DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
Great old bear. Definitely has some size. Congratulations.
2018 Hunting Pictures
- Thread starter JD338
- Start date
I got my buck yesterday before dark. I was fortunate enough to get a chance at a buck I'd had around for a few years, a 5 or 6 year old 10pt that grosses 161.5" Not my biggest but a darn nice buck I was happy to get. I think he was 6 this year. I've seen him for 3 years and he has not changed much in rack size, I think he was 4 when I first spotted him and was still in his prime. I shot him at 370 yards with my Rifles Inc 300 win mag and a 180gr Nosler E tip at 2900fps. The buck was quartering toward me and I shot him right inside the near front quarter, found the on the off side in front of his hip. The bullet performed very well.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
Definitely some good mass in that fine buck. Picture perfect performance by the E-Tip. I've certainly found them to be an excellent choice in several cartridges in which I use them.
Thanks guys. Shot him in KS. I need to weigh the E tip but it sure looks pretty. I was shocked to keep one in a whitetail honestly but it penetrated a lot of deer before the hide stopped it. The range was on the longer side too so it was slowed down a lot. That elastic hide takes a lot to penetrate with a fully expanded bullet. I'll keep using them.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
It never ceases to amaze me to see such deer in KS. I spent the first twenty years of my life in KS and never saw a deer the whole time. Now, it is a destination for hunters. Talk about a conservation success. Deer and turkey are plentiful near my natal home. Just fascinating. Now, if they could just get black bear.
My Dad and Uncle remember those days, before Kansas had deer.
Kansas isn't what it was a few years ago. The EHD outbreak in 2012 hit our area hard and we lost a lot of great genetics. The age class is recovering, but the older bucks aren't what they were. The increase in popularity and pressure is resulting in a lot of young 130-150" bucks with great genetic not reaching the age needed to have the giant racks people associate with Kansas. Those bucks make more mistakes and are easier to kill. That means a lot of bucks with lesser genetics are getting to be the mature and dominant bucks that control an area. Also allowing a lot of technology and feeding has changed the game. Everyone running feeders and concentrating deer made the 2012 outbreak worse I think. Also with Kansas getting so popular there just aren't un-pressured areas anymore so the deer get smart and nocturnal. That said it's still better than a lot of places. Having a gun season outside the primary rut makes for tough hunting and less mortality on the big boys. It lets more bucks hit the age class necessary to be giants and spread those genetics longer. As a resident hunting the land I ranch on and know intimately I seem to average an exceptional deer about every 3-4 years. I usually hunt some during muzzle loader season if I have a good one spotted and every morning and night of the gun season to have that success, plus spend a lot of time with cameras and glass scouting.
This buck I had scouted and watched feed each of the 2 evenings prior to the gun season opening. I saw him the opening evening of gun season at over 800 yards before dark. That was the last sighting of him until last night when I got him. Daylight activity is limited on these bigger ones, it takes a lot of time to be in the right spot when one makes a mistake. That or a lot of luck and sometimes a combination of the two.
Kansas isn't what it was a few years ago. The EHD outbreak in 2012 hit our area hard and we lost a lot of great genetics. The age class is recovering, but the older bucks aren't what they were. The increase in popularity and pressure is resulting in a lot of young 130-150" bucks with great genetic not reaching the age needed to have the giant racks people associate with Kansas. Those bucks make more mistakes and are easier to kill. That means a lot of bucks with lesser genetics are getting to be the mature and dominant bucks that control an area. Also allowing a lot of technology and feeding has changed the game. Everyone running feeders and concentrating deer made the 2012 outbreak worse I think. Also with Kansas getting so popular there just aren't un-pressured areas anymore so the deer get smart and nocturnal. That said it's still better than a lot of places. Having a gun season outside the primary rut makes for tough hunting and less mortality on the big boys. It lets more bucks hit the age class necessary to be giants and spread those genetics longer. As a resident hunting the land I ranch on and know intimately I seem to average an exceptional deer about every 3-4 years. I usually hunt some during muzzle loader season if I have a good one spotted and every morning and night of the gun season to have that success, plus spend a lot of time with cameras and glass scouting.
This buck I had scouted and watched feed each of the 2 evenings prior to the gun season opening. I saw him the opening evening of gun season at over 800 yards before dark. That was the last sighting of him until last night when I got him. Daylight activity is limited on these bigger ones, it takes a lot of time to be in the right spot when one makes a mistake. That or a lot of luck and sometimes a combination of the two.
35 Whelen
Handloader
- Dec 22, 2011
- 2,237
- 516
1st coyote down as we now have 6/8" of good ice. Let the games begin!
I took this one opening weekend in Nov with my lab pup as my 'assistant'.
6.5x55 Swede, 142 LRAB at a whopping 122 yards.
Took another doe the second weekend, no pics on her, and a Fallow doe the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Again, no pics.
Today was the first time I could get out there since Thanksgiving. My dawn stand was a bust so I took a little hike and stumbled up on this fellow. Same Swede, same load, 150-ish yards. 12 scorable poiints and he'll fit into the freezer just fine. (Lab pup was there but opted to sleep in the truck instead).
6.5x55 Swede, 142 LRAB at a whopping 122 yards.
Took another doe the second weekend, no pics on her, and a Fallow doe the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Again, no pics.
Today was the first time I could get out there since Thanksgiving. My dawn stand was a bust so I took a little hike and stumbled up on this fellow. Same Swede, same load, 150-ish yards. 12 scorable poiints and he'll fit into the freezer just fine. (Lab pup was there but opted to sleep in the truck instead).
Cleveland48
Handloader
- Jul 28, 2015
- 1,972
- 166
Beautiful buck! Congrats! Glad to see the Swede still going strong.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
Impressive headgear, that's for sure. Congratulations on a fine buck and the earlier fine dining you brought home. You've done well.
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,397
- 1,056
MC and Bbear- Nice Bucks!! Wish I could get on a coyote....good looking hide there. Heck of a skid mark... What'd ya do...hit him with a 12 ga. :shock: 
Don't know much about bears...but that is a great pic. Looks like fun! CL
Don't know much about bears...but that is a great pic. Looks like fun! CLBbear,
Where are you hunting?
I hear that axis deer is some of the finest venison on the planet. It is definitely on my bucket list of animals to hunt, along with Blackbuck.
Have always thought that I would use my 250Ai for that hunt. Obviously my 6.5 Swede would be a great choice as well!
Where are you hunting?
I hear that axis deer is some of the finest venison on the planet. It is definitely on my bucket list of animals to hunt, along with Blackbuck.
Have always thought that I would use my 250Ai for that hunt. Obviously my 6.5 Swede would be a great choice as well!
