elkeater2
Handloader
- Jan 5, 2009
- 758
- 70
2015 was not a good hunting year for me. It started with a clean miss on a 285 yard antelope that I over-estimated range on (no rangefinder that day) and shot over. The only other antelope got busted by some guys who'd read too much "long range hunter" stuff without doing their homework.
I didn't draw the limited deer tag I put in for, and my local short general tag season was interrupted with family concerns. Fell off my camper Oct. 12th and got banged up. No elk hunt after that. Then I had a heart attack Nov. 14. These are not excuses, just the way it all happened.
My wife and I truly enjoy our game meat and rely on it most years for the majority of our red meat diet. Fortunately, friends and family with plenty on hand shared with us. The only thing that really suffered was my ego and track record!
I've got a .223 Rem heavy 26" barrel for my Encore. Great prairie dog setup and well used. Wyoming legalized .223 and such with proper bullets a couple years ago, so I got some of the Nosler 64 gr. BSB's after reading about them here in our bullet tests. Developed a good load, then this spring my son used it for a 200+ yd shot on his turkey (legal here). I contemplated using the little caliber on deer if circumstances allowed.
This year, I did draw an extra whitetail doe/fawn tag for my home ground. Last evening, it all came together - right at sundown, mature doe lit up in the setting sun broadside, 135 yards. She was gorgeous, with a reddish hue to her coat. Gotta admit I was a little shaky (that's part of why we hunt, right?). Bullet struck mid-shoulder, somewhat forward. Passed through the opposite shoulder just short of the point. No bullet recovery. Can't believe how excited I became! If I have no more success this year, I'm satisfied.
Thanks to Nosler for an excellent bullet, and for this forum where the class of the shooting internet shares so much!
EE2
I didn't draw the limited deer tag I put in for, and my local short general tag season was interrupted with family concerns. Fell off my camper Oct. 12th and got banged up. No elk hunt after that. Then I had a heart attack Nov. 14. These are not excuses, just the way it all happened.
My wife and I truly enjoy our game meat and rely on it most years for the majority of our red meat diet. Fortunately, friends and family with plenty on hand shared with us. The only thing that really suffered was my ego and track record!
I've got a .223 Rem heavy 26" barrel for my Encore. Great prairie dog setup and well used. Wyoming legalized .223 and such with proper bullets a couple years ago, so I got some of the Nosler 64 gr. BSB's after reading about them here in our bullet tests. Developed a good load, then this spring my son used it for a 200+ yd shot on his turkey (legal here). I contemplated using the little caliber on deer if circumstances allowed.
This year, I did draw an extra whitetail doe/fawn tag for my home ground. Last evening, it all came together - right at sundown, mature doe lit up in the setting sun broadside, 135 yards. She was gorgeous, with a reddish hue to her coat. Gotta admit I was a little shaky (that's part of why we hunt, right?). Bullet struck mid-shoulder, somewhat forward. Passed through the opposite shoulder just short of the point. No bullet recovery. Can't believe how excited I became! If I have no more success this year, I'm satisfied.
Thanks to Nosler for an excellent bullet, and for this forum where the class of the shooting internet shares so much!
EE2
