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Georgia buck in the snow #187400 12/12/2017 1:36 AM
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cmnash Offline OP
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This Saturday I had the rare opportunity to shoot a Georgia deer in the snow. This is something I had never done before but very much wanted to. The chances to hunt or shoot a deer in the snow here are limited.
The snow started falling on Friday, and on the way home from work I decided I WAS going to shoot a deer in the snow. The dawn broke over about 4 inches of wet snow covering the ground and clinging to all the limbs and branches. I was optimistic because I was sitting in a shooting house where I had previously seen several young bucks. There were fresh tracks made overnight. The snow continued to fall and the woods were loud with pine limbs snapping and clumps of snow dropping.
The first sign of life was a coyote steady going somewhere. I "whooped" at him and he paused momentarily. I brought the MOA in .250 Savage to bear on him with every intention of shooting him, but he was just quick enough to escape .
Late in the morning I saw a single deer headed my way. There was no hesitation. If it had antlers, I was going to shoot. As the deer entered a narrow shooting lane, a glimpse of antler confirmed my decision and grunted with my mouth. The small buck froze at about 65 yards. The MOA was leveled, the hammer drawn, the safety moved, and crosshairs were settled. A 100 grain Ballistic tip was sent on its way...
This shot was a test for the .250 and Ballistic Tip. A quatering toward angle behind a bough of pine draping heavily with snow is the exact scenario I would avoid with this gun and ammo. I was nervous.
I invited my wife and son to join me in tracking and blood trailing in the snow. There was blood and hair at the start but the blood was sometimes sparse along the trail. No worries though, the buck was piled up within 75 yards.
My family helped me drag then hang this buck where we skinned and quartered it. We then packed it in a cooler stuffed with snow.
That was the point of shooting this deer- the total experience shared by my whole family.

As for the Ballistic Tip; not a problem. The bullet did in fact strike a limb just prior to hitting the deers shoulder, evidenced by the large entance wound. There was carnage in the onside, but the bullet had the integrity and steam to penetrate one lung and the liver . The Nosler made it to the offside just under the skin. There was plenty of hemorrhaged blood in the chest cavity.
There is nothing wrong with shooting a deer with a .250 Savage and Ballistic Tips.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: cmnash] #187402 12/12/2017 1:39 AM
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Brenden Offline
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Good job man. It's great you and your family could share this together.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Brenden] #187404 12/12/2017 1:48 AM
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Mark Hampton Offline
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Good job with the MOA - Congrats! Nice experience with your family.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Mark Hampton] #187405 12/12/2017 1:57 AM
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I can't wait to hunt with again in March Matthew! Congratulations on a very successful hunt...adding to memories that last a lifetime


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Franchise] #187407 12/12/2017 2:22 AM
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junebug Offline
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Nice! I especially like the picture of you and your son dragging the deer. ,Priceless memories!


junebug
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: junebug] #187408 12/12/2017 3:00 AM
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WiseGuy Offline
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Well done! Nothing like being able to hunt in the snow. Its a rare treat for us southern boys


Bigger ain't always better....according to who???
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: cmnash] #187410 12/12/2017 3:21 AM
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s4s4u Offline
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 Quote:
There is nothing wrong with shooting a deer with a .250 Savage and Ballistic Tips.


Indeed. I have always like the nosler BT 120 in 7mm. Congrat's on a successful hunt!


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: s4s4u] #187411 12/12/2017 4:55 AM
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tradmark Offline
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Nice shooting and good job on that buck. I have a 2 week time on our property in january to take spikes and does. I love taking them almost as much as a nice 10pt!! Congrats!

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: tradmark] #187412 12/12/2017 6:57 AM
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pab1 Offline
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Congratulations!


Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce.
Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper


Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: pab1] #187417 12/12/2017 11:03 AM
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Randy M Offline
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Congrats. That's awesome.


The meat won't fry if the lead don't fly.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187419 12/12/2017 11:13 AM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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WTG Matthew, looking forward to seeing you again in March.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187421 12/12/2017 11:15 AM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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Congrats on a snow buck. I lived in Augusta Ga for nine years and hunted in Burke county and never once got to hunt in the snow. Since I moved to North Carolina 30 years ago I have hunted in the snow several times taking two or three deer in it. The snow makes tracking easy and a lot of fun.


