Just got invited to Kansas for Whitetails!

[35 Whelen]

Just ordered a couple of boxes of those 120gr/ .480 BC boattails to try and buck that Kansas wind! If my gun will shoot them ok, I will have the factory cut the CDS dail for that bullet at what ever Velocity shoots the best? I am guessing with this RL 25
That will be in the 3150/3200 fps area? Cant imagine the trajectory curve would be so different from the 117 SSTs that dail wouldnt work ok with them as well?
Anyway between taking a bullet designed for long range expansion, with highest BC available, one of the flatest shooting calibers, a scope that can compensate for elevation almost instantly, there may not be a buck safe in the state of Kansas!

 

[SJB358]

I'll be watching to see how they work for you. Without dialing a click, a 300 yard zero would get you to 400 without doing much of any holdover.

 

[35 Whelen]

Ten four on the 300 yd zero! What a wicked gun this thing really is ...... so little recoil but sooo much sting down at the target! Flat shootin son of a gun.....Quaterbores Rock! Gosh this thing would have been magic on sheep, goats, caribou were ever you had a long poke. Should have bought one years ago! Perfect gun for lady hunter or young man as well. I have no doubt sending a Ram, Billy or Big Buck
A package with a 120gr Boattail at 3200fps will certainly let them know you really mean bussiness! I am guessing this thing kills alot like a 264wm or 6.5 rem mag

 

[35 Whelen]

Here are three shot close to where we are headed!

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, any of those would get the heart pumping. They sure weren't around when I was a lad living in KS!

 

[35 Whelen]

Mike you sound like the fella we rented a cabin from in Kenora ,Ont back in 2009, be was 85 years
Old and told me he never saw a deer in Kenora till 1960's

 

[DrMike]

I was in my 30s and visiting family near Newton KS when I saw my first whitetail in the state. I spent the first 22 years of my life there and never saw a deer or a turkey! Now...

 

[BF375]

Kansas was a lot of fun last year! My first time there.Lots of deer and quite a few bucks, including several that I passed up bigger than what I killed. But that's trophy hunting some times!

I was invited back for 2016,so have a better handle on what to expect. Fabulous state and the best whitetail deer hunt I've had in the lower 48.

I think we did pretty good!


I think 35 Whelen is in for a great hunt there.

 

[35 Whelen]

BF375,
Looks like you Smashed them to me, looks like Maine in the 1950's!! Thanks for posting that! Those are some beautys!
Impressive.......

 

[SJB358]

Man, I don't remember that picture. Awesome stuff buddy.

 

[BF375]

35 Whelen: Thanks! I think you are really going to enjoy Kansas. It's a lot different from Maine,although both are great. :wink:


Scotty coulda sworn you had seen these.....I guess not LOL!

 

[DrMike]

Looks as if you've already cut the antlers off that first animal. :shock: Fantastic picture. Sure wish the state had produced such animals when I lived there. :grin:

 

[BF375]

DrMike we had doe tags, too!

 

[DrMike]

Hey, I was yanking your chain. :mrgreen: I could see. Consequently, I've grown old enough and shot enough bucks that I'm quite content any more to tag a doe (or a cow elk) when I can. I often go preferentially for whitetail does, in fact.

 

[possum]

KS whitetails...SWEET. There are some Big WT in KS without a doubt...Good Luck and i hope you crank a gooder....

 

[35 Whelen]

Thanks possum, I would be shocked if we could ever produce a pole full like that one BF 375 came up with, alot of those bucks look to me like they could be 4.5/ 5.5 year olds, indicating to me that property had lots of mature bucks getting to reach their potental. Because most folks are happy to shoot a 2.5 year old "thin horned" buck, its refreshing to know there may still be places where the deer have not been overhunted...... and its still possible to have an oppertunity to hunt a mature buck!

 

[BF375]

35: You are correct. The property did have a good population of mature bucks. But surprisingly the 1st and 3rd bucks on the pole were what the meat cutter thought were 3.5 years old....yes the one with the largest rack that gross scored over 160 was a 3.5 year old animal.

So was mine.

This is what I meant by not knowing what to expect. I passed up a solid mid 140's 10 point that I got to look over and figured he was "young" so did not shoot. Through the week we saw a few bucks (after we killed), that were in that 5.5 year old class and it was very apparent that they were bigger, blockier bucks. Having never been there, I had no frame of reference for the size of the deer. I admit the older bucks were bigger than I thought.

Below is the oldest buck of the three we killed,killed by my partner. This buck has about 160" on his head,gross score. I would guess his live weight about 270 pounds and dressed weight about 230.

Bottom line is they are bigger in the body than I thought. I will hold out for an older buck next time.

 

[35 Whelen]

Really interesting stuff 375, you guys did fantastic in Kansas! And those are some beautys! Question just for fun, what would you say in yards the avg shot was in distance for your whole group? My guys are telling me they are seeing big bucks slot at 3/500 yds?? They also cautioned me about 25kt crosswind they feel has lost them some huge racked bucks! None of these guys have any knowledge about doping wind
Or holding off...........so I am interested in your thoughts on that? In Maine folks like to brag about the deer's field dressed
Weight, and a 200 lber will earn you a "Biggest Bucks of Maine" patch, many hunters never get one in a lifetime!
I have friends that have taken 198,197 etc, but never a real 200lber, so those Kansas bucks are considered big deer
Here in Maine, not bragging but my personal best is 242lbs heavy 13pter, I have actually killed 16 over 200 and here is a collage of 9 of them , just for fun NOT bragging.......

 

[SJB358]

Great picture E. I can't get enough of the pics of those old bucks. Man...

 

[BF375]

35: Post up all you want! When a guy has killed 16 over 200 pounds from Maine he has lived a lifetime of hunting well spent and hard earned. Those are beauties!

When I kill a Maine buck that dresses over 200 I tell everybody! I know how hard it is. I tip my cap to you. Very well done.

I have only killed two in Maine that dressed over 200 but I was absent from the state for many years hunting elsewhere. In my advanced age I have slowed the pace and returned to my "roots".

Yes it's possible to see a big buck at very long range in Kansas,at least where I was in the central part of the state. The terrain consisted of vast upland high grass prairie,with cottonwood draws and riverine habitat which was very thick. Like whitetails anywhere they will show in the damnedest places.That said mine was killed at 50 yards, the other two at 175 and 250.

The wind does blow hard and consistently there. I saw a lot of guys with Remington Sendero-type rifles and big Nightforce scopes. I felt inadequate armed with a 270 and 2-10 variable. My partners used another 270 and a 6.5 Creedmoor.

I'd bring something reasonably flat shooting and prepare for shots out to 400-500 or so. Some guys I met came prepared for much further....out of my league,even though I do practice to 600 on a regular basis. I suspect trying a 500-600 yard shot on the place we hunt would get us thrown off. :grin: So that shooting is off my radar.

Another thing to note is that baiting is legal there,which caught me by surprise. We did not bait. The ranch owner does not allow it and i would not do it anyway.


Here is the rifle I used this year in Maine and Kansas. It's relatively new but a copy of what I have used for years. Pre 64 M70 FW action, 23" Krieger barrel, and Brown PoundR.Chambered 270 Winchester. Scope is a Schmidt-Bender Summit.