First trip to WV was OK. Savage's took 50 percent. My friends son took the first of two bucks. Said he didn't have time to look them over, so he took the one that presented the best shot. He's shooting some star wars gun in 6.5 Creed, with thumb hole pistol grip, bipod, 23X scope, and a can. The second deer ran right past my cousin's nephew and he dropped it with my uncles 1959 F in 308.In the last ten years my county has had a handful of CWD deer and we have to butcher them before taking across county lines. It was calling for freezing rain all day Tuesday, so they butchered both deer while I was still on stand.
I tried something new this year, hunted from a pop up deer stand. We put it up Friday about noon, so it sat till Monday. At 8:08 a doe came up the hill, and the second her eye's crested it, she froze. All I could see was the white patch under her chin, black nose, and ears flipping around like radar. I tried to lift my rifle once and she started stamping and blowing. At 8:19 some one on another property shot and she took off. Saw two more doe on the neighbors and that was it for me. I'm heading back up tomorrow. Still using The 1981 250 Saddle Gun I got from John. I have a doe tag, but, I'm holding out till the last minute to get a buck with it.
Here's a pic of Mark's deer, it's a 7 pointer at 105 pounds, and hid Ray Gun. The other deer was a 6 at 120 pounds, don't have pics of that one yet.
Mark is the guy with the Ray Gun, just a few weeks ago he called and told me he had a hand shake deal on two 99's. A 250 and a 308. He said the shop was asking $1500 for the pair and would not separate. He offered $1300 cash, the next morning. They shook on it. Next morning they were gone. So much for a man and his word?
But, you know how that goes. That guy told me he had a local walk in customer that wanted the Malcolm. But the guy had to sell a couple first. I offered him $900 before he told me that. Then he said, "Let me give you my wife, she does the credit cards." Thanks for being the great friend that you are.
I did find a Redfield 90LT along the way-purchased here from Rick99.
Triple Deuce here was able to help me procure some brass and I was able to develop a load that performed very well in my opinion for the antique sighting system.
Four days into my deer season this year found me on the same ridge I picked up that brass on last year. Lo and behold at about 8:30 this morning a young buck and a doe stumbled within range. I had to blow the snow out of the aperture to be able to see through it. He was quartering toward me, so I held on the point of his shoulder. I heard the hit and he responded as expected, bolting about 25 yards not using that right front leg. He laid down-obviously not feeling well, but his head was up. He was facing away from me. I held at the point where his neck and his back came together. Another hit, and his head was no longer up.
The first shot shattered the shoulder, hit one of the smaller lobes of a lung, and put a startburst shaped hole in his liver. Turns out he wouldn't have taken another step. The second shot hit his spine just back of his shouldner blades. Before I went down for the inevitable work, I took that first piece of brass and laid it under the rock I was leaning against. Maybe someone else will end up going down this wonderful rabbit hole I entered last year.
I maybe was a little harsh on hunting the 99 without a sling, but I must admit it was really convenient to take it apart and put it in my backpack for the drag out.
Too tired and too computer dumb to post pic direct (sorry). Just a Doe I got with the 99F (300sav) i've been hunting with since 1975. In my defense, I only spent 1.5 days in the woods. I had a nice Buck within 100 yards of me at one point, but I couldn't get a shot. I also shot 2 Coyote (recovered one) in that time. Some meat for the freezer. -Tom
“The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
3 does and it looks like another deer to the right of them.
Deer season was awful up here. We can't shoot does, most of us locals didn't see any deer and if someone did, it was a doe. Last winter was brutal on them.
I can see 5, maybe 6, and I took the pic. There were 2 bucks with them. My friend said that there is a nice 8 and 6 in the bunch. I'm going to see who is home tomorrow morning.
Not our best year but we figured it was the curse of Arthur since we left our 99s behind. My son normally carries his great-grandfathers 250 but elected to take his 125 anniversary for its maiden outing. Took this chubby at a pretty good poke.
Not our best year but we figured it was the curse of Arthur since we left our 99s behind. My son normally carries his great-grandfathers 250 but elected to take his 125 anniversary for its maiden outing. Took this chubby at a pretty good poke.
Nicely done
Where did you find snow in Va?
"You cannot invade mainland America. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass" ~Admiral Yamamoto~
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. ~Thomas Jefferson~
Three right off, start looking at horizontal back lines, I'd say five, might be six as Joe posted counting one way to the left middle between the trees. Saw a bunch like that not long ago in large sapling grove, was more there once ya got studying back lines and face outlines. Tricky critters.