2025 Hunting Season

[Ralt71]

I recall an outdoor show that featured an interview with a woman who was a Sako rep in North America. To quote her "say-ko" is a watch, "sock- oh" is a rifle.

Dang it all hahaha

 

[NYDAN]

Took Fritz for a walk this morning after the snow stopped. Grabbed my rifle since antlerless season is in here in WV and we headed down an old logging road behind the house. Once we got down in the holler I looked up and saw a doe coming down the hill toward us. We quickly tucked in behind a blow down. Frits sat close to me and watched as I set up the shot. He never moved or barked even at the shot. Was hoping he would get to track her but she didn’t go far after taking a hand loaded 168gr Ballistic tip with a max load of Varget from my recently rebarreled Ruger #1V to 308. Called the Wife for a ride back up . She wasn’t happy driving down the logging road in the snow but she showed up anyway.

Congratulations. Sounds like you have a very well-behaved dog.

 

[highoctane]

Top buck was shot with my 280 Rem, 57.5 grs of IMR7828 and a 154 gr SST. Range was 80yds. The way you see this laying is the way I found him.

Second buck was shot with my 7-08. 42.5 grs of Varget with a 140 gr Sierra Gameking. Range was 50 yds

 

[DrMike]

A couple of beautiful bucks. Congratulations.

 

[RL338]

Congrats on a nice pair of bucks.

 

[sako2]

Congrats on 2 beautiful bucks.

 

[Wolfshead]

Wow!
Deer like that are once in a lifetime Bucks around here!
Congrats

 

[NYDAN]

Congratulations on a pair of beautiful bucks. Your loads worked perfectly.

 

[Aussie Wanderer]

Great shooting, very nice bucks. One and done.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Those are quite a pair of bucks. Congratulations and good cartridges to boot. Dan.

 

[JD338]

A couple of dandy bucks for sure, congratulations.

JD338

 

[Slimfinn]

Couple nice bucks there

 

[Ralt71]

Very nice bucks! Looks like you had a great season.

 

[Hunter26]

Great bucks @highoctane

I used to really like the high shoulder shot but have moved back to double lung. I dropped one of the biggest bucks I've ever seen with a high shoulder shot, he regained his feet after a about 30 seconds of not noving at all and I never saw him again. Not much blood either. My fault for obviously pulling the shot a touch higher than aimed and not doing a follow up shot as he tried getting up. I was convinced he would stop moving at any moment. I still use it in certain situations but not my go to anymore.

I also bloodied my Sig P220 Hunter in 10mm this morning.

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations on a fine shot.

 

[Ralt71]

Great bucks @highoctane

I used to really like the high shoulder shot but have moved back to double lung. I dropped one of the biggest bucks I've ever seen with a high shoulder shot, he regained his feet after a about 30 seconds of not noving at all and I never saw him again. Not much blood either. My fault for obviously pulling the shot a touch higher than aimed and not doing a follow up shot as he tried getting up. I was convinced he would stop moving at any moment. I still use it in certain situations but not my go to anymore.

I also bloodied my Sig P220 Hunter in 10mm this morning.

Does the high shoulder require a follow up to finish em, or was that instant circumstantial?

 

[salmonchaser]

Yep, that looks just about perfect.

 

[Blkram]

Does the high shoulder require a follow up to finish em, or was that instant circumstantial?

If the high shoulder shot is a little too high, it won't break the back or cut the spinal cord, and after it regains consciousness, or the initial shock of hitting a spine projection that knocked it down has worn off, it will get up and run off due to its non-lethal wound.
(This happens more often than many people realize, as most won't talk about it due to embarassment, or poor ethical practice where they will not cut their tag, and continue hunting.)
If it is a touch too far back, it will usually require finishing shot, despite the wound paralyzing the animal.
If it is far enough forward it will usually cause instant death. You'll learn where this point is over time. Easier to hit it on quartering shots where you angle the shot so that the wound channel encounters a length of the spine vs broadside where it only hits one point of the spine.
But always be prepared for a follow up shot! Any additional movement, and you should be shooting immediately. A second shot is cheaper and easier than a long trailing job, that may net nothing.
Better yet, shoot again anyways. It's called an insurance shot for a reason!
(On animals that can bite back, it is highly recommended, and in Africa, PHs will insist on it for DG.)

 

[Hunter26]

Does the high shoulder require a follow up to finish em, or was that instant circumstantial?

Circumstantial. If placed correctly they drop and die quickly. Blkram is spot on in his response. The more I used the shot, the more I realized I needed to be ready for a second shot. Most of the time it was not needed, but mistakes were painful, such as that big buck getting away!

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Got my first deer ever. Late antlerless season. Used the 358 Norma Mag because it's close quarters public land bordering private land and I don't want to have to track blood trails onto private land so need something that will drop the deer on the spot which the 358 Norma did perfectly.