Tahnka_Wow, the one on the left in the second pictures a beaut! Tell us about it, where, when, size, you know all the good stuff.
Probably the best I'll ever take...certainly the most meaningful.
Behind him you'll see an '03 Springfield. It was my Uncle's only high-powered rifle: He bought it at Fred Meyer's and carried it in the Oregon woods his whole life. He could take a ruffed grouse head off at 50 yards, and he was my hunting partner and mentor after Mom and Dad split. "Walking Sticks" seem to be all the rage now. Lester used the Springfield. That buttstock is well-polished from that application.
When he was fighting Leukemia (and after I had given him a Kimber .308 with a scope due to his eyesight failing him, and had taken him to Montana on his last hunt), he summoned me to his house, handed me "The Ol' Springfield" (as he always called it) and said, "Go kill something with it before I die."
I carried no other rifle that season. On foot and way too far from the rig (6.5 miles as the crow flies but I ain't no crow), and after I'd missed a shot at a closer to average buck, I was at the point of turning back. In the distance was a small herd of 15-20 goats. One last try.
I dog-trotted about a half mile, then closed using dry washes. I came out of the wash, the goats were unaware at 175 yards. I picked out the larger buck in the group and pushed that wonderful two-stage trigger to the wall and it broke crisp like always. A 165gr Sierra Hollowpoint Boattail went right where it was told.
Walking up to the animal, for once I realized the precise opposite of "ground-shrinkage". When I touched him I started to shake and then burst into tears. I thanked Lester out loud through sobs though he wasn't there. I remember the buttstock of The Ol' Springfield resisting tears splashing on it, kept wiping them off only to see them replaced.
Got the goat home and to the taxidermist and out of the taxidermist in time for pictures with Lester, Me, The Goat, and The Ol' Springfield. Lester passed 3 months later.
My taxidermist is a Boone and Crocket scorer. I have never had an animal put in the books (it seems too close to being competition for my tastes) and my taxidermist knows this, but insisted on putting the tape to this one. When I went to pick up the mount he informed me it qualified as Montana State Record for 2004, and once again pressed me to allow him to submit it. I declined.
I have my trophy: Better yet, I have my memories- unequaled by anything in any book.
For those who live by the numbers, 15 5/8 by 16. Base: 6 3/8 by 6 3/8.