pharmseller
Handloader
- Feb 13, 2012
- 554
- 89
We were hunting alfalfa fields that butt up against sparsely timbered ridges. The deer would appear (if they showed at all) at first and last light. First the does and fawns, then maybe, just maybe a buck would show up. Tuesday was a maybe night.
The deer were uncharacteristically spooky. At one point we stopped to glass a small bunch around 450 yards away. As soon as we got out of the car they bolted into the trees. No easy shots this year.
Tuesday night we set up on the north field, since we had seen the most activity in that field. No bucks, but plenty of does. I was on the spotter set up behind a berm trying to put horns on a doe to no avail. We were losing light fast. While I was looking at the left edge of the field my dad told me he could see more deer entering the field on the right.
I swivelled the spotter that way and immediately found the deer in the tall grass on the other side of the fence. Two deer were acting strangely but I realized they were sparring. Okay, just jump the fence. I got a reading with my laser rangefinder, 560 yards. After they jumped the fence the bucks sparred closer, to 541 yards. Check the range card, dial the scope, find the bigger one again. I practice regularly to 600 yards but ringing steel and shooting blood are different endeavors.
I was on a solid rest by this time and began the routine. Breathe in, let it out, breathe in, halfway out, squeeeeeze...BOOM! Up on his hind legs like a horse, I knew he was hit hard. He didn't even run. The 140 Partition from my 7mm-08 broke his right scapula on the way in, double lung, and broke the shoulder knuckle (dang) on the way out. We figured 1926 fps at impact.
Not a bad buck, but the body on him was impressive. He's on the right. Tagged immediately after.
We went 5 for 5, all with my handloads.
It was a good year.
P
The deer were uncharacteristically spooky. At one point we stopped to glass a small bunch around 450 yards away. As soon as we got out of the car they bolted into the trees. No easy shots this year.
Tuesday night we set up on the north field, since we had seen the most activity in that field. No bucks, but plenty of does. I was on the spotter set up behind a berm trying to put horns on a doe to no avail. We were losing light fast. While I was looking at the left edge of the field my dad told me he could see more deer entering the field on the right.
I swivelled the spotter that way and immediately found the deer in the tall grass on the other side of the fence. Two deer were acting strangely but I realized they were sparring. Okay, just jump the fence. I got a reading with my laser rangefinder, 560 yards. After they jumped the fence the bucks sparred closer, to 541 yards. Check the range card, dial the scope, find the bigger one again. I practice regularly to 600 yards but ringing steel and shooting blood are different endeavors.
I was on a solid rest by this time and began the routine. Breathe in, let it out, breathe in, halfway out, squeeeeeze...BOOM! Up on his hind legs like a horse, I knew he was hit hard. He didn't even run. The 140 Partition from my 7mm-08 broke his right scapula on the way in, double lung, and broke the shoulder knuckle (dang) on the way out. We figured 1926 fps at impact.
Not a bad buck, but the body on him was impressive. He's on the right. Tagged immediately after.
We went 5 for 5, all with my handloads.
It was a good year.
P
