Should have used accubonds...

[375hh1973]

I recently spent 4 days of firearm deer season in Lake County, MI. My dad has a cabin on a private lake and has some acreage as well. Its mature woods, not a lot of deer but its a great opportunity to spend time with dad at deer camp. When I want to kill deer, I hunt in the southern part of the state. Anyway at about 10am, I decided to walk the 250 yards back to the cabin and get some Mt Dew and a sandwich. I began to gather my binocs, cushion, water bottle, etc when I heard hooves. I was very surprised to see a small doe running from my right to left about 40 yards out. Although I was a little surprised, I said to myself "ok, dead deer." While not my preferred shot set up, I have killed running deer before. I was hunting with my BLR .308 with Leupold VX3 2.5-8x36, Hornady 150gr SSTs and am quite confident with it. With the scope set on 2.5x, its great for woods hunting.

View attachment BLR.jpg

As the doe got in front of me, I put the crosshairs in the appropriate spot and pulled the trigger. Then I stood there with my mouth open as the doe picked up speed and disappeared in some jackpines. What?!?! Thats not supposed to happen! For the next half hour, I searched for blood and hair. Nothing. Got down on the forest floor and crawled. Nothing. Finally walked back to where I was sitting to get a drink of water. Then I saw it. Even at 2.5x, very close trees blur out!

View attachment dead tree.jpg

By far, the biggest thing I've ever shot with a .308!

 

[DrMike]

What recipe you gonna' use with that thing? One thing about it, you'll get your fibre and be a regular fellow after eating a helping of that. :mrgreen: I had the same thing happen to me on one occasion. Young bull moose in the crosshairs. There'd be meat in the pot. Pulled the trigger ...

Eventually found a small tree that was in my sight path and never saw it. It is humbling, but it does happen. Consequently, the BLR looks very nice. It is a handsome rifle.

 

[longwinters]

As with any tougher cut of meat.....I'd cut it cross grain. Not sure the AccuBond could have done much better in your caliber. Maybe borrow JD's 45-70 next time

Good thing is you have lots of season left in the lower.

Long

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I've hunted them before. Their bark is worse than their bite...

I have a 2.5-8x36 on my BLR too and I feel it balances well. I was worried with the size and weight throwing off the feel of the rifle but it doesn't whatsoever. Nice rig.

 

[Polaris]

I've shot a couple of those. Aspens are better eating than pin oak or jack pine.

An a serious note, we hunt similar deer. They're big, fatty with a heavy winter coat. I quit using ball. tips and SSTs some years ago. Got great loads with the SST, they killed deer, but they also peppered my venison with too many fragments and didn't leave exit wounds. We used 7mm 154s and .30 150s in the SST with similar results. You may be onto something with the AccuBond. Another great bullet for big tough deer is the Partition. Read my post on "bullet tests: for results on a large deer shot with a 150 gr Partition from a .300 savage. In the woods I like a bullet I can trust at less than perfect shot angles.

Good thing you weren't using a 45-70, that tree might have fallen on you!

 

[Guest]

Well, when you get ready to cook it, at least it will "self-smoke" on the grill and have plenty of good charred wood smoke flavor!

I was hunting with a friend last season, and we were easing along a bench off one of the bluffs on our lease. Spotted a doe slipping up the other side of a creek draw, and my buddy got set and took a quick shot. (He was between me and the deer, so I had no shot.) At the report of the rifle, a large limb about 20yds in front of us broke off and fell to the ground. Obviously, the doe ran off unharmed. The good news is, in a pinch, I know I can sub a 300 Magnum if my chainsaw is busted!

 

[SJB358]

Man, those danged trees!

I actually like those 150 SSTs in the 308. I've taken a couple does with them in NY and had plenty of penetration. I'm not sure what'll handle those. It oaks but I'm not sure i'd wanna carry it in the woods! Scotty

 

[35 Whelen]

Oh I dont know I bet if you took some of that, and saute'd it with some vidalla onions, added it to a cream sause full of real butter, and poured it over a tail from a Maine Lobster it would go down just fine!

 

[SJB358]

Oh I dont know I bet if you took some of that, and saute'd it with some vidalla onions, added it to a cream sause full of real butter, and poured it over a tail from a Maine Lobster it would go down just fine!

It's tough to choke down those ME lobsters though!!! How do you ever get it done? :lol:

 

[tecumseh]

That's a protected species in OH :grin:

 

[Greg Nolan]

Dang! I hate it when them trees move just as I'm shooting :x On the other hand, you did make a pretty good shot on it.
Greg