Posted By: Brenden
first kill with the 338 Federal - 11/24/2015 1:50 AM
Today was the opening day in WV for firearms season. I left the rifles at home for the first time and took my 338 Federal in the Encore and my Ruger 41 magnum.
The morning was very cool with temperatures in the low 20's. As I was walking to my hunting grounds, I spotted two does at 230 yards. I quickly threw my pack on the ground and aligned the cross hairs on the largest doe. After several minutes of cat and mouse, she left the opening and headed towards the brush. I couldn't get a shot on her, and I didn't want to shoot the smaller doe as she wasn't much bigger than a field mouse.
As I lay freezing to death in the frost covered ground, I could hear another doe walking up the point. I tried to get ready, but there wasn't time. We saw each other at the same time, and I quickly moved the Encore and placed the crosshairs on her neck. The gun recoiled, and I was sure the bullet found its mark; but alas, I had missed. 75 yard chip shot and I blew it. Needless to say I was bummed.
Fast forward to this evening- same place same guns.
Around 4:25, I saw movement around 180 yards out. I was a nervous wreck as I knew this was it. I could see horns and knew they weren't much, but man, it may as well been the world record. He was angled towards me walking at a brisk pace and would not stop for anything. I yelled four times and he kept on. He was still quartering towards me and walking down hill. At 137 yards, I unleashed the 338 Federal with the 160 grain Barnes TTSX. At the shot he dropped in his tracks.
I ended up hitting him higher than I liked, but that's life. I ruined some of the backstraps, but I'll still eat well.
Not a trophy buck by any means, but good enough for the freezer. This is the first buck I've taken with a handgun. I'm pumped!
The morning was very cool with temperatures in the low 20's. As I was walking to my hunting grounds, I spotted two does at 230 yards. I quickly threw my pack on the ground and aligned the cross hairs on the largest doe. After several minutes of cat and mouse, she left the opening and headed towards the brush. I couldn't get a shot on her, and I didn't want to shoot the smaller doe as she wasn't much bigger than a field mouse.
As I lay freezing to death in the frost covered ground, I could hear another doe walking up the point. I tried to get ready, but there wasn't time. We saw each other at the same time, and I quickly moved the Encore and placed the crosshairs on her neck. The gun recoiled, and I was sure the bullet found its mark; but alas, I had missed. 75 yard chip shot and I blew it. Needless to say I was bummed.
Fast forward to this evening- same place same guns.
Around 4:25, I saw movement around 180 yards out. I was a nervous wreck as I knew this was it. I could see horns and knew they weren't much, but man, it may as well been the world record. He was angled towards me walking at a brisk pace and would not stop for anything. I yelled four times and he kept on. He was still quartering towards me and walking down hill. At 137 yards, I unleashed the 338 Federal with the 160 grain Barnes TTSX. At the shot he dropped in his tracks.
I ended up hitting him higher than I liked, but that's life. I ruined some of the backstraps, but I'll still eat well.
Not a trophy buck by any means, but good enough for the freezer. This is the first buck I've taken with a handgun. I'm pumped!
