The General Season closes tomorrow and I wasn't planning on hunting. So today was going to be my last chance to take a buck I've been after a couple weeks. It was a windy afternoon. So much so that I put off going to the range and shooting the Ruger Scout Rifle until tomorrow. But, being my last day to hunt for this buck, I grabbed my Encore Pistol w/ MGM .30-06 barrel and headed for the field.

I hobbled my way out to a tall patch of grass and hunkered down.The deer don't come out until after 6:00 usually and I had a pretty good idea where they would come from.





Shots would range from sub 100 yards to just over 200 yards, depending on where they jumped the fence to enter the field.

As the sun set and the magic hour approached, I began to glass the tree and fence line. Hoping to see a sign of life. I even said a little prayer. Asking for one more chance at that freak horned buck that I'd only seen once before.



Then, at approximately 6:08 PM, I say him coming through the trees and approaching the road. "Holy crap! It's him"

He exited the trees and started walking down the dirt road on the other side of the fence from the field I was in. He needed to cross that fence! But, he continued to walk down the road a ways. Then, he stopped and all I could see was his head. Waiting and watching, I willed him to jump the fence. But, he wanted to scan the field first to look for danger and other deer, I assume. Finally, I saw him jump the fence just past the gate that I myself had climbed.

Now, he was in the field but obscured by a rise in the field and tall grass. If he went to my left, I'd have to re-position the BogPod. Fortunately, he went right.............and stopped right behind the 1 scrub mesquite tree between he and I. So, I waited again. Contemplated shifting to my left and getting a clear shot through the tree, but he finally started walking to my right and cleared it.

At just over 80 yards, I pushed my earplugs the rest of the way in and acquired him in the scope and tracked him as he slowly walked out into the field. When everything was right...........I squeezed the trigger.

BOOM!

The gun recoiled and I saw the deer buck his hind legs into the air and take off running. Ejecting the spent case and reaching for another round, I kept my eye on him as i reloaded. But, it was unnecessary. After a 38 yard run, his head lowered and he flipped end over end, coming to rest in a cloud of dust.

MINE!!!

I said a quick thank you to God and quickly grabbed my gear in the fading light.

I knew he had an odd rack, but as I approached him in the twilight, I was amazed to see exactly HOW odd it was!



He was what I guess you could call a typical 6 point frame with a split beam on his right antler and a rear facing kicker on his left. Making him a freaky 8 point. Rather cool and not bad for only having a field to hunt.



1. My Position
2. Buck exits the trees and walks down the road.
3. Buck jumps the fence.
4. Point of impact at the shot.
Yellow line = Line of fire
5. Where he fell.



A = Where he was when I shot.
B = Where he fell.

Being so close to the road, I opted no to retrieve my game cart and rather just drag him to the road. It seemed a good idea at the time. Being gimped up and having just had the pins removed from my foot..................by the time I got him to the road.................I was dragging him on my hands and knees. Fun times!!!

Encore Pistol w/ 15" Full Bull MGM barrel in .30-06 Springfield shooting 125gr Hornady SST bullets and topped with a Weaver 2.5-8x pistol scope.





A great end to a great General Season!!!

I still have two more cull hunts lined up this week during the extended spike/doe season. Gotta decide what to use................

Autopsy to follow later.