Just got back from our yearly trip to deer camp & I'm happy to report I scored with a big 4 point whitetail buck. His rack aint much to look at but he dressed out at 170 lbs & thats pretty big to me.
I put out some fancy ruttin buck sticks which are a newfangled incense stick that stinks like a doe in heat.
Wasn't expecting much but sat in my stand & watched the smoke & when it blew my way, boy, it stinks!
About 11:00 I saw some movement on my right & upwind of the scent stick & looked over to see a big fat doe (so I thought) walking by about 50 yards out. Sat & watched as she passed ready to let her go as I didnt get a doe tag this year for NY. Well she walked into an opening & the sun shone on antlers! Now I'm trying to find an opening to shoot thru but it wasn't to be & he walked around a grass covered hill & dissapeared. Just when I bout gave up on him I look at the top of the hill & there he is comin hell bent for leather right at them smelly sticks.
Comes down off the hill & walks right up to it, rubbin on trees & kickin up dirt around them.
So now I settle in for an easy 75 yard shot & KAPOW! I blast a thumb sized branch about 6' out & the deer bolts 30' or so & starts lookin thru the trees to see whats goin on. I'm still ready & he steps between 2 trees & I shoot again & down he goes. Never even took a step just bowled right over.
I smoke a butt to give him a chance to pass on & then got down & checked the spot where I first shot. Finding a tuft of white fur all I can think is the first shot got deflected by the twig & he's gut shot. Thing is he didnt act shot at all, just startled. So I go over to him & sure enuff only one hit. The 405 hardcast went in behind the right shoulder passng thru one lung & his liver exiting just behind the ribcage on the left side.
I figure the first one went under his belly just cutting some hair.
Anyhoo, no meat damage & my tag got filled.
I left my uncles boy with it while I went to camp to get a pair of gut gloves.
He's 17 & its his first year. I really wanted him to get one & in the past this spot has produced some nice does as well as bucks so I told him to sit in my stand & just make sure some loser dont steal my deer & you might see another one. Its 1/2 mile back to camp & about 10 minutes into my hike he calls me on the radio & says theres a doe walkin round my down deer & should he take her, well he has a doe tag so I say "hell yeah shoot it!"
Bout 10 seconds later I hear his 06 & I'm so happy for him I just turned around & went back figuring what the heck, I'll gut them bare handed, it wont be the first time.
Well, he missed. 30 yards from the stand to where he said she was & a clean miss. No fur, no blood, no deer. Kids way bummed but I says, dont sweat it Rob, everybody misses. He sat there for the next 2 & 1/2 days & saw 9 more deer & never took anuther shot. Truth to be told I'm more proud of him for that than I would be if he kept shooting & missing.
Ends up he told me later only thng he ever shot before was a shotgun.
I reamed his dad a bit & promised the kid if he wants to learn to shoot we can go to the range anytme he wants.
I cant believe a guy I respect would bring his kid hunting if he isnt a confident shooter. My 8 year old coulda hit a deer at twice that range.
His dad & my other uncle both got does so it wasn't a total wash but the kids heart broke & I cant say I blame him.
Back to the topic, it took me 2 years but I proved to my hunting partners that a big fat 405 grain piece of lead goin a lazy 1000 or 1100 fps can sure kill a deer, with very little damage as well. Finger size hole goin in, finger size hole goin thru the innards & finger size hole comin out.
Uncle Rich shot his wth a 280 Rem & Uncle Robert with a 308, both good rounds for sure & they got their deer but the difference in the wounds is dramatic. Yup, I think I'll keep my 45/70 with its anemic balstics for woods hunting. Cant wait till I see the look on their faces next year when the kid gets one with a 30/30 cuz if I'm teachng him to shoot thats what he'll be shooting.
Back to the bow for me for the rest of my season.
Good luck hunting!
