATION SOCIETY
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LoneStarBoars Supporter
C'mon, Jhop… have a heart. Awe, look... you broke his heart. Congrats on a nice buck.
 

Jhop

LSB Active Member
SUS VENATOR CLUB
Great shot. What caliber & ammo were you using?
I was shooting my own .308 reloads using 40.9 grains of IMR4064 and Sierra 180 grain GameKings. They load crony's about 2525. I could push it harder but but it's hard to argue with 1/2 moa. I actually have a 1/4 moa load for the same rifle using 150gr Sierras gamkings but I wanted to go with the heavier load to buck the wind better at longer ranges.
 

lonepunman

LSB Active Member
LoneStarBoars Supporter
You do well in squeezing every bit of juice out of what you’ve got.
 
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