Fella
11-16-2016, 11:32 PM
I had the privilege of being invited on a 2 week trip with my best buddy, his uncle and his uncles friend to a spot the uncle had been hunting for 15 years for the last week of any buck. Saw tons of deer, easily 400 does and a number of bucks. On day 2 I missed a shot on a nice 4 point who had gathered 6 does with him. That afternoon at 1:30 my buddy shot a nice 2 point 150 yards from where I missed. it was special for him because he had been road hunting with his 1 year old daughter when he shot it and so now that skull cap and antlers are hanging above her crib as a nice memory for her.
Next day I was hiking nearby where I missed the 4 point, it was 20 minutes after first light but I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me I was just focused on getting to where I wanted to be. Suddenly ahead and slightly left I heard a thud. I looked up and 20 yards away was a doe trying to figure out what I was. I slowly glassed around her to see if a buck was nearby. We stood looking at each other for a couple minutes when from behind and to my right up a bit on the hill I hear another thud. I slowly turn around and it's another doe 20 yards away. Holy crap I'm in the middle of a group of deer.
I very slowly started glassing the second doe when over the top of the hill behind her comes another deer. I glass the newcomer and see antler! He's about 40 yards away and has stopped walking as he's seen me. He hasn't winded me but he's unsure so he turns and walks right to left up hill, I aim for his far right shoulder as he's slightly quartered away and squeeze the trigger. BOOM! I send a 168 gr. TTSX his way and for a split second I only see the flash from my muzzle in the scope.
After I shot the buck had run 20 yards or so up and over the top of the hill. I kept my rifle up just in case and I saw his head suddenly rear up from behind some logs at the crest of the hill and then abruptly fall. Buck down! I picked up my spent shell and took a few deep breaths and calmed my mind, taking a moment to breathe in the cold mountain air and look out over the valley below. I waited 10 or so minutes before hiking up the hill to look for my buck.
It took about 5 minutes to find him, this was my first look:
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/F36ACA5A-5908-44F1-A4B8-7CEAF43273DF_zpskzvs2251.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/F36ACA5A-5908-44F1-A4B8-7CEAF43273DF_zpskzvs2251.jpg.html)
My first upclose look
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/97D1B1E9-DD2B-4894-BA14-45C26AB4DD98_zpshxyocuvp.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/97D1B1E9-DD2B-4894-BA14-45C26AB4DD98_zpshxyocuvp.jpg.html)
And after I was finished gutting and before the drag out.
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/3FFCA82B-C446-4133-9052-02A6D735BAD9_zpstiw1hhf2.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/3FFCA82B-C446-4133-9052-02A6D735BAD9_zpstiw1hhf2.jpg.html)
Next day I was hiking nearby where I missed the 4 point, it was 20 minutes after first light but I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me I was just focused on getting to where I wanted to be. Suddenly ahead and slightly left I heard a thud. I looked up and 20 yards away was a doe trying to figure out what I was. I slowly glassed around her to see if a buck was nearby. We stood looking at each other for a couple minutes when from behind and to my right up a bit on the hill I hear another thud. I slowly turn around and it's another doe 20 yards away. Holy crap I'm in the middle of a group of deer.
I very slowly started glassing the second doe when over the top of the hill behind her comes another deer. I glass the newcomer and see antler! He's about 40 yards away and has stopped walking as he's seen me. He hasn't winded me but he's unsure so he turns and walks right to left up hill, I aim for his far right shoulder as he's slightly quartered away and squeeze the trigger. BOOM! I send a 168 gr. TTSX his way and for a split second I only see the flash from my muzzle in the scope.
After I shot the buck had run 20 yards or so up and over the top of the hill. I kept my rifle up just in case and I saw his head suddenly rear up from behind some logs at the crest of the hill and then abruptly fall. Buck down! I picked up my spent shell and took a few deep breaths and calmed my mind, taking a moment to breathe in the cold mountain air and look out over the valley below. I waited 10 or so minutes before hiking up the hill to look for my buck.
It took about 5 minutes to find him, this was my first look:
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/F36ACA5A-5908-44F1-A4B8-7CEAF43273DF_zpskzvs2251.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/F36ACA5A-5908-44F1-A4B8-7CEAF43273DF_zpskzvs2251.jpg.html)
My first upclose look
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/97D1B1E9-DD2B-4894-BA14-45C26AB4DD98_zpshxyocuvp.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/97D1B1E9-DD2B-4894-BA14-45C26AB4DD98_zpshxyocuvp.jpg.html)
And after I was finished gutting and before the drag out.
http://i1301.photobucket.com/albums/ag105/Fellala/3FFCA82B-C446-4133-9052-02A6D735BAD9_zpstiw1hhf2.jpg (http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/Fellala/media/3FFCA82B-C446-4133-9052-02A6D735BAD9_zpstiw1hhf2.jpg.html)