Went to to our place in Garvin county today. The weather was very nice: About 62 degrees with no wind. Filled the feeder and sat in a tower stand overlooking a heavily used deer trail and some game plots. A really big buck has been using that trail.

For the past three years there has been a 160-170 class buck hanging out on that place. He is most likely an offspring of the 186 score buck that was killed there with a bow in 2004. For the past two years he has had two long drop times like the buck that was killed in 2004.

That is one smart deer; when he hears the first gun crack he goes nocturnal. Have seen him a few times sneaking into his thicket very early in the morning.

Some does came into the game plots along with a four point buck. A hog came into a game plot about 200 yards away; out of my league. At about 17:30 a buck came sneaking down the trail that goes through a small erosion gully. He was not the big one but the weather is turning bad tonight and deer season closes on Sunday. Decided to tag out on bucks with this guy.

The deer went down like a rock at the shot, jumped up and ran about 80 yards before stumbling and falling, he kicked for a few seconds and expired. The bullet hit behind the diaphragm and nothing in the chest was damaged. The deer bled to death internally, the stomach cavity was full of blood. Must have hit the big blood vessel under the spine. The bullet did not exit.

This is a great way to lose a deer. When the spine is not damaged; most deer that are hit like this drop, jump up, take off and are never found.

Distance: 80-95 yards walking broadside
Gun: CVA StagHorn
Scope: Weaver Grand Slam 3X10 set on 4X
Bullet: 240 grain .430 XTP in crush rib sabot
Powder: 100 grains of 3F Goex Pinnacle
Primer: Winchester shotgun