Closed out the season by breaking the curse on my TC Encore
01-02-2013, 03:52 AM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 542
Closed out the season by breaking the curse on my TC Encore
I bought my wife a TC Encore Pro Hunter three years ago and she missed two bucks with it over the last 2 seasons. I missed a coyote with it last year. But I finally broke the curse on it this year by tagging a 6 pointer.
It was raining in the morning so my father-in-law and I didn't go until the afternoon. It was cold, below 30* f, and windy. There was a fine sleeting like snow as well. I had a doe come out and browse the field I was hunting for about an hour.
Finally, just at dark, I look down the fence line and see a deer coming out of the woods. He crawled under the fence and though I couldn't see his antlers I knew he was a buck. He came out into the field a little ways and was nervous about my blind. I should really brush it in some.
He gave me a picture perfect broadside shot at 63 yards as measured by my GPS after the shot. I tried to use my shooting sticks but he was looking at me so I left sticks alone. I got the gun cocked, raised it and dropped the hammer. Somehow I hit him a little high. I didn't hit the backbone but it did ruin some of the backstrap. He dropped in his tracks.
I used 100 grains of Pyrodex pellets and a 250 grain Hornady SST bullet. The bullet did its job with a good entry and exit wound.
I hit both my deer poorly this year so I need to get to the range before next season. I am use to hitting a deer right where I want to.
All in all, I had a great season and got the two largest bodied deer I have ever gotten and the one in rifle season had the largest antlers so far.
This was my setup though this pic was from when I got my 8 ptr in gun season. I was hunting the same blind in the same field.
Note the broken main beam:
It was raining in the morning so my father-in-law and I didn't go until the afternoon. It was cold, below 30* f, and windy. There was a fine sleeting like snow as well. I had a doe come out and browse the field I was hunting for about an hour.
Finally, just at dark, I look down the fence line and see a deer coming out of the woods. He crawled under the fence and though I couldn't see his antlers I knew he was a buck. He came out into the field a little ways and was nervous about my blind. I should really brush it in some.
He gave me a picture perfect broadside shot at 63 yards as measured by my GPS after the shot. I tried to use my shooting sticks but he was looking at me so I left sticks alone. I got the gun cocked, raised it and dropped the hammer. Somehow I hit him a little high. I didn't hit the backbone but it did ruin some of the backstrap. He dropped in his tracks.
I used 100 grains of Pyrodex pellets and a 250 grain Hornady SST bullet. The bullet did its job with a good entry and exit wound.
I hit both my deer poorly this year so I need to get to the range before next season. I am use to hitting a deer right where I want to.
All in all, I had a great season and got the two largest bodied deer I have ever gotten and the one in rifle season had the largest antlers so far.
This was my setup though this pic was from when I got my 8 ptr in gun season. I was hunting the same blind in the same field.
Note the broken main beam:
01-02-2013, 07:00 AM
#4
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
Congratulations on the deer. He looks like he's got Harry Potter's wand stuck in his head..
The rifle might actually be dead on. I am always surprised at how more difficult it becomes to shoot groups or targets without a solid rest. Which is where I need practice also.
But you have good venison to eat. And that's the best part.
The rifle might actually be dead on. I am always surprised at how more difficult it becomes to shoot groups or targets without a solid rest. Which is where I need practice also.
But you have good venison to eat. And that's the best part.
01-02-2013, 07:44 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Hayes, Va.
Posts: 2,332
Shooting skills are a perishable art and range time is a must. Taking shots unsupported is very difficult and one that needs more then the average practice. I am like the rest who think they need more rand time taking those unrested, unsupported shots.
Nice buck and one that will taste well. Well done my friend!!!
Nice buck and one that will taste well. Well done my friend!!!
01-03-2013, 12:12 PM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 276
Congratulations on the deer. He looks like he's got Harry Potter's wand stuck in his head..
The rifle might actually be dead on. I am always surprised at how more difficult it becomes to shoot groups or targets without a solid rest. Which is where I need practice also.
But you have good venison to eat. And that's the best part.
The rifle might actually be dead on. I am always surprised at how more difficult it becomes to shoot groups or targets without a solid rest. Which is where I need practice also.
But you have good venison to eat. And that's the best part.
Great deer and Congrats on breaking your curse! Your patients is rollmodel worthey
Niccum
