Didn't get to go this morning on our opening day of MLer season, but got home at 2:00 and left at 3:30 and met my buddy at a spot I have permission to hunt and have seen 1 nice buck on it one Sunday afternoon this past summer. . Got in the tree at 4:00pm. We were hunting an open field about 400 yards long, and 200 yards wide. at one end next to some pines, I have a ladder stand, with a shooting rail on it. My buddy was in that. About 15 minutes afterhe get in the tree, somebody starting plinking a 10 shot something and a pistol, well about 15 minutes after they started shooting, they kicked up 4 deer past my buddy. 20 yards behind him, he shoots, calls me on the radio and says "big doedown", he piled up an 85 lb doe. Powerbelt with 100g, in a Traditions fluted barrel, not sure of the model. Dropped where he shot it. He stays in a tree,and will only shootan8 pointer or better. Didn't check the shot thru, since it wasn't my deer, and I was not there when he gutted it.

They kept shooting the guns plinking, and about 5:00 a small 4 pointer came out between my buddy and me,my buddyis about 150 yards from me. I am in a Ladder stand in a small island of trees in about the center of the field. The small buck paid no attention to all the shooting. About 5:30 I see a buck chasing a doe about 150 yards away in sometall grass, then another buck (a 4 point and an a small 6 pointer), then I see a tall 6 pointer, good size body. Ideceide if he comes out of the weeds I will take him, he trails adoe out into the field, and a couple of spikes come out with him. He walks toward me, and stops and starts to spar a small 4 pointer, he is about80 yards and presents a brisket shot and I decide that I will take that shot since it is about 80 yards and there is nothing between me and the deer. I shoot, 100g of BH 209, Barnes 300g MZ, supplied sabot, he starts a death run of about 30 yards and piles up. I load up again and await for a doe. 4 different bucks come into the field and start grazing, after I shoot the buck, several deer in thefield stay there, only the does exit.About 6:15 a doe comes out with a spike followingher,I need to shoot a doe next, since we have an "earn a buck rule" in Va this year.After we shoot our 1st buck, we must shoot a doe, before we can shoot another buck. The doe runs behind me before I can get on her, she grazes about thirty yards away, but too thick for a shot. After about 10 minues she grazes into a hole about that I can shoot thru. I shoot at about 50 yards, broadside slightly quartering away. Right below the shoulder, big hole going in, big hole going out, takes off the top of the heart, she runs about 30 yards and piles up. I now get down out of the tree and gut both deer. I had hitthe buck in the brisket, taking off the top of the heart, and going thru the length of the deer, his vitals were jello. I didn't see the exit hole. it was getting pretty dark, so I didn't look for the bullet.That is the story of opening day in Va MLer season. I am off 3 weeks MLer hunting in Va and NY, so now I will only shoot 8 pointers and "tasty" 1.5 year old doe, not the big hog leader mother does with 4 less does trailing her, she is the trainer of the next generation and their size makes them not as tender. The 85 to 90 lb doe is a very good size doe and very tender meat.
Chap

PS. Didn't get any pictues, since Ileft mecell phone in my pocketand washed it on Friday AM.

Washed your cell phone.. I guess there is no reason to have a dirty one.

Congratulations on the deer. It sounds like that combination you have is deadly. Those short death runs always amazed me, how they can take a hit to the boiler room like that and still manage to run 30 yards or so..

Nice shooting there dead eye..

Congrats and thanks for the details...I love them!!!

Hammer

Congrats on the deer.

Congratulations Chap! Sounds like a GREAT afternoon!

Thank you. Your welcome, since we all shoot one shot MLer, I too love the details of he hunt, including when to hold em and when to fold em and when to walk away and when to run. I also love to know how a bullet expanded, shot thru. I expecially love Sabotloader's elk pictures, of the hole in, the hole out,and with the hide off. I am going to call my daughter and fire up the old digital camera, so I can get some good pictures of the deer, and why a brisket shot is so good--my theory on that is, if you shoot a bit high you get a neck shot when it joins the body. If you shoot a bit low, you get the heart, if your right a bit, you take out the facing shoulder (facing you, the deers left side showing), if your a bit left, you take out the hidden shoulder on the right hand side, any way it is a deadly shot. Also I like that shot since you get to see bullet penetration at it finest, the whole length of the deer.
Chap

It was a huge amen, as was said on the Savage forum, it was a 'that wonderful time of the year".
Chap

That is right, we all need clean cell phones when we go huntin', especially the digital camera.



[/quote]
>Congratulations on the deer. It sounds like that combination you have is deadly. Those short death >runs always amazed me, how they can take a hit to the boiler room like that and still manage to run >30 yards or so..
[/quote]

Thanks

[/quote]
>Nice shooting there dead eye..
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50 and 80 yards, were chip shots with my Omega---I was prepared to take a 180 yardshot and had already ranged a tree that far away in case a nice buck came out there. I love the BH with the low about of smoke, makes seeing the deer so much easier.
Chap

Hey Chap, Way to go. Looks like the rut is kicking in (at least the bucks are getting started). I just love when those deer start going crazy and running around all over. Me and now you. I hope everyone here connects and we all have a freezer full of venison.

Good Job there Chap!!!
You got some meat now.
We have to wait another 19 DAYS in Illinois for our first gun season.
Hopfully I'll have a good story with my sons to share with you as well.


Mark