LET EM GROW

Yerp, That is exactly what I told myself going into that hunt.. just double lung between the slots! That bullet did exactly what it was intended to doe Explode!! At 120 yards @ 3300fps it went into the hide tiny, and still made a baseball size hole in the rib cage going in.. took out heart, lungs, liver Rumen, even sent shrapnel up the neck hide and down the first front leg.. Not one sign of damage anywhere on off side if rib cage. and he still ran 50 yards before falling.. Tough critters!

Have you ever seen Moog?? Most definitely steroids and protein shakes!! lol

Normally I would have opted for the 7mm08 since I bought it for my dad shortly before he passed. But not knowing that i was going to be able make it out Saturday until the day before left me with zero time to make sure the rifle was still zeroed. So i took my windy daytime coyote gun.. Browning ab3 i won last year in 6.5bleedmoor with a 95gr vmax bullet. Topped with Vortex Viper HS 6-20x44. I know the bullet was not ideal for whitetail, but there was no time to fine tune the night before season..

3.5... possibly only 2.5.

That deer is quite close to the joker i got on Opening morning. but Im in 8P

There's no way that deer is 1 year old.. I mean the picture doesn't help with justifying age class.. but I am 99% sure that deer would be 2 or 3yr old easily or better no doubt.. body size of bucks during and towards the end of rut will make people think twice about age.. We have pictures of a buck that is 4 or 5, his recent body shows him looking like a 2 yr old! lol. This officer has some explaining to do! lol do you have trail cam pics of him or any pics of his molars?

Long Story, I apologize ahead of time.. Saturday was a bittersweet day for me.. This entire fall has been a roller coaster ride for my wife and I. Losing our child care provider for our children right before season begins, meant we had to change our work schedules completely to make sure kids were cared for 24 7. In the meantime my wife became quite ill and still slowly recovering, all on top of trying to raise 3 kids and one being a special needs child, and getting him to his 12 therapists appointments throughout every single week.. Leaves no time for anything besides tending to needs and more needs... Deer season finally opens, I get my step son out just twice for about 1 hr per sit within the first 2 weeks( he missed a doe, on film the 2nd week). My goal was to get him a deer while he was home with us and not at his dads. Finally mid October comes and I got out once myself for about an hour and a half, I planned to just call coyotes before dark instead of bowhunting. While driving out and realizing I grabbed everything I needed but ammo for the gun, I had to turn around and make another decision( get ammo, grab the bow and go or just stay home), Instead grabbed the bow and ditched my calling gear.... The new plan now was to still hunt (wind in my favor) into a big buck bedroom.. Long story short i got to well within bow range of the hammer of a buck for quite some time, as he was browsing, rubbing and making scrapes.. I just could not get an ethical shot off. Its pretty thick in here when the leaves are still on and vegetation standing. I've lost a few deer in my day and refuse to take non ethical shots. Anyways, the deer slips out and i can no longer get ahead of him without risking spooking.. i let him leave and sneak out as darkness slowly approached.. Thursday before the opener, I haven't hunted since slipping in on the big buck in his bedroom.. My wifes mother calls and offers to watch my kids until noonish on opening morning. It took a bit but i finally agreed to let her. I am not one to ask or pawn my kids off on anyone so I can go do something. They are my miracles, I brought them into this world, and I take full responsibility of them.. but she offered and for once I let her watch them so I can enjoy a couple hours free time.. Which still caught me off guard because Having no free time whatsoever, left me with no time to reassure my rifles were dialed in.. besides my coyote setups.. So I opted for the 6.5bleedmoor with 95gr vmax(windy day coyote gun). I know not ideal but ethical if bone is avoided. It was my best option at the time. Saturday Gun Opener, I finally made it out for my second outing in the Deer Woods this season.. I shared a few words with my dad and granddad upstairs, shed a tear and wiped my face laughed and asked them to watch over me.. That they did, After reaching my blind I felt this morning could be magical calm, quite and the setup looks good.. bedding to the left and straight ahead.. corn behind me and hay/clover all around me.. I told myself today we are lowering the standards some, since I was most certain I may not make it back out for another sit this year. And if I do, my step son would probably be in tow for our final outing.. Lowering standards meant that I will take the first 3.5 yr old that strolls through.. since i typically hold out for 4.5yr old deer or better.. Times like these told me to be thankful for time afield and not so picky.. Its not what huntings about.. Not to me anymore.. Shoot what makes you happy.. And just finally getting out was a blessing in itself. I can watch these fine critters all day and not harvest one and still be thrilled. Back to it.. On my walk in I blew a ton of deer out, my hopes dropped quickly, there were deer literally everywhere and fresh fresh scrapes all over .. I finally reach the blind and settle, before 7am i have watched a total of 8 deer including 1 small buck.. Just after 2 doe just barreled by at a quick clip I knew something had to have been chasing them, in reality I really wished it was a coyote lol, but It was a buck, and the closer he got I could see his harvest potential grow.. he neared the field edge and I could see a big goofy looking right side and a nice wide sweeping left with 2 or 3 tines.. (now Im thinking he may be the big mature 3 main beam 7 pt we have on camera) Its happening fast, He made it to the field edge turned broadside and I immediately said hes a 3.5yr old and not the 3 main beam buck.. At this point he still got the pass, and it was until he was approaching my last good opportunity for a harvest that I quickly changed my mind and remembered to be Thankful... Thankful I was! I did all I could to stop him since he was in pursuit or a local hot doe.. It finally took a "HEYYYY"" at the top of my voice to get his attention.. I settled the crosshairs behind the shoulder and squeezed.... The rest is history.. Id like to think my dad and granddad for making my morning turn out the way it did... The buck ran about 40 yards and piled up... The 95gr vmax out of the 6.5bleedmoor destroyed everything inside this deer's chest, It was an absolute mess to field dress.. bullet shrapnel went up the hide of the neck and down the inside of the first front leg and everywhere in between.. I cant believe the deer still made it another 40 yards before falling. It literally exploded every organ from the heart to the stomach, But no damage to the off side of the rib cage. For this day and everyday I am Thankful!

