My wife and daughter took an unexpected trip this weekend, leaving me with a free schedule for the Indiana ML opener. My parents are in dire need of venison so I told them I'd got try to fill one or both of my doe tags.
I took my long-range thumbhole Omega (reliable deer slayer) and my X7, which I have had for 3 seasons and not shot a deer with yet. Either they come in too far away or I have the thumbhole in my hands and no time to switch.
I sat 1 1/2 hrs downwind of my honeyhole (bedding area on a ditch) saw nothing so stalked in to find it empty. So I left the thumbhole behind to go stillhunt for 2-3 hrs through the strip of woods. Wouldn't you know it I get 2min away from it and a doe trots by at 200-250 yds...DANG! I stilllhunt the woods for 3 hrs, NOTHING. No deer, no beds, no trace of anything. Light snow coming down so I could see any tracks <2hrs old and there were NONE. I got on a ridge and spotted 2 does out on a ditch in the middle of the field 400 yds from anything, again wished for the thumbhole to be in my hands and kept going.
Another half hour later, I reached the other end, watched the field but the 2 does (doe and yearling) were gone. So I headed across the open field for my truck a mile away. I didn't get 150 yds and they popped out of the ditch. I dropped and ranged them at 367 yds. DANG I wanted that thumbhole bad, I knew they'd get a bit closer. I had hunted hard and was going to miss out on a chance at the only deer I saw because I had the wrong gun.
The doe was looking off toward the woods north and getting nervous, at what I don't know. She started trotting down the ditch, cutting the distance. I figured the nearest approach to be about 200 yds. I sat contemplating if I actually wanted to try that with open sights when fate turned (good for me, bad for Bambi) and the doe decided to head for the woods...crossing straight in front of me!!! Once the range was under 150 yds I put the rangefinder down and tried to get her to stop with some bleats, but she wouldn't and I was afraid I'd have to shoot her at a slow trot. But she stopped for just an instant, I knew the range was 70-120 yds so I held a little high in case it was 120 and fired. The lightweight X7 recoiled violently from the 300gr SW launching with 120gr 777, but even before I got the muzzle down to check the shot I heard the impact and knew it was good. By the time the smoke cleared she was DRT with her feet up in the air. I paced it at 81 yards, since I was holding high the bullet hit pretty much where I was aiming and took out the top of the lungs.
I'm very happy I finally broke in the X7, I grew up and competed with iron sights and it has been too long since I got to use them in the field (I beg land so I usually get the scraps, aka open fields with long shots). Not so happy my old truck almost got to spend the winter in that field but it ended well.
congratulations on the deer.. open sights, and good shooting. Sounds like the Omega did just what it should have..
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
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"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." John 5:24 NKJV
Great story spaniel. Hard hunting rewarded. What's the farthest you've shot that X7 on the range?
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
Great story spaniel. Hard hunting rewarded. What's the farthest you've shot that X7 on the range?
200 yards. I have taken shots at deer that far with iron sights (similar situation, full prone) a couple times (180ish, 200ish) in the past and been successful but it is not something I like to make a habit of. I hate scopes in the woods and I hate irons in the open fields.
Wife is away, Omega wants to play!
