Posted By: 3dcadman
My First Revolver Buck - 11/19/2012 6:35 PM
What an incredible morning this had been. It was a crisp November morning circa 2012, and I was snapping pictures of my Wife (Barbara Jo Richter) and her first Mule Deer Buck. This was only the second day of this season! My father (Gregg Richter) had already recently killed a Trophy Mule Deer Buck and a Trophy Bull Elk, both with his custom .475 revolver from Dixie Firearms. Counting in my head that was 3 big game trophies already this November! I thought this day could not get any better! After we finished taking the pictures we left the skinning knives and an equipment bag to go and retrieve our truck.
As we returned to the area we saw a wide 3x3 buck milling around. Gregg asked me if I wanted to make a stalk on him. I looked down at my trusty .308 Encore and thought that I wanted to wait as we had 3 more days left in the season. I answered Gregg (dad) stating that it did not seem to be that much of a challenge for me and my .308; as he was already close enough for a comfortable shot, that and I wanted to hold out for a bigger deer. As my last Mule Deer buck had been a 150 class trophy, and I wanted to try and find something similar. My father, never wanting to pass up a golden opportunity, suggested the idea of using his .475 Linebaugh revolver. Thereby presenting me with an exciting and worthwhile challenge. Who says parents can't still influence and teach you a thing or two at age 34?
At this point there is one observation I would like to make about Camouflage. I love camouflage but always have mixed emotions about spending all that money on camouflage gear only to have to cover it all up with hunter blaze orange. I understand the safety aspect, but feel that some how it may be overkill and the punch line in an anti-hunters joke. Just to be clear I always wear my hunter orange and I encourage everyone to know and follow the local hunting laws.
So back to the story: I looked at my dad and accepted his challenge. Then it dawned on us, dad’s .475 was in the backpack that was with Barbara's buck up on the hill. The situation was getting more interesting by the minute. So what started out as a '.308 comfortable shot give me'; became a 'Can you get close enough to him for a shot with the .475 revolver'; but then finally evolved into 'can you sneak past the buck to retrieve the revolver, and then put a stalk on him to get close enough for a shot all in your bright hunter blaze orange vest and hat?'.
Leaving Barbara and dad keeping out of sight, I circled and stealthily made it over to the backpack while trying to keep track of the buck and where I left my family. As I retrieved the revolver the buck was making his way toward Gregg and Barbara. So picture this: I finally have the revolver, but the target is moving into a ‘no shooting zone’, ie. getting too close to my dad and my wife! I headed down the hill toward them to head the buck off.
Dodging fallen trees and ducking under branches I managed to get between the buck and my family. However at this point I was in the wide open and the buck was headed straight for me! Here I was a bright Blaze Orange Warning Flag of danger and he was not slowing down or changing course! Almost in self-defense I raised the red dot sight and settled it on the center of his chest. I cocked the hammer and touched it off as he closed to within 8 yards. He sort of leaped up and slightly veered to my right. Needless to say I moved to my left (understatement) as he stumbled and clumped a few yards past me to my right to crash and burn.
No doubt he had been following a hot doe led by her scent. I just so happened to locate and stop on the doe’s trail. I wonder if he ever really saw me; perhaps he thought I was a funny looking doe? Camouflage covered in Blaze Orange apparently made no difference.
A one shot kill with a revolver had been accomplished. Gutting him out revealed that I had tattooed the middle of his heart with the .475 Linebaugh, a 400 grain Hornady XTP.
At final count, 4 big game animals in just a few days or so. Three of which met this fine custom .475 revolver by Rod up close and personal.
What a wonderful time with my family, I give thanks to God for providing this memorable hunt.
Post Script: While we all hoped and prayed for a successful hunting season, this one went so far above and beyond any of our expectations that there is no doubt in my mind that God was the Major Player here. In my 45 years plus or minus of big game hunting; included therein my 25 years guiding many dozens of big game hunters (mostly handgun hunters but also rifle hunters and some archery hunts too; on foot and on horseback and from tent camps and campers as well as motels) I have not ever experienced this level of success. As sure as anything I have ever known, I know in my heart that the Lord my King and Savior had us all in his Mighty Arms every step of the way; lovingly pointing us in the right direction. These hunts were far and above any that I could put together without His help.