I enjoy getting trail cams and gaining history with deer through them, than actually hunting them. No doubt! I have 14 cams out, and several more in reserve still. Cell cams make it fun too!

Best of Luck, With what sounds like partial lung, liver and guts.. he shouldn't be far and hopefully dead in first or 2nd bed if not bumped. That is the bad part on quarter too shots.

Your tag, your choice.. Depends on what your season or future goals are sir.

He'd be a great scorer in my bed sheets!! Hot dang!

I bought just a handheld HD Sony vid cam a few years ago, to keep track and make memories i can look back on as you mentioned. Also, To film my children as they hunt and enjoy the same passions. Though since I have bought the gear to start, I havent been out hunting much due to family issues and health scares. And when I do go, its always been last minute kind of deal, and the camera sits home, since I hadn't even considered taking it. The first time I took it out, was the night i finally got a chance at my #1 buck after chasing him for 6 years. and i forgot to hit the record button, and im glad i did because i missed the shot lol. Im looking for tips as well, I dount ill upload any to youtube or anything, but I dont see an issue with guys explaining their setups where their setup is currently and why. A little facetime is cool, but unless you are experienced in facing the camera lens, it can be awkward lol Any type of clean video footage in the woods is cool with me. I do like the go pro when they are angled to focus on the hunter only, not for filming shot opportunities though. Wish i had more time to enjoy self filming, I plan to film our daytime coyote hunts this winter..

For as pissed as he looks, He may not have been the only big bruiser right there... Not to make it worse. Just sayin lol

It is avian pox lesions according to the DEC. For those who may be interested..

checking mor epics. Got another bird with it

Ist that one stick(middle right) bent? Or is it just me? I need a set of these to start the mobile setup..

It is, I think found more often in Tame birds but is a real thing in Wild birds as well. I have seen a few pics this year of birds with it across the state.. Wow, I would imagine it just gets worse as these birds age/grow? The rifle might come out for some "woodchucks" this weekend lol

Is this Blackhead disease? Most certain this bird is always solo, and the flock knows there is something wrong with him? Guessing hes a young jake on his own now.. And from what Ive gathered, he needs to be harvested asap. For the health of the local flock?

good Work sir! That is awesome! I hope one day soon to have a setup half as good as this. "Im Getting tired of looking for factory loads to my liking. Might grab a kit this fall/winter and start piecing things together.

I passed a cow of a piebald doe up years ago in 8J. Thought she was a cow coming through the woods. Idk why, i just really like seeing them around. Its unique, its something you rarely get to see. I guess the killing part of me has left years ago.. Now, if it was a mature piebald buck.. (regardless of antler size) Im not sure i could pass, or sling. there's just something about outsmarting a mature buck..

Awesome, Thought about starting one of these myself. Best of luck sir!

Just tape that badboy where you want it.. transfer those holes to your barrel and gently drill and tap straight.. measure barrel thickness and dont break through.

Still searching for that perfect bow huh?! lol

The mathews probably would not even break skin on that old boy! lol

This is just awesome, Flat out amazing. I wish i could attempt this at some point in my life. Really cool. Thank you for sharing!