Post by: Bullkllr on November 28, 2015, 05:36:32 PM
My son was lucky to tag his biggest blacktail last weekend. He is an avid hunter, but time has always been limited in the fall since he has been playing football for years. I got him out a couple times during regular season with no opportunities.
Saturday of late season we see this guy about 200 yards off in a grown-up cut. No rest anywhere to be found, and brush was high. We decided to sneak closer to see if a shot opened up. We closed the distance by more than half (took a while) but still no rest/no clear shot.
I knew we were close to the spot we had marked, but couldn't see the buck. Jared was about 5 yards ahead me and says, "There he is!" He tells me all he can see through the scope is his head. I said something like "Well...take the shot if you feel good about it..." (not that I'm endorsing headshots).
He shoots and the buck drops like it was struck by lightning. By the time we get over there, the buck is back on it's feet staggering and shaking his head. Before Jared can get another shot off, the buck trots through the reprod to within about 10 feet of us- he basically came right at us. Freaked us both out a little. The brush was thick and there was only one chance for a clear shot- which never came as "someone" had not chambered another round and the "guide" had neglected to remind him.
So the buck disappears going up hill toward some open timber. Trail was easy to follow, the buck was obviously disoriented, and Jared anchored him with a shot taken just inside the timber.
Upon inspecting the buck, we found the first shot had literally gone though the buck's left eye and exited behind his right ear (?). Yeah, there were some obvious lessons learned, but we both felt pretty fortunate all turned out well.
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on November 28, 2015, 06:38:08 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on November 28, 2015, 06:56:57 PM
Post by: Turner89 on November 28, 2015, 07:01:27 PM
Post by: scudmaster on November 28, 2015, 07:08:51 PM
Post by: Mark251 on November 28, 2015, 07:48:57 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on November 28, 2015, 08:00:44 PM
Even better to see my son get it done with my dad's old Model 99. Seemed to be an older buck. Teeth were pretty worn. Scar tissue in both front shoulders. Big body, but not an ounce of fat on him. The first shot penetrated his skull from the eye socket to behind the opposite ear. How it didn't kill him or at least knock him out I'll never know.
Post by: fishnfur on November 29, 2015, 09:15:13 AM
That buck looks like a twin to the one I got. Congratulations to your son!
Post by: Buzz2401 on November 29, 2015, 10:09:50 AM
Post by: Irish_hunter93 on December 01, 2015, 07:01:58 AM
Post by: Widgeondeke on December 01, 2015, 07:30:54 AM
Post by: WSU on December 01, 2015, 07:38:48 AM
Good story. I'm a head shot advocate if you're close enough to take an ethical shot. Neck shot is probably a higher percentage shot and reportedly will drop them in their tracks virtually every time. How a slug can pass through a brain without killing it is beyond me. It happens to people all the time though.
That buck looks like a twin to the one I got. Congratulations to your son!
I have had mixed results with neck shots. I definitely wouldn't call it a higher percentage shot but others may disagree.
Post by: Griiz on December 01, 2015, 07:45:37 AM
Good story. I'm a head shot advocate if you're close enough to take an ethical shot. Neck shot is probably a higher percentage shot and reportedly will drop them in their tracks virtually every time. How a slug can pass through a brain without killing it is beyond me. It happens to people all the time though.
That buck looks like a twin to the one I got. Congratulations to your son!
I shot a bull dead center through the spine just below the head and he ran off like he wasn't even hit. He was bleeding awful bad though. I got a another slug in him around an hour and a mile later and when he hit the ground he broke his neck. I shot him with a 50 cal. muzzleloader. These animals are just so tough, you never know what might happen, even with good shot placement.
Post by: WAnoob on December 01, 2015, 03:22:35 PM
Post by: willapawapiti on December 01, 2015, 03:44:09 PM