The Indiana opener came in Saturday where I was perched in my tree overlooking a deep hillside. I made an all-day set, only two small 8-point bucks were seen along with three does moving quickly far on the other side of the ridge in and out of heavy cover, nothing was chasing, if there was, I never saw it.
Sunday a major front come thought bring rain followed by high wind sustained was 30 mph gusting 40+ mph, I choose to stay in and plan for Monday. Monday the wind was light where I returned to the same tree stand. Nothing was moving at sun up, so I waited and watched. At 10:25 AM I caught movement at the bottom of the ridge near the creek, two does feeding left to right. Using my tree-pod I got lined up for a shot, the larger doe was behind a cluster of heavy brush. So goes a waiting game, finally clearing the brush I kept the Burris scope set on 4x and steadied for a high shoulder shot.
I sent a 200 grain Barnes TTSX from my 15-inch SSK Encore barrel in 358 STA, I could see the doe drop at the shot through the scope. She is my first score with this barrel / cartridge.
The shot entered high right shoulder and exited low left shoulder, upon processing the doe the entry was 1/2 inch diameter with a 1-inch exit. Once I removed the hide the entry into the shoulder had widened to 1 inch, removing the right should would show a 2 1/2 inch entry into the ribs clipping the top of the heart and turning one lung into jelly. Incidentally on the back side of the right should I found what was left of the Barnes blue plastic tip. The bullet followed through to the left side of the ribs with a 2-inch exit into the lower left shoulder.
I have been a huge fan of the 358 caliber for years, I cant say enough positive about this setup it could easily become one of my all-time favorites.


Good and safe hunting.
D.