DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,494
- 6,485
I had carried a 350 Remington Magnum afield looking for a mule deer buck and/or a whitetail. However, that particular rifle is definitely not getting any game for me. I haven't pulled the trigger, though I have had whitetail, mule deer, moose and elk in my sights at various times throughout the fall. Events seemed always to conspire against me taking game with that rifle.
A couple of weeks ago, I took a nice moose with my 270 WSM and the 130 grain E-Tip. I had worked hard all morning and decided to slip out this evening to look for a mule deer buck, wisely choosing to carry the 270 WSM with me for this hunt. I decided on this rifle in part because I knew that there was a very good possibility that I would need to take a longer shot in the area I planned to hunt, and this particular rifle has an excellent scope (Swarovski Z6 1.7 X 10 X 42) permitting me to see what I intend to hit at some distance.
I sat for about an hour and a half without seeing any game. Suddenly, I noticed five does and fawns about 600 yards west of me. I watched them for a while, but there were no bucks with them. Then, I noted four does and fawns behind me. Again, there were no bucks with them.
Since it was getting dark fast, I opted to slink up the hill to the west where I had first seen the does, hoping that there would be a buck hanging around in that general vicinity. When I crested the hill, I spotted a reasonable buck tending a couple of does. He was just over the hill and at the tree line when I spotted him. He was a 4 X 5 with a small kicker on the left side, which failed to make the length to be called a tine. He was smaller bodied than another deer I had seen earlier, but that one was a 3 X 3. The mass and length of that was was greater than on this one, but I had rather hoped that I would find this fellow again. I ranged him at 300 yards. I hoped, however, that I could cut the distance so I could more accurately assess his antlers.
I was able to cut the distance to 182 yards, but the does were getting nervous and beginning to mill about. The buck was wary, but not terribly concerned. I took a steady rest, but there was a small doe directly in front of the buck. I waited for a few minutes, and the doe moved away, the buck watching her but not moving with her.
When I pulled the trigger, it was almost anticlimactic. At the shot, he dropped and never kicked. I waited for a moment and hied it over to him to ensure that he was dead. I did not see an exit wound, so I hope I'll be able to recover the bullet.
Mule deer is over for me as I took a young doe last week. I hope to go out tomorrow evening to find a whitetail.
A couple of weeks ago, I took a nice moose with my 270 WSM and the 130 grain E-Tip. I had worked hard all morning and decided to slip out this evening to look for a mule deer buck, wisely choosing to carry the 270 WSM with me for this hunt. I decided on this rifle in part because I knew that there was a very good possibility that I would need to take a longer shot in the area I planned to hunt, and this particular rifle has an excellent scope (Swarovski Z6 1.7 X 10 X 42) permitting me to see what I intend to hit at some distance.
I sat for about an hour and a half without seeing any game. Suddenly, I noticed five does and fawns about 600 yards west of me. I watched them for a while, but there were no bucks with them. Then, I noted four does and fawns behind me. Again, there were no bucks with them.
Since it was getting dark fast, I opted to slink up the hill to the west where I had first seen the does, hoping that there would be a buck hanging around in that general vicinity. When I crested the hill, I spotted a reasonable buck tending a couple of does. He was just over the hill and at the tree line when I spotted him. He was a 4 X 5 with a small kicker on the left side, which failed to make the length to be called a tine. He was smaller bodied than another deer I had seen earlier, but that one was a 3 X 3. The mass and length of that was was greater than on this one, but I had rather hoped that I would find this fellow again. I ranged him at 300 yards. I hoped, however, that I could cut the distance so I could more accurately assess his antlers.
I was able to cut the distance to 182 yards, but the does were getting nervous and beginning to mill about. The buck was wary, but not terribly concerned. I took a steady rest, but there was a small doe directly in front of the buck. I waited for a few minutes, and the doe moved away, the buck watching her but not moving with her.
When I pulled the trigger, it was almost anticlimactic. At the shot, he dropped and never kicked. I waited for a moment and hied it over to him to ensure that he was dead. I did not see an exit wound, so I hope I'll be able to recover the bullet.
Mule deer is over for me as I took a young doe last week. I hope to go out tomorrow evening to find a whitetail.