Michael Joe Moore
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187427 12/12/2017 2:24 PM
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cherokeetracker Offline
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Really cool pics. That was an awesome hunt.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187428 12/12/2017 2:32 PM
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KRal Offline
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Congrats, Matt! I think killing a deer in the snow is a dream of every hunter in the Deep South; it's just such a rare opportunity for us. Usually if were lucky enough to get some snow, it's after hunting season closes.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187433 12/12/2017 3:55 PM
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very nice....congratulations


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"I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: jamesfromjersey] #187434 12/12/2017 3:58 PM
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KYODE Offline
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That is wonderful!

I sat in a snow storm one time here. I was up in a pine tree surrounded by its branches and somewhat protected. It was great.....other than i didnt see a dang thang lol.


Kentucky….no place like home.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187436 12/12/2017 4:24 PM
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Curly Offline
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Congrats, that snow sure make dragging a breeze

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187442 12/12/2017 7:37 PM
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ratgunner Offline
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Well done


Hunt hard,Shoot straight,Kill clean,Apologize to no one.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: ratgunner] #187444 12/12/2017 9:17 PM
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Mad Dog 1954 Offline
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OUTSTANDING what a great time. Family is everything


Sometimes it is entirely appropriate to kill a fly with a 12 pound sledgehammer!
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: cmnash] #187450 12/12/2017 11:31 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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Thanks for the compliments. I am glad you guys get what I saw in this hunt.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: cmnash] #187461 12/13/2017 2:32 AM
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PinkTC Offline
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Correction, It should read: My family helped me drag then hang this buck where my wife skinned it and helped me quarter it. Lol!

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: PinkTC] #187463 12/13/2017 3:02 AM
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ruger4570 Offline
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Congrats. Great pics and story. We usually have snow now, and haven't had any yet. Go figure...

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: ruger4570] #187479 12/13/2017 1:37 PM
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Ernie Offline
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The 100 NBT has always worked well for me in 25's.
Great story--Congrats!


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Ernie] #187480 12/13/2017 2:13 PM
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JDK Offline
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Very cool! Being in Texas, I've once hunted in snow, but it wasn't as much as you had. I wish I could have been hunting in the thick blanket we just had, but I missed it by a day. My son hunts with a .257 Roberts in non +P form. The load uses a regular old Speer 120 grain Hot-Cor, but man does it work. It is like a death ray. I imagine the velocities are probably pretty close to yours. Congrats!


John

But for the grace of God, there, I go.
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: junebug] #187486 12/13/2017 3:28 PM
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SGalan Offline
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 Originally Posted By: junebug
Nice! I especially like the picture of you and your son dragging the deer. ,Priceless memories!


I agree entirely. A keeper.

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187489 12/13/2017 5:23 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Absolutely awesome!!!!


"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"

I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187510 12/14/2017 12:32 AM
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PsTaN Offline
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The amount of snow that fell here in SW Alabama was really surprising to me. I'd say probably 5" of snow at my house. I hunted Saturday afternoon and specifically went to a field I knew would have a great deal of melt and expose some grass. Sure enough, the field filled with deer, but nothing I wanted to shoot.

What I found really cool was the Time Lapse images on my trail cam. I feel like I learned a little watching how the deer fed during that weather.

Grats to you on that deer. Certainly an experience us Deep South guys dont get often!!


PsTaN

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"Hold your horses, the elephants are coming, and out stamped Alabama"
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #187798 12/22/2017 2:21 PM
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SChunter Offline
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Congratulations Matthew!

Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: Randy M] #188113 12/31/2017 5:02 AM
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Way to go! Gotta love the snow!


~BT~
Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: cmnash] #188114 12/31/2017 12:15 PM
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billa Offline
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Great story. Congratulations on your snow buck. I great memory for the entire family.


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... "
Matthew 28:19

Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since!
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Re: Georgia buck in the snow [Re: billa] #188171 01/02/2018 5:42 AM
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sw282 Offline
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0nce again you are on target... Scoring a ''Perfect Forty''..

With the whole family cheering you on..

''H A P P Y-N E W-Y E A R-2 0 1 8''


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