Deer Hunting

I hunt with my dad's Winchester Model 70, in .243 Win.
Ralphie you aren't going to get any better than what you have now.
It will be newer but not better.

 

Its one of thosethings that I don't want something to happen to it. Id feel like ass if it did.

 

I can understand you not wanting to use your grandfather's rifle on a regular basis.

I come from a long line of farmers and working folks. If any of my ancestors had valuable firearms, chances are good they were purchased used or taken as payment for work done. There have been a lot Marlin and Remington firearms in my family tree. A couple of my great uncles have dropped many, many deer over six decades with open sight lever-action Marlin .30-30s.

 

That's a beauty Borla. Congratulations.
We're about 10 days til opening of gun season here in upstate NY.
My hunting buddy and I went scouting yesterday. We found a lot of activity with rubs and scrapes.
We also happened across 2 bucks. Although that's not the purpose of the scouting it's usually a positive sign for the upcoming season.
Plus the game cameras are getting nice pics of bucks.
I think the lack of winter (and hence winter kill) here last year made a difference.
We are very excited and optimistic for the coming season!

 

How long will the meat last you? Also, what are your favorite dishes to make with the meat?

 

Not sure what part of the country you live in Borla but that's a nice deer. I like the darker racks. Here's a picture of the deer I got this year. Shot him about 45 yards with a 30/30. He went about 80 yards at a high rate of speed and got his rack caught in the tree and it was over.

 

Cyberly speaking we are neighbors. I'm in the southwest corner of Indiana. Indiana changed their laws a few years ago to help the horn hunter. Not sure I agree with all of them but it's the law and the law is the law Illinois is known for giant deer. I know of several people that have leases there and it seems every year one of them is sporting a monster. The picture on post 71 was gone but the other 3 were absolute monsters!! Very, very nice!

Here is a picture of one I shot a couple years ago. It was just past dawn and he was working a scrap. His rack kinda went straight up and didn't really bend over his head much. It was low light and I thought holy crap that's a monster because I thought it was his rear tines but it was his whole rack! HAHA anyway I was a little disappointed but it is kinda of a unique rack.

 

Bumping this one back up.
Whose out there deer hunting?
Had probably my best day ever as a deer hunter yesterday.
Expected a freezing cold weekend. It was about 12 F when we went out yesterday morning.
Lo and behold this guy wandered across my path at 0700, before I even had a chance to get cold.

 

Great deer. Happy for ya
Ive been a few times this year. Seen a few does but decided to let them walk.

Sent from my VS996 using Tapatalk

 

Since this thread is bumped I'll ask a question that's been on my mind.

Assuming that you do your own gutting, and possibly skinning, what make & model of knife do you use (make it plural if need be)?

 

I have a modest knife collection, and can see that the smaller (say 5" and under) fixed blades get a lot more use than the "more impressive" knives.

 

i normally just field dress it with a Buck knife. then let the processor do the rest. just have to pay attention to where your knife goes

 

I've never hunted deer so take my info with how you will but hunting moose we used a Kabar and a hatchet.

 

Wow I really fucked up today.
Opening day for rifle here in NY.
I'm sitting in a favorite spot (same spot I got my big buck last year) and I see a deer with antlers heading down the hill towards me.
It's far off, too far to shoot, and I can tell it has a rack but not much more than that.
It goes through a concealed area, comes out and I can see it has a nice rack but still can't see how big.
It quarters toward me and I put my finger on the trigger....and I hold up, wanting to see the full rack and thinking I'm going to get a better shot anyway as it continues towards me.

Comes out of the next thicket...but now low and to my left and moving away to the left.
I have to move laterally left and take a shot through a narrow window.
And.......I miss.
And....... now I get to see this deer had a huge, broad rack.
May have been the nicest deer ever for me had I harvested it.

Now my reward is I get to go out in the snow and freezing rain in the dark tomorrow to look for it again.
Instead of snuggling up in the warm bed and feeling all happy about the great deer hanging in the garage.