2021 Whitetail last day buck

[todbartell]

Last day of season, it goes by too quick! I'd been hunting whitetails every day off for the last 6 weeks with nothing to show for it. I left the truck at first light, warm, windy and raining. I bumped into a few cow elk in the timber, then hit some fresher logging and seen something ahead moving my way. I raise binos and see a bull elk


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0PX5pqKviw


I poked around a cutblock I hadn’t been in before , a few older deer tracks and some elk sign. I was walking back to truck when I decided to check out a spur road. I actually walked past it 20 yards, turned around and went back. The little details that are the difference some days between success and tag soup. I came through a strip of mature timber and into a few year old cut. I seen elk tracks and a deer track as I crested a small hill, I catch movement to my left and it's a wt buck leaping away through the brushy cutblock, flag up quartering away. I flipped lens covers on the Leupold 2.5x, cocking the hammer back as the buck stopped broadside around 100 yards out. I settled the crosshair high on the shoulder and squeezed the trigger. The Marlin 1894SBL 44 Magnum goes POP, sending a 270gr Speer JSP on its way at 1630 fps. I can’t see or hear anything after the shot. I walk to where I first spotted the deer from and follow it’s tracks , I get closer to where it was standing and I think I can see something laying in the snow. Walk up and sure enough , buck down! I haven't shot a whitetail in 16 years. Drug it half way to the truck, then went and grabbed my son and the skimmer from home. This is his third big game retrieval this fall

https://i.imgur.com/LgX1j8V.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/iAbFN9H.jpg?1

[todbartell]

I think I got this buck on trail cam a couple weeks before


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfwTdK8k4yI

[Keta1969]

Nice buck. That little guy is going to be real used to packing which is real nice as you get older.

[IronNoggin]

Fine looking vittles there!
Congrats!

And rather cool bringing the Young Gun into the play!

Cheers,
Nog

[Patman7]

Good job! Persistence!

[Harvest the Land]

Way to persevere right until the last day - excellent work! That's a dandy buck. How come you haven't shot one in 16 years?

[markt308]

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing with us. Great to get your kid in on it

[Salty]

WTG on a ninth inning buck todbartell :)
The young fella is growing like a weed!
Looks like things are about right up on the Nechako plateau 8)

[Salty]

Extra points for the Mennonite machine gun :lol:

[todbartell]

How come you haven't shot one in 16 years?

I haven't put much time, and the area has low density of deer. Looking at the biologist's harvest stats for the last decade, reveals some sobering stats

Average hunters per year : 576
Average Days hunted : 4876 (8.5 days effort per hunter)
Average kills : 61 (65% of that is buck harvest)

That's 80 days effort per deer harvest (including antlerless), or a success ratio of 10% :mrgreen:

[Harvest the Land]

I haven't put much time, and the area has low density of deer. Looking at the biologist's harvest stats for the last decade, reveals some sobering stats

Average hunters per year : 576
Average Days hunted : 4876 (8.5 days effort per hunter)
Average kills : 61 (65% of that is buck harvest)

That's 80 days effort per deer harvest (including antlerless), or a success ratio of 10% :mrgreen:

Gotcha - well that makes your harvest even more impressive. Thought whitetail numbers were expanding in most of the province, but with those grim statistics apparently they haven't invaded Vanderhoof yet.

Congrats on one hell of a buck

[srupp]

hmmmm ever notice those that are the luckiest..are the hardest working...hmmm
congrads on exellent deer..exellent help too..
steven

[twoSevenO]

congrats! He's a bueaty!

[bottles]

Nice work! The young man gonna get strong pulling them animals in the sled

[Bugle M In]

Congrats on the buck and thanks for the vids and pics

[Rayne]

Congrats and nice rifle. I just sold one of those earlier this year still kicking myself.

[todbartell]

Congrats and nice rifle. I just sold one of those earlier this year still kicking myself.

I waited 9 years for that rifle to come in! From when I first handled a preproduction model at a trade show in Reno NV in 2009, to when it arrived in November 2018. Yesterday was the first time I'd ever taken it hunting! Sure nice to carry in the hand, if my rifle was slung on shoulder I might not of had time to get a shot off

[Redthies]

Extra points for the Mennonite machine gun :lol:

I like that! Especially being a Mennonite, and owning multiple “machine guns”! I knew there was a reason I was a levergun addict!

I used my Marlin to pop a spike blacktail with only two days left in the season...

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt0bx762/D45-B2-FD7-A6-E5-4893-ABCC-F88344-F69-CDF.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwXVsXx0)

[Redthies]

That’s a beauty buck Todd, and a beauty gun too. I can’t stand carrying a bolt action much anymore, and my Marlin gets 90% duty. I have a .44 Mag Henry carbine that I am considering a scope for. How do you like the scout set up? I’m happy to see you take one with .44 as I’m always worried I will see something at 100+ yards and wish I had more velocity.

