Hunting & Fishing Spike Buck 09

[esorensen]

He's not much to look at, but man the backstraps are sure good eatin'! Shot was 187 yards steep down hill angle and facing me. I was using the 7 WSM and 180 VLD combo. I didn't even bother to chamber a second round. I took out his throat and neck. I tried to do the tennis ball/truck skinning trick and I just pulled his head off. The pack and deer together weighed at least 170. My scale stops at 350.

If you follow the angle of the barrel in the first pic, you can see a very round bush on the adjacent hillside. He was bedded there for almost an hour. I put him to bed there as I waited prone in the cold mud waiting for him to stand up.

If you look at the second pic, you can see a gap between two trees on the ridgeline on the far left. That was the firing position. It was a BITCH getting him out of there.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Nice, I shot one like that last year, good eatin.

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

I just got done putting him in the freezer. It's a PITA without any help. I still have a doe and a cow tag for the same area. I'm going to be real tired tomorrow.

As far as eating goes, my wife came home for dinner and asked, "What cut of meat is this?" Like Uncle Ted says...BACKSTRAP! Yeah, he's real good eating. I'm thinking, shoot them while they are quiet and very rested, hang them for a day in a cool garage, then butcher them and put them in the deep freeze after that. Taste is unbelievable.

 

[dcal]

Re: Spike Buck 09

awesome shooting spot! Have set one up like it this year in West Texas for whitetail. Feeder at 460 yards. Rifle season starts Saturday here. Hope to have some pics...

 

[sscoyote]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Nice job buddy--seen the back of that pickup before.

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

You think I should have waited for this one?

 

[psinclair]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Hard earned meat!!...way to go!!

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Fortunately or unfortunately, that whole canyon bottom is full of critters. Gonna leave right now to go find a couple. Saw 5 bucks yesterday. Not one single doe! All of the elk sign is from the day after the snow, or the day I shot the buck. Nothing fresh.

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Just got back. A doe that was 602 yards away and I adjusted for about 565. She was standing next to a big pinon bush that was giving me the false readings. I shot at 0815. I found her around 1045. The bullet broke both legs and she went down a steep arroyo and came back out the other side and bedded down. I crawled around on my hands and knees and slowly followed her. I finished her with the .44 at about 30 yards. I'm glad I was able to find her after making the shot. I was a little disappointed at first, but it worked out. Perseverance pays I guess. I kinda felt like a hack at first, but she going in the freezer tonight.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Spike Buck 09

not bad, unfortunately you will probably catch some grief for the shot. but it worked out ok. you certainly will have a full freezer. Why did'nt you shoot the big one?

 

[mdesign]

Re: Spike Buck 09

You always see better bucks after you shoot, it's part of Murphy's law. Good recovery on the doe, a lot can go wrong at long range. Beautiful country!

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

Not worried about the criticism. I've criticized myself enough about it already. Then again I could have lied about it and no one would have been the wiser. I'm not about to do that. I learned some stuff from this and that is what life is about.

Shit happens. It just so happened that it worked out in this situation. I put in a lot of work and wasn't about to let her get away once I knew she was wounded. I don't feel great about it (wounding her) but the rifle put the bullet EXACTLY where I put it. It just so happened that the laser was the weak link.

Freezer is slowly being refilled. Backstraps for dinner tonight. Some good stuff. I still have 3 tags left. two cows and a doe antelope. A cow would really get the freezer back in shape.

Of course a bigger buck will show up after you shoot the little one! He tasted just fine though.

Thanks for the props.

 

[Sendero_Man]

Re: Spike Buck 09

great pics, story, everything !

way to follow her up and not give up !


what pack you using ?


Congrats again !

 

[esorensen]

Re: Spike Buck 09

It's the Eberlestock "Just One" pack. All four quarters, loins backstraps fit just fine. The pack weighed in at exactly 100 lbs.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Spike Buck 09

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ffl medic</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's the Eberlestock "Just One" pack. All four quarters, loins backstraps fit just fine. The pack weighed in at exactly 100 lbs. </div></div>

Your makin me tired just thinkin about doin that again, mine weighed about 150lbs this year, but I had a spotter to help pack it out, uphill 1300yds, in the snow, ect.ect.