2nd Buck for the Year

[HeathSexton]

Went this morning in great weather 20 degrees, saw 2 HUGE gobblers about 11:00am and then 5 doe came by on a sprint at 11:40. I was sitting here watching football and I got bored. I put on my overalls and a parka and slipped up to the old barn expecting to see absolutely nothing. In 10 mins I had one small spike and one unicorn with about an 8" prong. I like to leave them be, I texted my wife and said 2 spikes, no answer. I texted, "you want me to smoke one " I close my phone and look up and a 9pt steps out. I picked up my new Savage 116 30/06, 59.5grs H4831 180gr NBT. The shot was 103yds, entered behind the right front shoulder and exited through the left with about a golf ball sized exit. A little dirt pushing and he was done. I have owned a 30/06 since 1992 and this is the 1st deer I have killed with that caliber. The 30/06 was Papaw's favorite caliber, so it was pretty cool to get with during the Thanksgiving break because that was the time that he and I always went hunting.

He isn't a giant but a good represenative of this area. I have taken lots of doe and I have let LOTS of 2's, 3's, 4's , 5's and 6's walk trying to get some good ones. Since 2006 I have taken 3 8pts, a huge 7pt, a 10pt and a 9 pt off this land where nothing larger than a small 8pt was taken for years.

 

[Powerstroke]

Great looking buck -

It's amazing what a slight amount of patience does for us :grin:

 

[DrMike]

Heath,

He is a fine looking buck. He has some mass and the tines are respectable. Good job. That 30-06 works right well. Guess those 180 BTs aren't bouncing off of those deer! :grin:

 

[JD338]

Heath,

Congratulations on a dandy buck. The 180 gr BT is a great choice for WT deer. :wink:

JD338

 

[HeathSexton]

Thanks guys. This is the rifle that I bought new and accuracy was really bad, went through several loads with no luck and found out the stock was not cast right, for lack of a better term. The bedding blocks were nearly flat and the action would just rock back and forth in the stock so I rebed the stock and it turned in a a real shooter real quick.


Mike, the 180 NBT will not bounce off deer, I was a little worried about that until now. :mrgreen:

 

[HTDUCK]

Good job!
Boredom can easily be cured by the 30-06 huh?

Oh and I don't think a 180 out of an 06 will bounce off an elk either :mrgreen:

 

[jmad_81]

Well done! I wish we had enough deer that we could shoot two a year in oregon.

 

[HeathSexton]

If I had the time and wanted to, I could take:

Archery - 2 doe
Muzzleloader - 1 doe
Rifle - buck only

I can take 3 bucks for the length of the season, Sept 25 - Jan 9


I wish we were back to a 2 buck limit

 

[Greg Nolan]

Fine looking buck indeed. Congrats :wink:

 

[Guest]

Hey buddy,
Nice lookin Buck, send one of those down my way. Everyone I hunt with has seen the big ones but me! Had a Spike Buck chasing a doe for 5-hrs. Sat. around my tree stand. The Little bugger wouldn't let her rest.They played cat and mouse for that time and bedded down many times. The Buck tried to catch my scent a few times down wind but couldn't. I had masked my scent really well. The buck circled directly under my stand 3 times then approached the ladder and looked up at me, we were eye to eye at about 18 feet ! He never could make out what I was. What an experience, just love Deer Hunting.
Anyway Congrats on putting the Hammer down on that Buck!!

Don

 

[FOTIS]

Congratulations I would not throw that one back!

 

[sask boy]

Good job.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

Nice buck Heath, as Pop said, I would never throw him back! Great shooting! Scotty

 

[Larry in SD]

Congrats on a nice buck. Yep it's a keeper so don't throw it back.

I have shot a lot of deer with a .30-06 since 1978 and never have shot a 180gr. Bullet, 150's and 165's don't bounce off deer either.

Larry