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2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python #168789 02/02/2016 4:00 PM
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PythonHunter Offline OP
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Well, I finally have a little time and photobucket is cooperating, so here is a picture of my 2015 Iowa whitetail. I've been working on getting each of my girls a deer this year, and for them it was a situation where they just each wanted a set of antlers for their rooms. Not a lot of time hunting and we weren't selective at all. That's okay, they were all successful and I couldn't be more proud.

So, on to my hunt. Knowing that time was very limited, about two days of the season to hunt, I wasn't going to be picky either, but I wanted to hunt with my prized Python having carried it a lot as a backup, but never having shot anything with it. This time it was the only gun I had along.

After finding a couple groups of bedded does, I was fortunate enough to locate this buck bedded in a field terrace with one forkhorn and about six does/fawns. So I hatched a plan that included being dropped off by a buddy about 1/2 mile crosswind from them, and hoping to get on top of the terrace they were under (out of the 15-25 mph wind at 6 degrees F) which would put me at about 35 to 40 yards. Well, the best laid plans... I made it to the high flat above them with the last couple hundred yards on my hands and knees when I spotted one of the does up feeding. I was stuck at 83 yards from her and I couldn't see the buck because I was now flat on my belly.

I was able to get to my knees, though it took me about 2 minutes to get up, I was cold! Once on my knees when fully up, I could see the buck as he too was now up feeding just below her. Guessing he was a few yards short, I thought I would wait him out, thinking the does would feed down the terrace. Wrong again. I've been practicing with this gun a lot with the same load I'm hunting with and am confident out to 100 yards, so I decided to take the shot. After getting to the full upright position, I had the buck lined up. The first shot cracked and the buck's rear end dropped. I spined him. I quickly got off a second shot and hit him perfect, double lung. Now I got excited as he was pulling himself away, so I put a third shot into him and hit him in the rump. I have to tell you though, I got the shakes....BAD. I jumped up as he dropped for good, having covered about 20 yards after the first hit.

The shakes didn't quit for about 10 minutes, and that's four times this year, once each when my girls got their deer and this one. It was a good year for me, God has blessed me for sure.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: PythonHunter] #168792 02/02/2016 4:15 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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Beautiful..... And with your Python makes your title "Python Hunter" all the better. Congratulations on your handgunned whitetail buck.......Remember the 10 pointer Python?? You got it.....

Last edited by jamesfromjersey; 02/02/2016 4:16 PM.

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Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: PythonHunter] #168793 02/02/2016 4:49 PM
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s4s4u Offline
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Damn fine buck, with a fine piece of hardware. Thanks for sharing!


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: s4s4u] #168794 02/02/2016 5:18 PM
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REDHAWK1954 Offline
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That is one of the best bucks I have seen on this site this season! A great trophy with any weapon but special with a open sighted revolver. What barrel length and load were you shooting? What was the distance on the shots?

Last edited by REDHAWK1954; 02/02/2016 5:19 PM.

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Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: REDHAWK1954] #168795 02/02/2016 5:31 PM
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dvan Offline
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Congratulations on the excellant Iowa buck. Was you hunting in late muzzle loader season?


T/C's~Ruger's~Striker~XP~S&W & the Quest Continues
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: dvan] #168797 02/02/2016 7:06 PM
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Gregg Richter Offline
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What an awesome buck, Greg! Congratulations on a fine stalk also; you really earned that buck! And with an iron-sighted Python to boot. I would say you really beat the odds!

And congrats to your girls on their bucks too!







Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: Gregg Richter] #168799 02/02/2016 7:22 PM
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Duke3026 Offline
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Congratulations! Great Buck!

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: Duke3026] #168801 02/02/2016 9:56 PM
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csherrill Offline
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Congratulations! I always enjoy reading success stories.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: Duke3026] #168802 02/02/2016 9:58 PM
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wvhitman Offline
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That's a lot of meat for the snake to put down. Pythons are great. Congrats.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: wvhitman] #168805 02/02/2016 11:43 PM
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junebug Offline
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Nice going . Looks like all that practice paid off. Iceing on the cake after getting your daughters there deer.


junebug
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: junebug] #168806 02/02/2016 11:48 PM
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SChunter Offline
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That's a stud whitetail, PH!!

Congratulations on a great season for you and your girls!

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: SChunter] #168810 02/03/2016 12:21 AM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Good lord, what a buck! And with an open sighted revolver, too. That, my friend, is a trophy.


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: junebug] #168811 02/03/2016 2:14 AM
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GlennS Offline
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That's awesome. Great deer!!


"Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt"
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: GlennS] #168812 02/03/2016 2:18 AM
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KRal Offline
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No doubt a trophy! Congrats on an awesome buck!

What load/ammo were you using?


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: KRal] #168813 02/03/2016 2:28 AM
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PsTaN Offline
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Grats!! That's a fine deer ... And a fine accomplishment with the Colt. I'd love to take a deer with my New Service I inherited from my Dad.

Last edited by PsTaN; 02/03/2016 2:30 AM.

PsTaN

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Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: PsTaN] #168815 02/03/2016 4:45 AM
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tradmark Offline
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Really really nice buck. Great shooting!

What load did ya use

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: tradmark] #168816 02/03/2016 11:10 AM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Great buck!!

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: racksmasher1] #168818 02/03/2016 12:52 PM
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500WE Offline
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Congratulations! That's a fine deer!

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: 500WE] #168819 02/03/2016 2:19 PM
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PythonHunter Offline OP
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Thank you all for the wonderful comments. I think I've told the story 25 times since the hunt and I still get excited.

As for the shots, the first shot was right at 80 yards, the second pretty close to the same and the last about 75. The hunt was during our late muzzleloader season in Iowa where they do allow handguns. Last year I used a FA Field grade in .454 with a 2.5-8 Leupold on top but just wanted something different this year.

The load I was using was factory (I haven't started loading the pistol case stuff yet, my daughters keep me busy loading trap 12 gauge loads) Remington 180 grain SJSP. The Python really likes the load, so I stuck with it. It likes the Cor-Bon 180 cast, but I'm struggling to find that load around Iowa.

Gregg, I will work on getting the girls photos up today.

Thanks again everybody. I love this site and all the great guys that contribute.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: PythonHunter] #168822 02/03/2016 3:37 PM
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Dekker Offline
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Congrats! on a great hunt. That's a hog of a whitetail.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: Dekker] #168824 02/03/2016 4:20 PM
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dhom Offline
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A well earned buck. Great story.

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: dhom] #168827 02/03/2016 7:17 PM
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BBwheelgunner Offline
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that is an excellent buck! with irons no less! Congratulations! are you going to get him mounted?


"If you are going to go through all the trouble to put a hole in something, why not make it a big one?"
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: BBwheelgunner] #168830 02/03/2016 7:42 PM
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Buttermilk Offline
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NICE BUCK! Congrats on using the Python.


Regards,
Rog
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: PythonHunter] #168833 02/03/2016 8:42 PM
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pab1 Offline
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Beautiful buck and great story! Congratulations!


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


Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: pab1] #168843 02/04/2016 2:18 PM
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FA834ME Offline
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Excellent Buck!! and Testament to the ability of the .357 Mag to take game! And with a classic revolver no less! One of my favorite caliber and gun! The man behind the gun is not only good shot but a great father as well!

Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: junebug] #168846 02/04/2016 3:59 PM
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Boartuff Offline
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Congrats!! Very nice deer...and pistol!


~BT~
Re: 2015 Iowa whitetail with my Python [Re: junebug] #168855 02/05/2016 1:38 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Congrats on a great buck. Leaving the rile home is the best way to get started.


"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.....

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