Wednesday was our regular rifle deer season opener. Family ended up with two bucks. My son brought the younger grandson over from Missouri to try to get his first buck after taking a doe last year as his first deer at 9 years of age. They setup in deep timber on our east property while I hunted the home place. Guess who didn't see a darn thing!
About 30 minutes after legal time a young 3 pt came strolling by and took a downloaded 85gr GameKing hp from Grandsons 243. It made it about 50 yards before tipping over with the lungs simply soup. Buck had about an 8" spike on one side and a fork about the same length on the other. Body size suggested this wasn't a yearling. Took some grunting to get it loaded on the 4 wheeler. Kid was excited.
Since the out of state owners of the land to my west had seemingly had an army bow hunting and had spooked everything so bad I decided to hunt the east place that afternoon. Got into the same double ladder stand the boys had used that morning figuring I was in for a long sit since they likely spooked things that morning. About an hour before dark I saw movement through the timber and got the old JES re-bored Marlin 38-55 ready. Middle sized 8 point cut off the trail and passed by on my right about 60 yards out. Put the bead and Skinner peep on his shoulder and let loose a 250 gr cast bullet at about 1450 fps. The 10Bhn bullet made a complete pass through as expected. He went maybe 20 yards and flopped. Thick timber but luckily he ended up about 80 yards from the gravel road along the side of the property. Just 3 weeks after Carpel Tunnel surgery on both hands I knew there was no way I'd get him in the truck by myself without breaking open the incisions. Ended up dragging him closer to the road and quartering by the gutless method and putting it in the cooler on ice. 68 degree weather meant I needed to hurry. Letting it age a bit, but may butcher Saturday. Happy to have meat in the freezer. Got 2 doe tags, but may wait till next week on them.
About 30 minutes after legal time a young 3 pt came strolling by and took a downloaded 85gr GameKing hp from Grandsons 243. It made it about 50 yards before tipping over with the lungs simply soup. Buck had about an 8" spike on one side and a fork about the same length on the other. Body size suggested this wasn't a yearling. Took some grunting to get it loaded on the 4 wheeler. Kid was excited.
Since the out of state owners of the land to my west had seemingly had an army bow hunting and had spooked everything so bad I decided to hunt the east place that afternoon. Got into the same double ladder stand the boys had used that morning figuring I was in for a long sit since they likely spooked things that morning. About an hour before dark I saw movement through the timber and got the old JES re-bored Marlin 38-55 ready. Middle sized 8 point cut off the trail and passed by on my right about 60 yards out. Put the bead and Skinner peep on his shoulder and let loose a 250 gr cast bullet at about 1450 fps. The 10Bhn bullet made a complete pass through as expected. He went maybe 20 yards and flopped. Thick timber but luckily he ended up about 80 yards from the gravel road along the side of the property. Just 3 weeks after Carpel Tunnel surgery on both hands I knew there was no way I'd get him in the truck by myself without breaking open the incisions. Ended up dragging him closer to the road and quartering by the gutless method and putting it in the cooler on ice. 68 degree weather meant I needed to hurry. Letting it age a bit, but may butcher Saturday. Happy to have meat in the freezer. Got 2 doe tags, but may wait till next week on them.