First off thanks for all the advice I received here over the past year. I finally got my shooting dialed in and got to where I was really confident off the shooting sticks (I used Sixshot's patented design).

Opening morning in IL was pretty exciting. I had a Doe walk within 10 ft about 8 minutes before shooting light. I passed on a spike about an hour later. Saw about four more deer before breaking for lunch so I was pretty happy with my decision to pass on the smaller deer. Then that afternoon I didn't see anything.

Next morning fog with about 5 ft visibility prohibitted me from promptly finding my stand so I found a tree to lean on and wait till some better light to find my stand. I was facing right, then I noticed looking left had much better shooting lanes. So I quietly moved to face left and was perfectly set up. Less than 10 minutes later and real nice 6 point trotted in from the right and had me pegged at about 20 ft. I had no shot and he quickly retreated after a long stare down.

That afternoon I was feeling a bit discouraged about missed opportunities but the hunting god's smiled on me. About 4:30 a decent 5 point walked in a little behind me to the left. He saw me but wasn't spooked and I drew on him fast as he walked behind a tree. He popped out right as the Bisley steadied. That gun points real well. HE stopped for a second and I squeezed BOOM.






The gun was a little closer to my head than normal (gun drawn to aim hard left and a little behind me, across my body) and it was a sight picture I hadn't thought of practicing. It all worked out and he only ran 40 yds or so before expiring.

One concern though. I didn't find a drop of blood. Not at shot or even where it laid. Complete pass through, both lungs hit. Just quite a bit of fat on this deer seemed to seal up the exit hole. It bled like crazy inside and died nice and quick, but had I needed to track and find him in the dark I would have had some trouble.

I used the Buffalo Bore 255 Soft cast 45 Colt, running around 1000 fps. The bullet did its job as far as a quick kill but I think I'll use something else next time because losing a deer in those thick woods is pretty easy.

Sorry for running on, thanks again for helping make this happen.

Congradulations!!!Nice deer and nicer gun.The bisleys are easy pointers.Looks like shot placement was perfect.Don't give up on your load,it obviously works.

zack0419....congratulations,ought to be some good eatin.been open here in Alabama about a week. haven't seen any deer Im hunting with .45 ruger old army bp with a 250gr cast Lee REAL bullet chronyed at 1016 fps.hopefully my luck will change soon.at what distance was the shot? I think you will be happy with the old .45lc ....frontloader

Congrats on your first deer with a wheel gun!

Every animal is a run to them selves. I shot a 150 pound pig last month and it was almost a text book shoot. He didn’t bleed a single drop even with a complete pass threw shot. I hand sharpened my two bladed points were they were they would literary shave and shave well, but no external blood. Pig ran 100 yards and when I dressed him his chest cavity was completely full of blood.

In short, you did your part, just sometimes you have to track.

GREAT story and thanks for sharing. Can’t weight to see future pictures!

PS, ribs from the pig is shot. Left rib is entry and right is exit.

Way to go Zac!

Congratulations - and you did it the hard way with a sbr (short barreled revolver)

Congratulations on a job well done!!!

As to the Deer not leaving a blood trail that just happens at times and I would not be overly concerned, because more time than not you will have a blood trail. Yes, fat can clog the bullet holes and prevent a blood trail

I shot this deer with a 338 Lapua and he ran off at the shot and did not leave a blood trail, despite the MASSIVE amount of terminal damage done by the bullet. Yes the bullet did exit
The entrance hole is clearly visible in the picture

Zac,

Congratulations on a job well done!

Zac,

Congratulations and good job on your first revolver buck!!!

Frontloader,

The shot was about 35 yds. I practiced with the +p loads then used some Doubletap Standard loads that were 255 hardcast at about 950 fps. I had about 6 of those Buffalobore 255 softcast left over and decided on them for the hunt. I just shot the standard loads so much better than the +P's

In the end I was putting 2" groups at 30 yds (good for me) nearly every time. That gun is real accurate and I'm sure it could do better.

+P's and a local Colorado Muley are on the menu for next year. I just have to practice, I want to extend the range to 75 yds with the open sights.

Way to Go !!

Congrats on your first whitetail with a wheel gun.

Congratulations on a fine first Handgunned buck...Sometimes they do run and don't bleed much on the outside. Keep up the good shooting, your doing things right.

Congrats!

nice job on a good deer they do get funny sometimes. next deer u shoot my bleed every where.

congratulations. truth of the matter i haven't needed a blood trail on most of the whitetails that I have shot in the last twenty years of handgun hunting- because of careful shot placement- actually it wouldn't matter what you shot them with, if you nail the vitals they don't go far. great shootong and congrats on having the patience and expertise to do it with a short barrelled revolver.

Awesome! Great shot too!

Awesome, Congrats.

That's a fine deer! Congratulations!

Congrats!!!!!!!! I wanna give a shout out to all the guys taking their first deer with a handgun. I started snooping around this sight about a yr ago and ended up taking my first deer with a 629 lastyear. It was a blast, it made me put my long guns up! Now Im using a Encore pistol in a 243 w /a burris scope.