2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python

Well, I finally have a little time and photobucket is cooperating, so here is a picture of my 2015 Iowa whitetail. I've been working on getting each of my girls a deer this year, and for them it was a situation where they just each wanted a set of antlers for their rooms. Not a lot of time hunting and we weren't selective at all. That's okay, they were all successful and I couldn't be more proud.

So, on to my hunt. Knowing that time was very limited, about two days of the season to hunt, I wasn't going to be picky either, but I wanted to hunt with my prized Python having carried it a lot as a backup, but never having shot anything with it. This time it was the only gun I had along.

After finding a couple groups of bedded does, I was fortunate enough to locate this buck bedded in a field terrace with one forkhorn and about six does/fawns. So I hatched a plan that included being dropped off by a buddy about 1/2 mile crosswind from them, and hoping to get on top of the terrace they were under (out of the 15-25 mph wind at 6 degrees F) which would put me at about 35 to 40 yards. Well, the best laid plans... I made it to the high flat above them with the last couple hundred yards on my hands and knees when I spotted one of the does up feeding. I was stuck at 83 yards from her and I couldn't see the buck because I was now flat on my belly.

I was able to get to my knees, though it took me about 2 minutes to get up, I was cold! Once on my knees when fully up, I could see the buck as he too was now up feeding just below her. Guessing he was a few yards short, I thought I would wait him out, thinking the does would feed down the terrace. Wrong again. I've been practicing with this gun a lot with the same load I'm hunting with and am confident out to 100 yards, so I decided to take the shot. After getting to the full upright position, I had the buck lined up. The first shot cracked and the buck's rear end dropped. I spined him. I quickly got off a second shot and hit him perfect, double lung. Now I got excited as he was pulling himself away, so I put a third shot into him and hit him in the rump. I have to tell you though, I got the shakes....BAD. I jumped up as he dropped for good, having covered about 20 yards after the first hit.

The shakes didn't quit for about 10 minutes, and that's four times this year, once each when my girls got their deer and this one. It was a good year for me, God has blessed me for sure.

Beautiful..... And with your Python makes your title "Python Hunter" all the better. Congratulations on your handgunned whitetail buck.......Remember the 10 pointer Python?? You got it.....

Damn fine buck, with a fine piece of hardware. Thanks for sharing!

That is one of the best bucks I have seen on this site this season! A great trophy with any weapon but special with a open sighted revolver. What barrel length and load were you shooting? What was the distance on the shots?

Congratulations on the excellant Iowa buck. Was you hunting in late muzzle loader season?

What an awesome buck, Greg! Congratulations on a fine stalk also; you really earned that buck! And with an iron-sighted Python to boot. I would say you really beat the odds!

And congrats to your girls on their bucks too!

Congratulations! Great Buck!

Congratulations! I always enjoy reading success stories.

That's a lot of meat for the snake to put down. Pythons are great. Congrats.

Nice going . Looks like all that practice paid off. Iceing on the cake after getting your daughters there deer.

That's a stud whitetail, PH!!

Congratulations on a great season for you and your girls!

Good lord, what a buck! And with an open sighted revolver, too. That, my friend, is a trophy.

That's awesome. Great deer!!

No doubt a trophy! Congrats on an awesome buck!

What load/ammo were you using?

Grats!! That's a fine deer ... And a fine accomplishment with the Colt. I'd love to take a deer with my New Service I inherited from my Dad.

Really really nice buck. Great shooting!

What load did ya use

Great buck!!

Congratulations! That's a fine deer!

Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I think I've told the story 25 times since the hunt and I still get excited.

As for the shots, the first shot was right at 80 yards, the second pretty close to the same and the last about 75. The hunt was during our late muzzleloader season in Iowa where they do allow handguns. Last year I used a FA Field grade in .454 with a 2.5-8 Leupold on top but just wanted something different this year.

The load I was using was factory (I haven't started loading the pistol case stuff yet, my daughters keep me busy loading trap 12 gauge loads) Remington 180 grain SJSP. The Python really likes the load, so I stuck with it. It likes the Cor-Bon 180 cast, but I'm struggling to find that load around Iowa.

Gregg, I will work on getting the girls photos up today.

Thanks again everybody. I love this site and all the great guys that contribute.

Congrats! on a great hunt. That's a hog of a whitetail.

A well earned buck. Great story.

that is an excellent buck! with irons no less! Congratulations! are you going to get him mounted?

NICE BUCK! Congrats on using the Python.

Beautiful buck and great story! Congratulations!

Excellent Buck!! and Testament to the ability of the .357 Mag to take game! And with a classic revolver no less! One of my favorite caliber and gun! The man behind the gun is not only good shot but a great father as well!

Congrats!! Very nice deer...and pistol!

Congrats on a great buck. Leaving the rile home is the best way to get started.