Dan and I taking out some whitetails

xphunter

Handloader
Sep 15, 2005
1,239
2,225
Every year Dan Ekstrom and I look forward to going just outside of Story, Wyoming to do some Whitetail hunting in some beautiful country. There’s not really a shot opportunity much beyond 250 yards, and many shots, are much closer. The best way to describe our time together there is, “Fun!”
This year proved no different. I had a couple of doe tags, and I wanted to christen the Remington Custom Shop XP-100, chambered in 250 Savage, using some plain old soft-point 100 grain Hornady ammunition.
250 Sav tripod.jpg
250 Sav factory.jpg
I also wanted to draw first blood for me anyway, with the Blaser 308 Winchester rear-grip specialty pistol using the 155 grain A-Max.
Blaser on RRS tripod.jpg
Dan was using his 4 inch 629 Smith and Wesson 44 Magnum, with a hand loaded 240 grain Hornady XTP HP. He had just put a new dot sight on it, and was eager to give it a try. On Tuesday morning because it was really early. We decided to set up in what I call the “honey hole” of this area. We have killed a lot of bucks and does from this location. The 250 Savage was up first for me, and it did not disappoint. Dan heard some noise down to our left, in the trees. It was an area we could not see. I kept checking and looking down and left, and Dan saw her first, and she was coming up the hill directly at us. I had the XP-100 set up on a tripod with a PRS bag, and I had to swing left and shoot down hill. Without really even thinking about it, I switched and shot right-handed. That was one and done at 26 yards, with a shot to the heart. The doe ran around 60ish yards down hill, and then piled up.
I went and put up the 250 Savage, and got out the Blaser 308 Winchester, and set it up on the tri-pod. Wouldn’t you know it, like 15 minutes later or so, some does were crossing on a two track that’s at the far reaches of where we could shoot, which is around the 225 yard mark. The opening to shoot is about the width of two vehicles wide.
I told Dan to shoot her with his H-S Precision HSP chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, and he told me to shoot, because he wanted to save his tag for a buck.
Dan 6.5 Creed HSP.jpg
I made a loud bleat and got her to stop, and the 308 Winchester with a 155 grain A-Max dropped her literally on the spot . This time I took off the top of her heart. Dan had his H-S Precision 6.5 Creedmoor, that he wanted to take an animal with, but he also had his S&W 44 Magnum. We decided to stay there and see what else would show up, and then Dan started to do some rattling. About 20 minutes later, Dan hears something coming up behind us to our right looks back and there’s a deer. The deer sees us and is trying to figure out what we are. He moves off into some heavy cover almost directly behind us, Dan gets up and makes a standing off-hand shot at 58 yards and drops that buck on the spot . He must’ve been a fighter because he broke off one whole side of his antler.
IMG_3174.jpeg
The two does were drug to the same spot for pictures. And the buck was drug for about 40 yards out of the heavy cover for pictures.
Dan also found a fairly large mountain lion and black bear tracks on the previous day.
It was a really good morning outside of Story, Wyoming.
Blaser & 250 Savage Better pic.jpg
 
What a wonderful Thanksgiving story. Congratulations on bagging some exceptional game. I’m happy for you guys.
 
Well, Ernie, that's whackin' and stackin'. It sure does appear to be a "honey hole." Such places are special. Fine work with the hand canons. Congratulations, and have a blessed Thanksgiving Day.
 
Nicely done Ernie. Congratulations to both of you at the honey hole.

JD338
 
If we were looking for trophy animals, we would be passing on a lot of deer.
There is almost always unlimited doe whitetail tags for this area, or at least they have never run out.
For doe hunting or shooting any buck if one of us has a general deer tag that hasn't been filled, it is a great place to hunt.
Last year I shot a really nice buck with double brow tines here for the area with my center-grip 6.5-284. I was in a cast last year at this time.
2022 Deer Story.jpg
 
Unusual makes for memorable. Ernie, glad you're beyond the cast. Surgeries, while necessary, do take a lot of the fun out of our lives.
 
I am very grateful to be mobile again. The last 1.75 years has been not the best. Now it is time to start hitting the gym again, clean up my diet, and start to get some strength and endurance back
 
Hey Ernie- Thanks for the stories and the pics. Again so glad you could get out. Looks like you had good weather this year too! Like the idea of that XP in 250! CL
 
Hey Ernie- Thanks for the stories and the pics. Again so glad you could get out. Looks like you had good weather this year too! Like the idea of that XP in 250! CL
The 250 Savage has always held a special place, since Bob Milek used it in a XP-100 so much.
 
The 250 Savage has always held a special place, since Bob Milek used it in a XP-100 so much.
I remember reading Bob Milek articles and his XP-100 in 250 Savage. I believe he lived in your neck of the woods.
Glad you are back to doing what you love to do.

JD338
 
Those are some great adventures to be shared and remembered for years to come! Not to mention some good eating in the interim!
The 250 Savage is a great cartridge that would get a lot more loving if more people tried it!
 
I remember reading Bob Milek articles and his XP-100 in 250 Savage. I believe he lived in your neck of the woods.
Glad you are back to doing what you love to do.

JD338
Thermopolis.
Sadly, I never met him. He died quite a bit before we moved to Wyoming.
 
Great shooting. Quick question xphunter, do you wear hearing protection when using handguns while hunting? I'm guessing they are loud compared to a traditional rifle. A goal of mine is to shoot a deer with a handgun sometime.
 
Great shooting. Quick question xphunter, do you wear hearing protection when using handguns while hunting? I'm guessing they are loud compared to a traditional rifle. A goal of mine is to shoot a deer with a handgun sometime.
If I can enable in any on your handgun hunting journey, please let me know 😇
I Always wear hearing protection when hunting. You don't need to go this expensive ($250-$300) by any means, but with my yearly match, pd shooting, and some LR classes I have these on for a long time for a day or several days in a row. I like the behind the ear type

Sordin Supreme Pro-X Ear Defenders for Hunting & Shooting - Active & Electronic Ear Muffs - Neckband Band & Gel Kits​

Short barrels make things worse, and muzzle brakes (Which I have on most of my specialty pistols) add to that.
Are you looking to use a semi-auto, revolver or single shot specialty pistol?
 
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