jennabug's first deer story

[jennabug]

Before first light on Wednesday morning we (my husband, myself and Rick) set up on a rocky outcrop above a basin. As darkness was fading, two small bucks were locking antlers nearby, a 2x2 and a 1x2. There was a group of does that were hidden by brush so we weren't sure exactly how many. The bucks and the does eventually moved behind a small hill but we can still hear them sparring, so we stayed put.

A couple of does moved to the right of the hill and were checking us out, but they didn't spook. Eventually we see the 2x2 has moved to the right of the hill with one doe. I couldn't paint any extra points on him, no eyeguards. The 2x1 and two does were grazing to the left of the hill, working up an incline along some bushes.  With my naked eye, I see another deer with the group with the 2x1 and assume it's another doe. I decide to put my scope on it anyway for practice, since it had been having trouble with the eye relief in the low light. When I focused in I saw the legal antlers. Holy moly! That's my buck! He was walking/browsing away from us and it took a minute or so for him to give me a good angle. I knew I wanted to have the patience to take a good shot at him, and I had practiced the decision to wait in my mind over the past couple of weeks.

Eventually he turned so that he was quartering away. My aim was the steadiest I've ever felt, and I slowly pulled the trigger. He never took another step. When I looked up, he had started to fall backwards down the hill after failing to step up. He continued to topple down the hill about 20 feet and remained there until we dragged him to the truck. Fortunately he rolled right near a spot with easy access too.

When we gutted him, the heart was completely destroyed and the lungs were collapsed. We're not sure if the Accubond bullet came apart, but we haven't found any copper yet. There is a small exit hole in front of the opposite shoulder. We're going to cut him up soon. Anyway, I'm happy to see that practice and patience paid off and the kill was perfect (for me).

The specifics:
3x3 mule deer buck at 150-200 yards.
Remington model 700 AAC-SD, .308 with SilencerCo Omega suppressor and Vortex Viper HST 4-16 scope.
Nosler Accubond 165 gr
I was laying prone, using a bipod.

Because we used the suppressor, none of the deer close to us spooked after the shot. Rick was not in a position where he could see the 3x3, so he wasn't sure what had happened until we got up and waved him over. He knew a shot was fired, but the visible deer hadn't dropped or ran.

We've spent the last 2 days trying to find a legal buck for my husband, which is a big reason for the delayed post.

[Timberstalker]

Awesome, Jennabug.  Congrats, good luck to your husband on filling his tag.

[Fl0und3rz]

Nice!  Congratulations!

[Blacktail Sniper]

Good job, nice buck!

 

[Southpole]

Sweet!!

[Brushbuster]

Good shooting!! Great write-up! Another buck bites the dust for a Hunt-WA member! Congrats!!

[WapitiTalk1]

Excellent!  Thanks for the great write up and congrats on a fine buck.

[Russ McDonald]

Awesome job 

[pianoman9701]

Awesome first deer and story. You sure made a mess outta that heart! 

[cedarriver]

 Great job in every way. Preparing before hand and having an idea of the steps is huge. You made all the right choices an executed them perfectly. Congrats on a beautiful deer, great write up.
 Thanks!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Whoot Whoot! Nice job and congrats!

[Bob33]

I love the story and photos. Very well done!

[Widgeondeke]

Wow, your patience definitely paid off.
Great shot placement

Congrats! 

[Rainier10]

Great story and buck.  Good luck to your husband.

[wadu1]

Awesome job, Jennabug