Gregg Richter
As we returned to the area we saw a wide 3x3 buck milling around. Gregg asked me if I wanted to make a stalk on him. I looked down at my trusty .308 Encore and thought that I wanted to wait as we had 3 more days left in the season. I answered Gregg (dad) stating that it did not seem to be that much of a challenge for me and my .308; as he was already close enough for a comfortable shot, that and I wanted to hold out for a bigger deer. As my last Mule Deer buck had been a 150 class trophy, and I wanted to try and find something similar. My father, never wanting to pass up a golden opportunity, suggested the idea of using his .475 Linebaugh revolver. Thereby presenting me with an exciting and worthwhile challenge. Who says parents can't still influence and teach you a thing or two at age 34?
At this point there is one observation I would like to make about Camouflage. I love camouflage but always have mixed emotions about spending all that money on camouflage gear only to have to cover it all up with hunter blaze orange. I understand the safety aspect, but feel that some how it may be overkill and the punch line in an anti-hunters joke. Just to be clear I always wear my hunter orange and I encourage everyone to know and follow the local hunting laws.
So back to the story: I looked at my dad and accepted his challenge. Then it dawned on us, dad’s .475 was in the backpack that was with Barbara's buck up on the hill. The situation was getting more interesting by the minute. So what started out as a '.308 comfortable shot give me'; became a 'Can you get close enough to him for a shot with the .475 revolver'; but then finally evolved into 'can you sneak past the buck to retrieve the revolver, and then put a stalk on him to get close enough for a shot all in your bright hunter blaze orange vest and hat?'.
Leaving Barbara and dad keeping out of sight, I circled and stealthily made it over to the backpack while trying to keep track of the buck and where I left my family. As I retrieved the revolver the buck was making his way toward Gregg and Barbara. So picture this: I finally have the revolver, but the target is moving into a ‘no shooting zone’, ie. getting too close to my dad and my wife! I headed down the hill toward them to head the buck off.
Dodging fallen trees and ducking under branches I managed to get between the buck and my family. However at this point I was in the wide open and the buck was headed straight for me! Here I was a bright Blaze Orange Warning Flag of danger and he was not slowing down or changing course! Almost in self-defense I raised the red dot sight and settled it on the center of his chest. I cocked the hammer and touched it off as he closed to within 8 yards. He sort of leaped up and slightly veered to my right. Needless to say I moved to my left (understatement) as he stumbled and clumped a few yards past me to my right to crash and burn.
No doubt he had been following a hot doe led by her scent. I just so happened to locate and stop on the doe’s trail. I wonder if he ever really saw me; perhaps he thought I was a funny looking doe? Camouflage covered in Blaze Orange apparently made no difference.
A one shot kill with a revolver had been accomplished. Gutting him out revealed that I had tattooed the middle of his heart with the .475 Linebaugh, a 400 grain Hornady XTP.
At final count, 4 big game animals in just a few days or so. Three of which met this fine custom .475 revolver by Rod up close and personal.
What a wonderful time with my family, I give thanks to God for providing this memorable hunt.
Post Script: While we all hoped and prayed for a successful hunting season, this one went so far above and beyond any of our expectations that there is no doubt in my mind that God was the Major Player here. In my 45 years plus or minus of big game hunting; included therein my 25 years guiding many dozens of big game hunters (mostly handgun hunters but also rifle hunters and some archery hunts too; on foot and on horseback and from tent camps and campers as well as motels) I have not ever experienced this level of success. As sure as anything I have ever known, I know in my heart that the Lord my King and Savior had us all in his Mighty Arms every step of the way; lovingly pointing us in the right direction. These hunts were far and above any that I could put together without His help.
Gregg Richter
