This year has been a terrible year for me for a number of reasons which include the passing of my mother. Her hospitalization, death, and estate issues put me way behind on my conservation work and preparations for hunting.
Then just weeks before gun season and during archery season I needed a new water well drilled. Also, my lady friend's father became hospitalized with a dire prognosis.
I missed the first two days of NYS gun portion of deer season to be with my lady friend's family. When I finally got to go out on Monday the weather was terrible with high winds and blowing snow. As I was getting into my wagon mounted blind my 270 Win rifle slid off my shoulder and fell onto a steel wagon wheel. Although I didn't realize it, the fall damaged my scope. Later that day I had a shot a beautiful trophy non-typical buck and couldn't find it. I couldn't believe I had missed and spent the rest of the day looking for the deer. It wasn't until the next day when I test fired my rifle that I discovered the scope was damaged and knocked greatly askew. At least I knew I had completely missed the buck and not wounded it.
That left me hunting with the 450 Marlin instead of my 270 Win.
Wednesday, I passed on four small bucks hoping to see the big one I had missed on Monday. But, alas, I didn't see that buck again. Tina's Dad passed away that afternoon.
I took Thursday off from hunting and spent the day doing housework and maintenance things around the house.
This morning I went back out and watched 9 does feed and bed in the field next to the blind for about 4 hours. Then a couple of bucks chasing a doe showed in the woods next to the field. The bigger of the two finally stepped to the edge of the field and stopped to check out the field before venturing out into the open. That is when I pulled the trigger on the Marlin 450. The big boy dropped straight down and just rolled onto his side.
Here is a trail camera photo of the buck. The photo doesn't do him justice. He is bigger than he appears in the photo.
Here is photo of the damage done by the 350 grain Hornady FN interlock. The entrance wound is on the BOTTOM of the photo. The exit wound is on the top. Notice that the bullet took out at least two ribs going in and one rib going out.
In the end I was happy to have been able to bag a big buck with the Marlin.
Now, off to a funeral for Tina's Dad.
Dan
Then just weeks before gun season and during archery season I needed a new water well drilled. Also, my lady friend's father became hospitalized with a dire prognosis.
I missed the first two days of NYS gun portion of deer season to be with my lady friend's family. When I finally got to go out on Monday the weather was terrible with high winds and blowing snow. As I was getting into my wagon mounted blind my 270 Win rifle slid off my shoulder and fell onto a steel wagon wheel. Although I didn't realize it, the fall damaged my scope. Later that day I had a shot a beautiful trophy non-typical buck and couldn't find it. I couldn't believe I had missed and spent the rest of the day looking for the deer. It wasn't until the next day when I test fired my rifle that I discovered the scope was damaged and knocked greatly askew. At least I knew I had completely missed the buck and not wounded it.
That left me hunting with the 450 Marlin instead of my 270 Win.
Wednesday, I passed on four small bucks hoping to see the big one I had missed on Monday. But, alas, I didn't see that buck again. Tina's Dad passed away that afternoon.
I took Thursday off from hunting and spent the day doing housework and maintenance things around the house.
This morning I went back out and watched 9 does feed and bed in the field next to the blind for about 4 hours. Then a couple of bucks chasing a doe showed in the woods next to the field. The bigger of the two finally stepped to the edge of the field and stopped to check out the field before venturing out into the open. That is when I pulled the trigger on the Marlin 450. The big boy dropped straight down and just rolled onto his side.
Here is a trail camera photo of the buck. The photo doesn't do him justice. He is bigger than he appears in the photo.
Here is photo of the damage done by the 350 grain Hornady FN interlock. The entrance wound is on the BOTTOM of the photo. The exit wound is on the top. Notice that the bullet took out at least two ribs going in and one rib going out.
In the end I was happy to have been able to bag a big buck with the Marlin.
Now, off to a funeral for Tina's Dad.
Dan
How big is his spread and how heavy was he Pard?