[islandhunter]

That's cool to get one with a .44 mag! I don't know about that beer though??

[Livewire322]

Nice buck, Todd!
Same to Redthies

[moosinaround]

Good stuff Mark, you were a huffin and a puffin in the vid you sent!! Looking for a scope like that one myself!! Your a beast man!! Good way to cap off the ungulate hunting season!! Now predators!! Moosin

[wideopenthrottle]

great work to get that buck...love that big loop lever...it will be nice to have that wt meat in the freezer this winter...very nice to see the young one having fun helping out...

[upperleftcoaster]

What a great little hunting story! Good stuff! I like your gun

[Salty]

I like that! Especially being a Mennonite, and owning multiple “machine guns”! I knew there was a reason I was a levergun addict!

I used my Marlin to pop a spike blacktail with only two days left in the season...

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt0bx762/D45-B2-FD7-A6-E5-4893-ABCC-F88344-F69-CDF.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwXVsXx0)

Right on. I'm a fan of the MMG too I've had a bunch of Marlins, down to two now an old 30-30 and the other a 375 winchester.

[caddisguy]

Great write-up and good share with the bonus pics and vids. Thanks for posting it up and CONGRATS. Sure came down to the wire. Persistence pays off! :)

[goatdancer]

Congrats. Nice buck. Looks like the young one is having a good time.
How did you get that effect in your beer shot? What kind of editor do you use for that?

[Bigdoggdon]

Nice buck Mark. You've had a pretty good season this year, must be sitting on a pretty full freezer.

[todbartell]

thanks guys, freezer is indeed full!


How do you like the scout set up? I’m happy to see you take one with .44 as I’m always worried I will see something at 100+ yards and wish I had more velocity.

I really like the Leupold 2.5x scout scope, have another for my Ruger scout 223 & 308 rifles in QD rings so it can be shuffled around where needed. They now only make a Vx Freedom 1.5-4x28, which should work well too.


Good stuff Mark, you were a huffin and a puffin in the vid you sent!! Looking for a scope like that one myself!! Your a beast man!! Good way to cap off the ungulate hunting season!! Now predators!! Moosin

haha! as soon as I got back to the truck I had to get a few butter tarts in me!


Congrats. Nice buck. Looks like the young one is having a good time.
How did you get that effect in your beer shot? What kind of editor do you use for that?

It's cartoon mode on the iPhone. When you take a picture during a text conversation, click Effects and it's in the filters. They're kinda fun, and they also piss off Gatehouse!

https://i.imgur.com/IPUctx9.jpg?1

[Blacktail1]

Great buck !! Congratulations. Last day sweetness !

[BimmerBob]

Congrats on a most impressive close to the season Mark, .44 Mag at 100 yds through the brush with your lever baby is a most cool way to close it out with a real nice WT!

[Sitkaspruce]

Great last day buck Mark!!

Congrats and nice shooting! Was it a pass through or the bullet still in the deer? Curious to know the damage done by a large slow moving bullet?

Thanks for sharing!!

Cheers

SS

[Redthies]

thanks guys, freezer is indeed full!



I really like the Leupold 2.5x scout scope, have another for my Ruger scout 223 & 308 rifles in QD rings so it can be shuffled around where needed. They now only make a Vx Freedom 1.5-4x28, which should work well too.



haha! as soon as I got back to the truck I had to get a few butter tarts in me!



It's cartoon mode on the iPhone. When you take a picture during a text conversation, click Effects and it's in the filters. They're kinda fun, and they also piss off Gatehouse!

https://i.imgur.com/IPUctx9.jpg?1

That cartoon mode is possibly the coolest thing ever on the iPhone! I’m gonna piss some people off with that FOR SURE!

[Fella]

I like that! Especially being a Mennonite, and owning multiple “machine guns”! I knew there was a reason I was a levergun addict!

I used my Marlin to pop a spike blacktail with only two days left in the season...

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt0bx762/D45-B2-FD7-A6-E5-4893-ABCC-F88344-F69-CDF.jpg (https://postimg.cc/jwXVsXx0)
Ha! Mennonite machine gun. Guess that explains why I regret selling mine…

[landphil]

Congrats Mark, way to git’er done.

[CReever]

Congrats on the last day buck! Thanks for sharing the pics, story and videos.

[todbartell]

Great last day buck Mark!!

Congrats and nice shooting! Was it a pass through or the bullet still in the deer? Curious to know the damage done by a large slow moving bullet?

Thanks for sharing!!


Thanks Ken. The bullet did exit, I will take some pics of the holes when I butcher it on Sunday. It smacked a rib on entry, broke the spine and the exit hole in the far side is about 3/4" in diameter. Lungs were definitely banged up a bit! We ate the heart that night, was delicious. My son even ate some of the liver, he's braver than me! :mrgreen: I had a bit, tastes about the same as I remember!

