It was a cool November 2012 morning, and my father-in-law (Gregg Richter), my husband (Joseph Richter) and I were on our second day hunting for deer. This morning was gorgeous; we had been out for a few hours glassing for deer. We had seen a buck right at first light but before I could get a shot at him, a coyote came by and spooked him! We were seeing some does, but no bucks, so Gregg decided we should try another spot.

About that time, Gregg spotted two does, and then Joe spotted a nice 4x4 buck following them about 40-45 yards up the hill. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking anxiously. So this is buck fever that my husband had been warning me about! It was exhilarating. This fine buck looked like he would make a nice trophy, but he was covered a little by trees.

Joe helped to calm my nerves as he guided me to get set up for a chance at a shot. It all seemed so surreal; almost a perfect setup. I just needed to be patient and wait until the buck came out of the trees and provide the target I wanted for a one shot kill. I watched him through the binoculars, and sure enough, he was starting to make a turn out of the trees.

My heart continued to race as I switched to my .243 Encore and found the buck in my scope. Buck fever returned with a vengeance and produced an addictive endorphin high as this was going to be my first mule deer buck. Again Joe instructed me to 'just take a deep breath' to settle me down again. Gregg whispered 'get ready, here he comes.' Sure enough the buck emerged from the heavy trees, and I think I might get a shot. He seems unaware of our presence.

As the situation unfolds, it does so differently than I had pictured. The buck came out of the trees, but he continues walking across in front of us. And there is another tree that he is headed for! I was getting nervous thinking that I may not get a shot after all. Just then Gregg made a kissing sound and stopped him for me. The buck is now looking in our direction to figure out what made that sound. Now was my chance! I rested the cross hairs behind his left shoulder and squeezed the trigger. The .243 Encore breaks the calm silence with it's pleasing Bang and Rumble; I LOVE this handgun! As the bullet hits its mark behind the front left leg, the buck jumps up and runs up the hill a bit, and quickly disappears behind some trees. In my mind I picture him falling to the ground, waiting for me. Gregg says 'good shot!' He tells me the deer’s reaction looked like a perfect heart/lung shot, but instructs us to wait, as the accompanying does are confused, but un-afraid. He does not want us to spook them, as that may revive the buck if he is only wounded. After what seems like an eternity of anticipation and agony, the does finally wander off and we make our way up the hill to find My Buck.

After a few yards, trees, and brush we found him. Sure enough, I had made a one-shot kill, which was my main goal; the fact that it was on a Trophy Buck was icing on the cake. This moment warmed my heart and I looked to heaven to thank my Lord for answering my prayers.

This has been an exciting experience, and I hope to have many more.

Great story Barbara. Beautiful deer. Thanks for the details. Hoping to make my first handgun kill in a few weeks.

Jeff

Awesome! Congrats! Barbara... Very nice Buck indeed, and thanks for the story it was great.

Awesome job. Great to hear ya love handgunning!! Congrats

Very Nice Buck!

What a write up, and a GREAT deer!

WTG and Congrats Barbra!

Congratulations Barbara! A beautiful muley and a great handgunned trophy!

awesome buck Barbara! good shooting

Great job, congrats!

Great story. Thanks for sharing and congrats.

Great job Barbara! Great shooting on a fine buck, congratulations!

Congratulations! This is why its called hunting. When you like it, it is very hard to explain the feeling. You did a good job and tell a great story!

Fantastic deer! Congratulations!

Congratulations on an awesome buck. Great hunt and write-up.

What a great deer and fantastic hunt. Congrats!

Congratulations on a GREAT buck and a Great story as well. What load were you using in the 243?

Barbara asked me to answer this for her.

Even "I" was surprised when I saw the date on the box of my reloads:

10/1/78

I loaded these when Barbara was less than two years old!

OK, back to the QUESTION: Remington brass and primer; 40 grains of IMR 4350 powder, and a 100 grain Nosler Partition bullet.

Old school load; up to the minute killing power.

The shot was almost perfectly broadside at less than 50 yards. The entrance hole was just behind the left shouder (about a dime sized hole) and the exit hole was straight across in the same area (the bullet only hit a rib in and out) and about a half dollar sized hole. The buck ran about 43 yards and we found him dead.

That is just fantastic, Congrats on a great shot and a equally great trophy. That is a heck of a Deer and one any hunter should be proud of. You done good girl.

Larry

Congrats, Barbara! "BUCK FEVER"...yeah, I know all about it!

good job !!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on a great buck.

Congrats!!

What an awesome buck. Also you mentioned buck fever, I personally think that the day I quit getting that amazing feeling before and especially after a shot I know was a good shot I'll probably quit hunting! Again awesome buck congratulations!

Way to go !

Great Buck and an awesome story. Congratulations Barbara

Going through some paperwork I found the Score Sheet for Barb's Buck. My father had it officially measured, and the final score is 152 5/8.

Congratulations Barbara!

Well done. Congrats.

Well done.

Yes! Now its gonna be tough to beat that first one!

Great job girl.

I am a proud FIL!

Good job young lady!!

Awesome buck and story!

Congrats Barbara on your great Mule deer.

You can check out the picture of my latest hunt with Gregg, 2015 Little Gun Invitational Antelope Hunt.

Congratulations Barbara. Great hunt and write up. Super trophy a lot to be proud of.

It's great to see women in the field, and a shortgunner to boot. Congrat's!

Great story, and great buck

you have a great writing style. Thanks for sharing. Congrats

perfect hunt....good for you......