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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6 |
It was a tough 7 days of mule deer hunting for me. A full moon, warm, and I'm getting old enough that the sandhills can really kick my arse. I finally made my way to one of my favorite high spots on the ranch to glass from, as our terrain is sandy, rolling hills with numerous, intermittent mesquite flats. Low deer densities are a reality. I was lucky to spot the white spot that didn't belong on that sandhill. Upon pulling out the spotter, it was indeed the throat patch of a nice mule deer buck, bedded as big bucks do........wind at his back, and able to see what is approaching from the front. He was about 1000 yards away. After watching him a while, he got up and started to feed and slowly fed out of sight, down into a shallow blowout surrounded by a few mesquites. I got down from my perch and closed the distance. I knew he was in a feeding mode, and in no hurry to do much anything else. I got to within 200 yards of where I'd last seen him, and started glassing again. This went on for 15 minutes or so. I was trying to figure out my next move, when all of the sudden he came trotting out of the blowout in that sandhill. Then I saw what startled the buck......a coyote. When he trotted out of there, I saw a dropper on his right side that I hadn't seen. With the extras on his left side I knew this buck was big enough for me, as I've never seen a dropper on a mule deer until now. I'm not going to tell it any other way than how it happened......my first shot was perfect.....for a gut shot. It did slow him down some though, and my next one hit almost exactly midway on his body, probably a liver shot. He didn't go down though, and headed for a nasty mesquite thicket. I beat it over there, looked for about 30 minutes, and finally found him 50 yards from where I'd last seen him, very much alive but unwilling to give up. One last shot did it. He's 31" outside and grosses green at 190 1/8". His mass was a big factor in that gross score. This is where I found him, and shot him the third time...... 
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,130 |
Great story ,and an awesome buck!!
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14,653
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 14,653 |
your flippant remarks which you so adeptly sling
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 27,692 |
Grand Buck 
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,098 Likes: 7
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,098 Likes: 7 |
Great story, you left out the part about what rifle and caliber you used. Us rifle loonies need to know  , bsa.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 28,253 Likes: 6 |
Great story, you left out the part about what rifle and caliber you used. Us rifle loonies need to know , bsa. The complete battery: Tikka Whitetail 7mag, Swaro 3-10x42 A series 139 gr Hornady Interbond Heavy Mag factory loads Swaro SLCneu 10x42 Kowa Prominar 884 spotter Polaris Ranger to haul my lard ass out of the sandhills....and a big buck too! Leica CRF 1200 rangefinder, which leads me to a question. I had trouble ranging on a cold, overcast and cold clear morning for a while until it warmed up. Is this normal for the Leica?
Last edited by JGRaider; 11/27/10.
It is irrelevant what you think. What matters is the TRUTH.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,471
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,471 |
Great buck. Sometimes crap happens when shooting deer on the run. If you have to shoot when you get the chance.
I have also had trouble one time with my leica on a cold overcast/foggy morning. It acted up the one time and has never done it again.
Dink
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,155 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,155 Likes: 1 |
i gotta make it a point to get up to muleshoe next year to hunt
God bless Texas-----------------------
Old 300
I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull
Its not how you pick the booger..
but where you put it !!
Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 130
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 130 |
Thats an awesome muley. where in texas is that? looks obviously like west texas/ southeast New Mexico.
1. I now see the wisdom and merits of much older generations.
2. Technology makes things cheaper, easier, and less labor intensive, but not necessarily better.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Dooooooooooood!!! YOU SUCK!!!  Congrats...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,654
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11,654 |
A hawg for sure. I needs one of that size. 
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,742
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,742 |
Nice!
But what's a "blowout"?
Campfire Pistolero x2
Only one human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet. He is behind me. You are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else. -Ambassador Delenn, Babylon 5
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,424
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,424 |
My Leica doesn't work when it's cold either. Need to keep it in an inside coat pocket in the winter.
If you love someone set them free
If they come back no one else liked them
Set them free again
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,051
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,051 |
You know Johnny, it would be nice if you would stop killing these big bucks and give people (like me) a chance to kill one every now and then. lol!
Congrats on a very nice buck buddy!
Kique
Enrique O. Ramirez
CLAN OF THE BORDER RATS - Member
"..faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.." Hebrews 11:1
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
JG: Fabulous buck! Good work 
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,177 |
That is a stud bud! Congratulations again
Drummond
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,058
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,058 |
�When in doubt, I whip it out.� Uncle Ted ![[Linked Image]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/elrata/imagejpg1_zps585f4bbf.jpg)
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,813
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,813 |
Hunt...
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 115
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 115 |
I don't know if I would have fessed up to a gut shoot but, pictures don't lie . I'm sure anyone would gladly take that quailty of buck with any shoot they could get
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,881 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,881 Likes: 5 |
1Minute
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