Chased some fallow last week in the hills. They were rutting pretty good, got lucky in the timing with a cooler spell and some rain after all the heat.
Have been trying different bullets through the creedmoore, had good results with 130 sciroccos on paper and in a few deer. Gave 100 grain TTSXs a fly a few weeks back and got inch and a half groups at 200 which is about as far as I might need to shoot around here. So thought I'd give them a go on this hunt. I know, I know, why build a creedmoore and shoot ping pong balls out of it? Just playing and have never used monos before. So a scratch needed itching.
First candidate was a good size buck with split palms that needed culling from the gene pool. I'd looked at three grunting bucks that arvo, first was a black phase with one fairly good antler but the other was busted off. Second was about a four year old menil (spotted coat) that showed a bit of potential. Third guy was the candidate. I spied him near last light on an opposite ridge. He was grunting pretty good with a harem and a couple small bucks floating around the outskirts. I'd have to approach him from below and it was dead still so thought chances were pretty good that I'd be busted and was it better to stay away and chase him up another day. Nah, ground is wet, plenty of cover, air is falling, might as well have a crack.
Ended up 40 metres off the mob, he was asse on and cresting the ridge, (dirt of higher ground behind him though
) last light, cross hair on his anoos. Thought we'll see how well these barnes do penetrate and gave him a taste of one. Bullet exited the rib cage just behind the shoulder and was under the skin in two pieces, petalled front section and base had separated but ended up at the same place (muzzle velocity 3200 fps). About 80cm of penetration at a guess. Dead deer.
Hunted hard the next four days and looked at several more bucks but no wall hangers. So the mission changed to meat gathering for a day or two. Second shot was an unlucky doe that was only couple hundred metres from the truck on the way back that morning. Quartering on, busted her on side shoulder. She dropped on the spot but got up and ran twenty metres on three legs before piling up. Bullet was just in front of her ham just under the skin again and in that classic barnes petals folded back shape.
Two more does that arvo, both broadside and shot tight behind the shoulder - old bowhunting habit. Both exited of course and both deer ran about twenty metres.
Last was a button buck that was down hill at about forty metres again. Shot down through top of shoulder. He piled up on the spot but I was a bit surprised at the bullet not making it out of the chest cavity. Dead deer anyhow.
End result, plenty of fun and venison in the freezer. Eating back strap steaks right now ashley. Red in the middle with mushies and bacon, straight off the barby plate. life's good!
Am told fallow meat is a lot like whitetail?
Liking a bullet that will get the job done from any angle - might have plagiarized that from Bob somewhere
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