My Iowa whitetail 2012
#125028
12/29/2012 2:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249
PythonHunter
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249 |
Well, after a mediocre season, I was finally able to get out and hunt during our Iowa late muzzleloader season. It's legal here to hunt with a handgun during this season, plus it's a little longer than most, so I wait until its cold and head out. I had only been able to get out and spot around a couple of mid-days and hadn't seen anything to get too excited about. Well Christmas night, my wife gave me a kitchen pass and I was able to locate one that was worth getting excited about. I shoot 44 specials, and I know that I am part of a little cult, but I just love the round and love shooting it and know its limitations. So the Freedom Arms 97 that I bought this off-season and topped with a Leupold 2.5x8 made the trip with me. I had a Python on my hip in case one got super close, but it was all for naught. The temp in Iowa was about 17 with 15 to 20 mph winds, about 6 inches of snow on the ground, perfect. I was able to get into a terrace about 40 yards short of where I wanted to be when I spotted deer coming down the fencerow at me. I was stuck. After a short wait and being perfectly still, the little bucks and does fed off. As the last of the deer I had seen bugged out, I look up and see a dandy in the timber 200 yards out. He gave me about 10 seconds of wonder-lust and disappeared. Crap! God bless the neighbor, he missed the deer I had been watching 5 minutes later and he came blasting out 150 yards in front of me. At least he was still alive, but gone for the day. December 26, I got off work late and subsequently am late getting to my fencerow. As I pull into the cornfield to glass, then get dressed, I see one deer out. It's him! I can't get dressed fast enough or low enough behind the pickup, but finally get it done and off I go. He's at 200 yards and moving my way. I tuck behind the drifted over fence and start his way. As I peek over the top to check him, he's at the end of the terrace that I wanted to be in, 125 yards away. Ugh! I sneak about 10 more steps and check again and he has stepped away from the terrace, 102 yards away, but straight on. Well, I thumb the FA and wait. He takes 2 or 3 steps, and turns broadside. I remember the recoil, but never heard the gun go off. A big classic kick/buck and he off. He went about 150 yards, stopped, stood there for about 5 minutes, then bedded. I snuck up and put a finisher in him taking out a shoulder. My biggest buck ever, and by far with a handgun. It was truly a Merry Christmas for me. Hope the pics turn out on here okay. Pythonhunter
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: PythonHunter]
#125031
12/29/2012 2:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
VERY NICE!!!! Congratulations!!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: PythonHunter]
#125033
12/29/2012 2:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Outstanding! If we could only use handguns in our BP season...
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Whitworth]
#125034
12/29/2012 2:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205
KYODE
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205 |
monster buck at 100yrds with a 44special....that is special!
Kentucky….no place like home.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Whitworth]
#125035
12/29/2012 2:35 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730
Mark Hampton
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730 |
Congrats on a very nice buck! Well done.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Mark Hampton]
#125037
12/29/2012 2:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
Excellent Buck and great shot!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#125038
12/29/2012 2:43 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 830
rlb
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 830 |
Very nice buck. Great shootin'.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: rlb]
#125047
12/29/2012 4:30 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 11
Matt Meyer
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 11 |
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Matt Meyer]
#125057
12/29/2012 6:13 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685
Boartuff
addict
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addict
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 685 |
Wow! Great hunt and awesome deer! Congratulations, man!
~BT~
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Matt Meyer]
#125058
12/29/2012 6:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
Fantastic deer and great shot! Congratulations!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: SChunter]
#125063
12/29/2012 7:16 AM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 97
stoney
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 97 |
MERRY CHRISTMAS INDEED !!! Very Nice. WHAT A RACK !!
Silver Doubles in His Holsters, Silver Stars Strapped to His Heels.------The Band Outlaws Hurry Sundown
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: stoney]
#125065
12/29/2012 12:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 60
grey owl
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 60 |
Man what a bruiser good job and congratulations!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: grey owl]
#125070
12/29/2012 2:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Congrats! That's a stud!!!
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: KRal]
#125072
12/29/2012 3:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542
Rick
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 542 |
Congrats on the awesome buck.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Rick]
#125074
12/29/2012 3:45 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 711
racksmasher
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 711 |
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: racksmasher]
#125077
12/29/2012 4:05 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Wow, what a great buck! Congratulations, thanks for sharing!!!!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: Darrell H]
#125080
12/29/2012 5:16 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
PH, what's the details on your load and gun? A pic of the M97 would be nice.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: KRal]
#125089
12/29/2012 6:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,825
MIHunter
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,825 |
Awesome buck, great shooting!
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: minnesotahunter]
#125093
12/29/2012 7:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
Now I remember why I was thinking on moving to Iowa (in my dreams!). Great buck.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: wvhitman]
#125105
12/29/2012 9:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 662
Larry in SD
addict
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addict
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 662 |
Congrats, that is indeed a very nice Buck. You done good! Some day I am going to have to get me one of those rotary guns and try that instead of my single shots.
Larry
Last edited by Larry in SD; 12/29/2012 9:14 PM.
T/C Handguns, One good shot for your moment of truth !
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: SChunter]
#125115
12/29/2012 11:53 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 168
358429
member
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member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 168 |
PythonHunter
Not sure if I missed something, did you take your deer with the .44 Spl., if so what sort of load were you using?
A very nice deer.
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: 358429]
#125126
12/30/2012 1:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
To bad your hunt was not filmed as your trophy surely is excellent.....
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: PythonHunter]
#125132
12/30/2012 1:52 AM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 204
TCScout
member
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member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 204 |
Pythonhunter,
Thats a super buck and some good shooting. Congratulations.
Post Tenabras Lux
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: TCScout]
#125135
12/30/2012 3:11 AM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 33
andycap1983
newbie
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newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 33 |
Outstanding buck! Nicely done
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Re: My Iowa whitetail 2012
[Re: andycap1983]
#125287
12/31/2012 11:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249
PythonHunter
OP
enthusiast
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OP
enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249 |
Thank you all for the kind words. I will have to work on photos of the gun, I can't seem to locate any here at home. It's a factory too cool Freedom arms 97 with a 5.5" barrel and the roundd butt option in 44 special. I topped it with a Leupold VariX III 2.5x8, though I never took it off 4x other than during sight in. The load is a factory Speer 200 gr. GDHP that the gun absolutely loves. I can't seem to find the magic with handloads, though it gives me something to work at in the off-season.
Anyway, more pics to come and thanks again.
PH
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