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Post by Kyle on Nov 7, 2015 20:55:57 GMT -5
The area that I am hunting for the next several days has an earn a buck program. You have to take an antlerless deer first in order to harvest an antlered deer. I have mixed feelings about this program, but it is what it is.
After a 4 1/2 hour drive I checked into the campground, showered and made my way to my hunting area. A quick change into hunting clothes and I was ready to make my way to a tree Ive hunted in years past that overlooks a field. This year it was cut corn with a lot of green stuff in it. I was up the tree about 4 hours before dark, plenty of time left in the day and the wind was blowing straight into my face 10 plus mph. I saw 3 deer out at 483 yards ranged, but couldn't positively verify that they were not spikes so I didn't attempt a shot. I was in my Treewalker Pro Mag climber with a shooting rail/backrest. About 20 minutes of light left and a longhorned spike and what I thought was a doe came out at 309 yards. The spike was behind the smaller deer and I could see clearly that the deer had no antlers. I was certain it was a doe. I took a steady aim, bracing my left elbow against the rail of the stand, squeezed the trigger and could see the deer mule-kick in the scope. The deer ran a few short yards into the treeline and I marked a cluster of saplings where the deer went in. When I got to the spot where the deer went in there was no blood! The first drop of blood did not appear until just a few yards before I found the deer. It ran about 40 to 50 yards. The bullet was a 275 Match Hunter sitting on top of 78gr IMR4198 out of my Hankins Smokeless Rifle. This is my longest shot with a muzzleloader to date and it would not have been possible for me to make otherwise. The exit hole is visible in the picture. 37.5 lbs - my daughter laughed at me on the phone!!!! Oh well, now I can hunt for a big one!!!
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Post by hillbill on Nov 7, 2015 20:59:40 GMT -5
excellent shot placement Kyle, that's a far poke on a deer that size..
go kill that big one..
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2015 21:11:06 GMT -5
Nice shot Kyle...good luck on big boy.....
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Post by rojo23 on Nov 7, 2015 21:16:39 GMT -5
great job, the little ones are trophies of the table. They eat a lot better than the big one. That is a strange rule, but I am sure it keeps the buck/doe ratio in check.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2015 21:17:51 GMT -5
good job on the slick head...now it's time for big boy
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Post by Hank on Nov 7, 2015 21:40:09 GMT -5
Good shooting Kyle. Now that the doe is out of the way you can concentrate on getting your buck tag filled..
Some places that are over ran with deer need to harvest more doe. A lot of hunters today are commercialized into thinking only a big buck is worth killing, when in reality the doe population must be controlled also in order to provide foods for the bucks to get big. I would like to see more places require a doe to be taken and either donated or used by the hunter that took it.
Now I think most of us here do our part in proper deer management but they are thousands of hunters that haven't taken a doe in years...
Now go get the big buck and let us see some more pictures...
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Post by 12ptdroptine on Nov 7, 2015 23:05:13 GMT -5
Congratulations Kyle. Good eating...and DERN good shooting....as always
Drop
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Post by itneverends22 on Nov 7, 2015 23:05:58 GMT -5
super shot placement, congrats,
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Post by Kyle on Nov 7, 2015 23:09:02 GMT -5
I got carried away and forgot to mention that the deer was a button buck. Didn't notice until I was field dressing it.
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Post by 68hunter on Nov 8, 2015 8:53:53 GMT -5
Great shot Kyle and she/he will make for some fine eating.
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Post by schunter on Nov 9, 2015 15:48:57 GMT -5
I got carried away and forgot to mention that the deer was a button buck. Didn't notice until I was field dressing it.
Great shot Kyle on a small but tasty target. Does the button buck qualify as an antlerless deer where you hunt? Just asking because it would be considered one where I hunt.
Scott
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Post by Kyle on Nov 9, 2015 15:54:11 GMT -5
As long as the antlers are less than 3 inches it counts as an antler less deer where I'm hunting.
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Post by rojo23 on Nov 9, 2015 17:14:06 GMT -5
button bucks are antlerless in VA as well.
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Post by bestill458 on Nov 9, 2015 19:11:46 GMT -5
Great shot.
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Post by Richard on Nov 15, 2015 16:17:12 GMT -5
Very nice shooting Kyle.................Just like at the Kentucky Challenge!  |
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Post by rossman40 on Nov 15, 2015 21:46:04 GMT -5
If they kid you about the size just tell them smaller deer are harder hit.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2015 21:19:57 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with a small one. Those backstraps are sooo tender and you can cook them right there at camp. I killed a button last year at 287 with my Savage and will agree that is a far poke sitting in a stand. I hit mine a little far back because I didn't compensate for the deer walking but it was 2 minutes past the beginning of legal shooting light and I was lucky to even see the deer. Good Shootin!
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Post by Kyle on Nov 26, 2015 10:50:49 GMT -5
Alright, Don's deer may be big and all, but my button buck was the dominant button buck of the area....
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