Day 2 of Iowa shotgun 2nd season, mid-day report...........

It was definitely as cold as they said it was going to be here! 9 degrees and a stiff W/NW wind that made the windchill about 10 below zero.

I got into the stand about 45 min before sunrise and sat in it until just after 8 am and I had to get down and move around a bit as my feet were getting to that point I knew I had to walk around a little or I was going to lose feeling in my toes. The rest of me was fine but my toes had had enough. I didn't see anything while in the stand or over the next 1/2 or so after I got out of the stand and walked around a bit but stayed real close to the stand. I then decided to go into town and get some breakfast and warm up so I did just that and returned to the South area I hunt just before 10:30.

I did a slow walk to the North through some little timber fingerlings that I walked around yesterday. I never saw anything so when I got to the Northern end of it I found a spot to set my little hunting chair down and I nestled in for a while. The group hunters showed up to the NE of me on the other side of the creek and I stayed put until I saw they were done with that area then decided to do a slow walk back through the timber fingerlings again but on the West side of it this time. I got to the South end of the last one and started to walk into the timber and got about 1/2 way through it and low and behold here comes a doe from the North walking South. I waited til she got to a clearing through the trees as she was on the vehicle path on the lower side of the timber between the timber and the cropland. I grunted at her and she stopped and looked right at me so I steadies the S&W 460 XVR as best I could and shot. She turned back to the South and ran. I went down to where she was standing and I could see the bullet splash in the ground and no sign of blood.....DANG, I missed! So I look to the South and there she is standing 1/2 way up in this little patch of hillside timber looking my way about 100 yards away but she's almost 1/2 hidden by a bigger tree so I slide to the right and set my 460 in my home made shooting sticks this time and shoot. The side of the tree explodes! I missed her again by a few inches by shooting the edge of the tree! GRRRRRRRR!!!!! But what does she do? She runs up the hill some more and stops AGAIN! This time there's an open shot, I steady my 460 the best I can and put her in the crosshairs of the Leupold VXII and shoot. This time I see her flinch and I know I got her.

Sure enough I go to where she was, and I track her up the hill. I only see the faintest signs, and I mean faint, of blood but when I get to the top of the hill and out of the timber there she lays about 20 yards to my left. It ended up being close to 125-130 yard shot that finally got her.

My 1st handgun kill! Here she is at home with me ...............



I still have an any sex tag to fill to hopefully try and get a decent buck so I'll be headed back out for one more hunt yet this afternoon. Wish me luck!

Trevor

Good on ya! And good luck.

Good job.

Looks like you plugged her pretty good,WTG.

Well done. A kind but foolish doe to give you the chance to learn from your mistakes, but you put meat in the freezer. Good job. Anyone can flip burgers or sell widgets enough to pay for a good handgun. That doesn't make you a hunter. You really have to master the tool, and more importantly, yourself to close that deal.
Your first handgun kill, but I'm sure not your last. Rewarding, isn't it?
Good write up too. It is important not to give up after a mis-step. As long as you can safely, legally, and ethically pursue it, pursue it!
I look forward to future stories from you, Good Job.
DB

Congrats. Missouri handgun Season starts next Sat. Hope to have some luck of my own.

Big deer! I'm not used to seeing big bodied deer any more. Our Texas deer are about 1/2 to 2/3's the size of midwest deer.

And this deer is actually just average at best. I've shot does in the past that would put this one to shame!

I think I'm hooked on handgun hunting now.

Congrats on your first handgun deer!

Congrats! Thats the way to do it never give up on yourself.Good things can only happen if YOU make the extra effort, way to hang in there!

IAshooter, what bullet were you using in the 460? Looks like it did a heck of a job on that doe.

I used the factory Hornady 200 gr ammo.

Nice work IA! Congratulations on breaking in the 460!

Congrats!!! I guess now we know the answer on whether or not that gun was a good choice for you!

I wondered a little bit about that too until I got it out to the range the first time. Then I knew I'd like it and although I've only shot about 25 rounds total through it so far since I've had it at the range and out at the family ground, I feel pretty comfortable with it.

I just received the bullets I ordered a few days ago and am getting the powder this week so after deer season is over I'll be doing some load development with it using the 240gr and 300gr XTP MAG's and shooting her quite a bit more.

You know...the FA 260 flat point would be excellent in that gun also I bet...Its one of my all time favorites!

Nice job, congrats!