2025 Hunting Season
- Thread starter JD338
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #382
- Nov 4, 2004
- 26,787
- 12,827
Congratulations on your deer.
There's no replacement for displacement.
Nicely done.
JD338
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 38,120
- 8,135
Well, that deer took a thumping! Good show!
RL338
Handloader
- Mar 23, 2017
- 4,415
- 7,718
Hunter26
Handloader
- Jul 10, 2024
- 289
- 740
Congrats on your first deer! No such thing as overkill.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,169
- 8,077
It's been an interesting year. In February I took a mule deer doe with the 6.5 Creedmoor in Washington.
Then after 31 years in Washington we pulled up stakes and moved to Oklahoma! Good grief. I could write something lengthy about why we left Washington, but frankly, Washington left us and we had to leave. I'd been pushing for several years. Finally after the election in Nov 2024, Mama told me "we need to get out of here." She was right. It's a beautiful state, run by terrible people. Maybe it will come back. I don't have the years or the bank account to survive that storm.
So... Oklahoma... We like it here. We sold in Washington and bought a newer, better, smaller home in Oklahoma for cash and put money in the bank as well.
Hunting and shooting... Ah... Joined two gun clubs, a 25 yard indoor range about 10 minutes away and a really cool older rifle range an hour or so away.
Hunting... I didn't have time to establish residency, scout hunting land etc... Pastor of the local church has said I can hunt hogs and does on his property. I signed up for a couple of high fence hunts, just to get some shooting in:
1. Small wild hog at about 30 yards with my 44 magnum Ruger revolver. The Hornady 240 grain XTP penetrated completely and there was one heck of a blood trail for 30 or 40 yards then a dead hog. Bullet exited.
2. Eating sized sow at about 25 yards with the 45-70 Marlin and a 350 grain RNSP Hornady at about 2060 fps. Instant drop and death. Recovered bullet was impressive and the meat has been excellent. Made a pork roast for Christmas dinner and it was excellent.
3. Took a decent Axis buck with my 25-06 and a 100 grain Barnes TTSX at 3350 fps. Bullet exited, about a 40 yard death run and an easy to track blood trail. Just enjoyed Axis deer chili again this evening.
Haven't been using many Nosler bullets recently but intend to soon. I have a surplus of 185 grain bullets for my 45 ACP. Hope to use many of them. Am doing an awful lot of handgun shooting in the past few months as we settle into becoming Okies.
Regards, Guy
Then after 31 years in Washington we pulled up stakes and moved to Oklahoma! Good grief. I could write something lengthy about why we left Washington, but frankly, Washington left us and we had to leave. I'd been pushing for several years. Finally after the election in Nov 2024, Mama told me "we need to get out of here." She was right. It's a beautiful state, run by terrible people. Maybe it will come back. I don't have the years or the bank account to survive that storm.
So... Oklahoma... We like it here. We sold in Washington and bought a newer, better, smaller home in Oklahoma for cash and put money in the bank as well.
Hunting and shooting... Ah... Joined two gun clubs, a 25 yard indoor range about 10 minutes away and a really cool older rifle range an hour or so away.
Hunting... I didn't have time to establish residency, scout hunting land etc... Pastor of the local church has said I can hunt hogs and does on his property. I signed up for a couple of high fence hunts, just to get some shooting in:
1. Small wild hog at about 30 yards with my 44 magnum Ruger revolver. The Hornady 240 grain XTP penetrated completely and there was one heck of a blood trail for 30 or 40 yards then a dead hog. Bullet exited.
2. Eating sized sow at about 25 yards with the 45-70 Marlin and a 350 grain RNSP Hornady at about 2060 fps. Instant drop and death. Recovered bullet was impressive and the meat has been excellent. Made a pork roast for Christmas dinner and it was excellent.
3. Took a decent Axis buck with my 25-06 and a 100 grain Barnes TTSX at 3350 fps. Bullet exited, about a 40 yard death run and an easy to track blood trail. Just enjoyed Axis deer chili again this evening.
Haven't been using many Nosler bullets recently but intend to soon. I have a surplus of 185 grain bullets for my 45 ACP. Hope to use many of them. Am doing an awful lot of handgun shooting in the past few months as we settle into becoming Okies.
Regards, Guy
8mm Enthusiast
Beginner
- Jul 6, 2025
- 58
- 66
Looks great. Good to hear the update. I know a few of us here at the forum hadn't heard from you in a while. Nice hogs and deer. I personally have been curious about hunting hogs during the summer in Oklahoma on public land and what that would be like with the heat, insects, snakes, and other logistics being that I would be a non-resident hunter.
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Glad to hear you've landed and are surviving!
How far was your shot on the Axis? I've heard they taste amazing, how would you rate it vs elk or whitetail? I'm hoping to hunt them on a trip to Hawaii in the next couple years.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,169
- 8,077
8mm Enthusiast - we got here in late summer.. The heat and humidity are formidable. Snakes yes. Chiggers yes. Ticks, thankfully I don't know. Summer months are awfully hot and humid. Oklahoma is the fourth highest state for snake bites... I'm not figuring on hunting much in summer.
Slimfinn - so far we've only made chili, yesterday, with the Axis deer. Kinda hard to tell if Axis is wonderful or not when it's in chili. Everyone tells me that is' excellent. I hope to do a roast or some steaks soon with a better report.
My shot was silly short. I had a mono-metal 100 gr bullet at 3350 fps from my 25-06 and shot the buck at maybe 50 yards... All that velocity was certainly not needed!
Regards, Guy
Slimfinn - so far we've only made chili, yesterday, with the Axis deer. Kinda hard to tell if Axis is wonderful or not when it's in chili. Everyone tells me that is' excellent. I hope to do a roast or some steaks soon with a better report.
My shot was silly short. I had a mono-metal 100 gr bullet at 3350 fps from my 25-06 and shot the buck at maybe 50 yards... All that velocity was certainly not needed!
Regards, Guy
- Thread starter
- #392
- Nov 4, 2004
- 26,787
- 12,827
Guy,
Welcome back! We have missed you my friend.
You've certainly been busy. Glad you got some hunting in. Hogs are fun to hunt and tasty!
JD338
Welcome back! We have missed you my friend.
You've certainly been busy. Glad you got some hunting in. Hogs are fun to hunt and tasty!
JD338
RL338
Handloader
- Mar 23, 2017
- 4,415
- 7,718
Guy , congrats on the piggies and axis.
Hunter26
Handloader
- Jul 10, 2024
- 289
- 740
Haven't seen you post in a while @Guy Miner . Glad to see you back and doing some hunting. Excellent hunts and love the revolver kill.
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 18,169
- 8,077
Not yet. There's a fellow here locally who does that training a few times in the OKC area. I may have his name and number here someplace. Hope so!
Guy
