JIL_24/7
10-22-2013, 03:01 PM
Well. The trend continues! I went out for five days with my wife for her first hunt last week near Clinton. We hunted fairly hard, but I tried to keep it within reason with it being her first time. We hiked a few pretty good hills, valleys and mountains. I wanted to get her some outdoors experience and also have some time to teach her more about hunting and shooting. It went really well. She did great and only complained a couple of times :). We saw a good sized black bear, about 10 does, and tons of sign. Some of the moose sign was still glistening and we could smell an animal close, but never got a look. We were also able to bag a couple of grouse. The last day I decided to give up my quest for a "big" buck and instead visit an area I thought might have at least a few does and possibly a couple of young bucks who like to come up through a valley and into a farmers field at first light. Problem is we had spent some time looking high in the morning and it was already nearly 8:30 by the time we dropped into the area. Just before we got to the spot we said a little prayer and asked the Lord to allow us to at least see a few deer our last day and perhaps get a shot at one even though we were running a little late in the morning. Sure enough when we got to the spot there just jumping over the fence was a nice little spiker and about 5 does. We decided to loop around and come down into the valley anyways hoping that perhaps there was a straggler down in the deep ravine. As we came around to drop in we saw a deer. I got out the binos and then waited until the wife identified it was a buck. We put a little stalk on the animal and when we got just to the edge of the drop off there he was staring back at us. My wife was not confident to shoot the first time, so she asked me to take the shot because she wanted to see the whole process play out. I rested the rifle on my knee and took the shot, but the deer didn't drop. I was confused. I had a really good shot I thought, and I had shot with my .45-70 (which is a great deer gun for all of you naysayers) which should have dropped him. I figured I must have missed, but she was quick to remind me that we had to make sure (she listened in her CORE course!). We went to where the animal was and began searching for blood. Just as I was about to come to the conclusion that I had somehow missed an 80 yard shot my wife says, "Is this blood?". Sure enough it was! We followed the trail and then came up empty again in about 150 yards. We searched back and forth and again the wife says, "here's more blood". We keep walking and about another 100 yards away there he lays. ALL STRAIGHT DOWN! She was quite the trooper as we gutted the animal, and then it was onto my back and up. I figured, "it's just a two point, it won't be that heavy". Well, it wasn't that heavy really, but it sure did make me tired as you can see by the flattering picture my wife took :). I probably tried to carry it wrong too, but hey I've only been doing this for a couple years myself.
Finally, I will never, ever, ever, never, ever buy or use Hornady LeverRevolution ammo EVER AGAIN! I did make a perfect shot on that deer. It was placed in such a manner that the deer should have dropped immediately or soon thereafter, but the bullet literally exploded on impact! Some pieces went up and out into the shoulder, some pieces went in and back into the guts and one tiny piece exited the other side. The deer was a mess. It caused more suffering for the animal and incredible meat loss. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS! I try hard to hunt respectfully and accurately, but in this case that was all thrown out because of a poorly made bullet. I have always used Barnes in my .45-70 and it is awesome. It enters and exits the animal at the same size with less meat loss than my old 30-06, but I could not find it this fall. Word to the wise, STAY AWAY FROM HORNADY LEVEREVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://s852.photobucket.com/user/pastor_in_future/media/1401113_10151646181807100_1609968709_o_zps7edbeef1 .jpg.html
http://s852.photobucket.com/user/pastor_in_future/media/1375514_10151646183112100_905933231_o_zps8d27ee98. jpg.html
Finally, I will never, ever, ever, never, ever buy or use Hornady LeverRevolution ammo EVER AGAIN! I did make a perfect shot on that deer. It was placed in such a manner that the deer should have dropped immediately or soon thereafter, but the bullet literally exploded on impact! Some pieces went up and out into the shoulder, some pieces went in and back into the guts and one tiny piece exited the other side. The deer was a mess. It caused more suffering for the animal and incredible meat loss. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS! I try hard to hunt respectfully and accurately, but in this case that was all thrown out because of a poorly made bullet. I have always used Barnes in my .45-70 and it is awesome. It enters and exits the animal at the same size with less meat loss than my old 30-06, but I could not find it this fall. Word to the wise, STAY AWAY FROM HORNADY LEVEREVOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://s852.photobucket.com/user/pastor_in_future/media/1401113_10151646181807100_1609968709_o_zps7edbeef1 .jpg.html
http://s852.photobucket.com/user/pastor_in_future/media/1375514_10151646183112100_905933231_o_zps8d27ee98. jpg.html