[madcalfe]

Gotcha - well that makes your harvest even more impressive. Thought whitetail numbers were expanding in most of the province, but with those grim statistics apparently they haven't invaded Vanderhoof yet.

Congrats on one hell of a buck

vanderhoof has a really good deer population just gotta know where to go. pretty uncommon to not see 20+ deer a night in the right areas ;) ;)

[todbartell]

Spotlighting on farm fields maybe haha

[boxhitch]

Good hunt story
still trying to dump something with a 240 gr .44 cast, glad to see how yours shot worked
Thanks Ken. The bullet did exit, I will take some pics of the holes when I butcher it on Sunday. It smacked a rib on entry, broke the spine and the exit hole in the far side is about 3/4" in diameter. Lungs were definitely banged up a bit! We ate the heart that night, was delicious. My son even ate some of the liver, he's braver than me! :mrgreen: I had a bit, tastes about the same as I remember!

[madcalfe]

Spotlighting on farm fields maybe haha
hahah no need to spotlight. but yes knowing a few people who has farms is a plus.
towards clukus is where id be going :-D. back behind the airport use to not be bad but obviously i little busy

[todbartell]

Was it a pass through or the bullet still in the deer? Curious to know the damage done by a large slow moving bullet?


here's a pic of the entry hole after I removed the front leg. I did find a little shard of bullet jacket in the exit hole

https://i.imgur.com/RuvolzN.jpg?1

On a more appetizing note, have lots of nice grind for some sausage

https://i.imgur.com/6xiq2vh.jpg?2

[ghost]

nice buck way to go

[twoSevenO]

here's a pic of the entry hole after I removed the front leg. I did find a little shard of bullet jacket in the exit hole

https://i.imgur.com/RuvolzN.jpg?1

On a more appetizing note, have lots of nice grind for some sausage

https://i.imgur.com/6xiq2vh.jpg?2

Tis but a scratch .... next year 458Win mag with 500 grain soft points please!

[Sitkaspruce]

Some damage even for a slower moving bullet!

Compared to say a faster 270, 7-08 etc. same, more or less blood shot damage?

I am looking at going back to my old 30-30 170 round nose for deer and it has been so long since I used it that I don't remember the damage inside 100 yards.

Not meaning to take away from your post, just curious.

Thanks Mark!

Cheers

SS

[todbartell]

I'd say less than a high velocity cartridge. If the bullet hit a few inches lower and didn't hit the spine I think the bloodshot would be much less. On the exit side the damage was minimal. I'll continue to use the rifle in certain situations where reaching out is not needed. Your 30-30 will work great!

[ghost]

i shot my whitetail with my 270 and it did massive damage,in the future i am going to use a 30 30 on future hunts in the thicker bush

[Redthies]

i shot my whitetail with my 270 and it did massive damage,in the future i am going to use a 30 30 on future hunts in the thicker bush

I went from a .45-70 to a .30-30 last year for close range. I’m also shooting Barnes TSX. Super pleased with how it worked out. Meat Los was virtually nil, which was my goal. Last year my hunting partner shot two blacktail with his .30-06. Meat loss was unreal.

This years result from .30-30 with the “gnar” on the shop towel. The TSXs are literally “eat up to the hole” type ammo. As with anything, shot placement is important.

https://i.postimg.cc/dQ4wwPPX/43-E76-B0-E-A7-B7-4511-93-CD-33-B444724-B84.jpg (https://postimg.cc/8sJqmYCB)

https://i.postimg.cc/L65RsCms/59-A3-D1-B4-87-F0-440-B-AD43-1-E3-B3956-DB89.jpg (https://postimg.cc/6TkFjh2s)

https://i.postimg.cc/hGTKBXcb/E6-D6-E0-C9-BC32-4-F7-F-806-B-F7671-C7-FF1-CB.jpg (https://postimg.cc/zLzswXLV)

https://i.postimg.cc/1XjpZCrd/6-D3743-D9-8811-4814-9-FB5-F0-D81-A7285-D6.jpg (https://postimg.cc/D41WrcDQ)

[Knute]

Thanks for the share TB, the youngun is definitely getting his life lessons, congrats.

[kennyj]

Nice buck!!
kenny

[todbartell]

got my euro back, great job by Travis at Blackwater Skull Works here in Vanderhoof - https://www.facebook.com/BlackWater-SkullWorks

https://i.imgur.com/dYGzqLk.jpg?1

[Patman7]

Sweet! Looks good!

[Kilwinning]

Nice clean looking job.

[HarryToolips]

That buck looks tasty congrats, and looks like you have a good spot there for elk..