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West Virginia Handgun Slam #204430 12/22/2019 3:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
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wvhitman Offline OP
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I coined this term in 2005 when I killed the four most commonly hunted animals in West Virginia- squirrel, turkey, bear, deer, all with a handgun. I couldn't find anyone else that had done it, so I felt very fortunate. Figured I'd never do it again, because one of these animals usually hard to do with the others. Usually it's a turkey or bear.
I still tried for a repeat. I did that in 2007. A 3 peat?? Yeah, in 2013. I figured that was it. No way could it be done 4 times. This year turned out to be really strange in difficulty getting these animals, but I did it again! 4 peat! Wow!
Squirrels were rather easy. Went to my farm on a warm Sept. day and got 5 with my Quiet Gun- Ruger MKIII, suppressed, 38 gr. CCI suppressed segmented HPs

Next came fall bear season. I have this honey hole farm where I'd taken 5 bears the last 7 years. They come off the mountain, cross a river, cross high grass, then a road, then go to the corn. I sat behind large hay bales and watched this road. The first 6 days I saw 3 bears and one giant coyote cross the road. They were all to fast to get a shot at. That was 6 hours a day with no action. I figured the last day would be a wash. It was the first 5 hrs. and 50 minutes. I was ready to leave. I unloaded my gun, but took one last look at the river. Bear! I quickly reloaded and waited for him to cross the road. When he did, my .375/.284 XP, 250 gr. Lehigh Chaos, hit him at 144 yds. He dropped, then rolled in the high grass. I couldn't find him in the dark, but did the next morning just 7 yds. from where he was hit. A nice 200# boar taken from the hay bales in the background

Next was turkey season. I got more intense thinking the slam was possible. I went to 4 farms with no luck. Finally, one of the farmers called and had seen turkeys 2 days in a row. I went, set up, all camoed. After 2 hours a dozen turkeys came around the mountain. There was no gobblers, so I picked out the biggest hen. 110 yds.FA .454 (my turkey gun), 260 gr. Speer Mag HP. The 15# hen was glued to the ground. See the broken wing. That's where you shoot them and not ruin meat

Now, I just needed a deer. I'd noticed I was seeing fewer deer daily as I bow hunted my farm. On the first day of buck season there were only 4 shots in the big valley my farm was in. That was not normal. For the 13 days of buck season I did not see a single horn! By mid season I was willing to shoot any deer. One day was brutal: 20-25 mph sustained winds, 35-40 mph gusts. Dumb me went out, at least in my blind. A dumb doe walked out 124 yds. from my blind, feeding. .325 WSM XP, 180 gr. Nosler BST. The clean up was brutal, but I had the slam.

It still bothered me that I hadn't taken a buck. I'd never been skunked in 44 years in the Potomac Highlands. So, I decided to muzzleload hunt with my CVA Optima .50 cal. handgun. Too cold to hunt the first 3 days. Got skunked on day #4. Day #5 I was in the blind on my farm. It's set up for 125-400 yd. shots. Not the best for my gun. After 3 1/2 hrs. of setting I saw nothing, so I started packing up to leave. Just one last look. Horns! Whoa. It was a good size bodied buck, but only 3 points. I'd just put an old Simmons 2 1/2-7X scope on this gun. It shot 3" at 100. This deer was at 114 yds. I fired. He wobbled a few steps and dropped. The 350 gr. HP did it's job. Now I had a real WV Handgun Slam

That was the most I'd hunted to get the slam. I guess the theme this year was PERCERVERANCE. Every time I was ready to give up I stuck it out a little longer.
Will I get another slam? I doubt it (well, maybe).

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: wvhitman] #204432 12/22/2019 4:31 PM
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RSW Offline
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Great job hitman! I always like reading about your adventures!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: RSW] #204437 12/22/2019 6:06 PM
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KRal Offline
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Excellent, Doc! Congrats!


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: KRal] #204440 12/22/2019 6:16 PM
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Russell Offline
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Great, Doc!


It's not the gun, but the man behind it.

Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret.
USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: Russell] #204442 12/22/2019 8:03 PM
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popo Offline
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Congrats Doc. Nice when things work out after long waiy.

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: popo] #204443 12/22/2019 8:34 PM
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RBO21 Offline
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Congrats Doc! Way to stick with it.

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: RBO21] #204447 12/22/2019 9:46 PM
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Shortgun Offline
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My hat is off to you Sir, congratulations!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: Shortgun] #204450 12/22/2019 10:41 PM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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Congrats, great shooting as always.


Michael Joe Moore
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: REDHAWK1954] #204452 12/22/2019 11:07 PM
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Franchise Offline
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The Living Legend does it once again! No One Else Even Comes Close


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: Franchise] #204455 12/23/2019 12:33 AM
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45MAN Offline
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DOC: YOU DEFINITELY PUT IN THE TIME, AND EARNED YOUR SLAM, CONGRAGULATIONS.


"ADAPT OR DIE". I USE ALL CAPS, NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS, PLUS IT IS EASIER TO TYPE AND READ.
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: 45MAN] #204457 12/23/2019 1:13 AM
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sixshot Offline
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Congratulations Doc, hunting hard always pays off, you always do your part & end up with great results, nice job buddy!

Dick

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: sixshot] #204459 12/23/2019 3:16 AM
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Okie Hunter Online Happy
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Congrats.


With God all things are possible. Matt.19:26
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: Okie Hunter] #204464 12/23/2019 10:41 AM
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500WE Offline
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Way to go, Larry! You're not just gettin' older, you're gettin' better!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: 500WE] #204469 12/23/2019 1:07 PM
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jcp161 Offline
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Congratulations and a great story Doc!

You always get it done. Thanks for sharing it.

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: 45MAN] #204470 12/23/2019 1:13 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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very cool!


"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: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: reflex264] #204479 12/23/2019 5:33 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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Perfect Doc... is that the doe you mentioned??


Life member-NRA-SCI
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Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s
"I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: jamesfromjersey] #204487 12/23/2019 11:30 PM
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wvhitman Offline OP
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Yes, James. It's the one.

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: wvhitman] #204490 12/24/2019 1:31 AM
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dave thomas Offline
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nicely done, Again!


Ephesians 6:10-18 because we are warriors.
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: wvhitman] #204498 12/24/2019 3:26 AM
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cmnash Offline
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Impressive indeed!

...but not surprising. I have been a follower and fan of the wvhitman for going on 25 years.

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: cmnash] #204502 12/24/2019 12:00 PM
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dhom Offline
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Your dedication is a great influence on us all. Thank you!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: 45MAN] #204504 12/24/2019 1:31 PM
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BRASF0311 Offline
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Way to go Doc, that's awesome!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: BRASF0311] #204520 12/24/2019 5:12 PM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Great hunting, Doc!


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: Chance Weldon] #204734 12/31/2019 2:51 PM
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RH Custom Guns Offline
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Wow! Just shows what can happen if you stick to it!

I'm wondering what my "Texas Slam" would be...

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: wvhitman] #204737 12/31/2019 3:10 PM
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billa Offline
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Doc. Another impressive set of handgun accomplishments. Congratulations. Well done.


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

Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since!
HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: dhom] #204742 12/31/2019 4:44 PM
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SChunter Offline
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Nice work Hitman!

Re: West Virginia Handgun Slam [Re: SChunter] #204773 01/01/2020 10:35 PM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Nice work Doc!


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