buck fever
#174131
10/19/2016 12:02 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
OP
Shootist
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OP
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
Picked up a case of "buck fever" about a year ago. Not the kind with the shakes but the one where you envision a mature male whitetail in your crosshair. Had it so bad I contacted a mid-west outfitter for a chance at Iowa`s zone 5 but when I added up the cost of the hunt, out of state liscense, air fare, rented car and dog watcher plus getting this soon to be 66 year old handgun hunter to follow through I was more then pleased to get a call from friend and ranch owner Mike Gee. He made me an offer on a 180 class whitetail that I could not refuse. I carried two handguns: FA`s 475 scoped 10" barrel shooting a 400gr XTP over 25.5grs of 296 to equal factory velocity and a FA`s 44mag with a 240gr XTP over a healthy dose of H-110. Both guns are super accurate..... As we crested a small hill the guide spotted the bucks antlers as he was bedded down in the golden rods. Rather then taking a chance and shooting through the tall weeds I made my way to a treestand about 100 yards away. The plan being to try and push the deer in my direction for a clear shot. You all know what happens to any plans a hunter makes with whitetail.... After closing the stands guard rail over me I signaled the guide to make his push. The buck jumped from his bed but ran behind my stand, which was in a thick pine tree, and stopped about 50 or so yards from me and watching the guide. I stood up and turned and with the scope set on 2x tried to place the crosshair on his vitals but the tall golden rods blocked his body for a clear shot. It was then that a gust of wind caused the golden rods to bend giving a clear path for the bullet that I made my offhand shot. The 400gr bullet entered high in front of the left shoulder, went through the heart and exited low on the right shoulder. With his front legs out of action he plowed his nose through the thickets for a short distance finally ending the hunt... You know there is a God after I took a moment to admire the beauty of one of His creature`s..... The backstraps were delicious.... Next morning had us in a 4-wheel open top vehicle with its windshield folded down and looking for doe. Covered a lot of ground in the machine when we came upon a lone doe and stopped about 50 yards away. Placed my sandbag rest on the windshield and made the shot placing the bullet on the left shoulder. She then made the mad dash to my left and as the driver lowered himself I tracked the doe, offhand, in my crosshair keeping the sight just in front of its chest and squeezed the trigger tumbling the deer dead. One of the best shots of my life.... The photo shows two bullet holes and if you were to straighten out the does head the two holes would be over the shoulder.......... Watch out for "buck fever". It can be contagious..... PS bottom pic shows treestand ladder in lower circle and top circle where I made shot. Deer was next to tree at right..also hole in heart..
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: buck fever
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#174132
10/19/2016 12:10 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105 |
Not bad for an 'old man'.....
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Russell]
#174133
10/19/2016 12:21 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 |
Dandy buck! Congrats James
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Mark Hampton]
#174135
10/19/2016 12:32 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
James, that is a stud! Congrats! Don't know if I could've made a free handed shot on a buck like that.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: buck fever
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#174136
10/19/2016 1:03 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, James. That's my kind of hunting.
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: buck fever
[Re: s4s4u]
#174137
10/19/2016 1:10 AM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020 |
Great shooting james. Thats a great buck anf offhand is the best way to go!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: racksmasher1]
#174140
10/19/2016 1:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
OP
Shootist
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OP
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
Thank you guys....this is the best place for a handgun hunter to find friends......well all most......
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: buck fever
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#174141
10/19/2016 1:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463
Boot
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463 |
Wow! What a rack! That's a nice one for sure. Congrats on another success.
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Boot]
#174144
10/19/2016 2:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Great buck and mighty fine shooting on both animals James, congrats!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Darrell H]
#174145
10/19/2016 2:36 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 |
Kentucky….no place like home.
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Re: buck fever
[Re: KYODE]
#174146
10/19/2016 3:26 AM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 601
PsTaN
addict
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addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 601 |
What a great hunt ... and some fine shootin' as well. Beautiful deer!
Grats
PsTaN
-Smith & Wesson Model 69 -Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter -Encore Pro Hunter
"Hold your horses, the elephants are coming, and out stamped Alabama"
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Re: buck fever
[Re: PsTaN]
#174149
10/19/2016 4:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
Ernie the Un-Tactical
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Re: buck fever
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#174151
10/19/2016 5:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461 |
Great shooting! That's a nice buck! Congrats James!
Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
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Re: buck fever
[Re: pab1]
#174153
10/19/2016 8:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 848
magman
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 848 |
Great deer James. Thanks for sharing your story.
NRA LIFE MEMBER NAHC LIFE MEMBER
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Re: buck fever
[Re: magman]
#174154
10/19/2016 9:16 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649
dhom
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 649 |
Great hunt, great shooter, and congrats!!!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: dhom]
#174155
10/19/2016 11:43 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725
500WE
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,725 |
Wow, what a buck! Very nice, James!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: dhom]
#174156
10/19/2016 11:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
That's one heck of a buck! Congratulations, and great shooting!
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#174158
10/19/2016 1:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836
Whitworth
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,836 |
That's one hell-of-a buck, James! Congratulations!!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Whitworth]
#174160
10/19/2016 1:30 PM
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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 |
James is on a roll! First a behemoth of a hog at Reeders HHC and then this whopper buck?
Retirement is suiting you well my friend!
Congratulations!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: SChunter]
#174162
10/19/2016 2:15 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97
Dekker
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97 |
Congrats! on a great hunt.
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Re: buck fever
[Re: Dekker]
#174163
10/19/2016 2:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249
PythonHunter
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 249 |
Dog gone nice buck James! Congrats!
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Re: buck fever
[Re: PythonHunter]
#174177
10/19/2016 9:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 192
thadf
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 192 |
Keep rubbin' it in James. I've got a lot of years before retirement!!!
WTG, you conquered your "buck fever"
Good to throw a shout out to God as well. Not enough people do that these days. Good on you.
Last edited by thadf; 10/19/2016 9:29 PM. Reason: spelling error
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Re: buck fever
[Re: thadf]
#174184
10/19/2016 11:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 607
nytracker
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 607 |
Dandy buck James. Great story and hell of a shot. Have one question my friend ...... how come a 44 .. thought you were a 41 guy . If your bored with the 41 I have room for it up here.
Save liberals from them selves, stich their sphincter closed so they cant talk out their arse
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