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- - Pistol Kill (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whitetail-deer-hunting/223294-pistol-kill.html)

I usually hang out in the Bow Hunting forums but I'm an avid gun hunter too so I wanted to share this kill with you all.

I took this buck on the second gun season here in Illinois with my Ruger Vaquero .44mag. This was one of the most exciting hunts I've had in a while!

I was pressed for time and decided to go down south for the last two days of the second gun season (missed the first two) on a whim. I grabbed my gear and decided on my Ruger revolver. It's a 5 1/2in barreled fixed open sighted pistol.

I got down to the land late (5hr drive) but hadenough time to get to one of my stands and hunt the rest of afternoon. I had planned on hunting a stand further in on the property but I didn't want to spook anything so I set up in one of my ladder stands that's right in the middle of afinger of trees between two smaller fields.It's very thick but it's rightoff of a dry creek bed and I figured the deer were moving along it to get through this stand of trees undetected.

I'm hurried so as to not spook anything that may be in there so I get to my stand as quickly and quietly as possible,I climb up, strap in, sit down and try to relax. I check the cylinder on the old Ruger...full.... good, I'm ready to hunt!

It's a nice afternoon for this time of year (Dec.1st) and I'm enjoying the scenery for aboutan hourwhen I hear something moving my direction down the dry creek bed. I strain to see through the thick woods but I can onlymake out that it's a deer about 75yds moving my direction, couldn't tell if it was a buck or doe. The stand is set up about 20 yds off of the creek bed andthe deer ismoving in from my right to left.

The closer the deer gets I can tell it's a nice buck. He moves into a small cleared area about 35yds away but because he'soff on my 2:00 and I have nothing to rest my pistol on....way to long a shot off hand for my comfort!

My only chance is that he will continue on down the creek bed and into the open spot directly in front of me (20yds). He's moving on a very slow pace stopping every once in a while to smell the wind and look around.

Remember when I said I was pressed for time and had another stand in mind? Well the reason was the wind was wrong for this stand and it was blowing right over my left shoulder directly into the creek bed!

Every time the buck would stop I thought "You're busted John!" only to have him move slowly again. By now I'm a wreck and I'm hoping for just a few more steps. The whole time I'm frozen in place afraid to move as to not let off any more scent than I have to.:D

Finally he moves into position, but I'm sitting there with my pistol in my lap! I painstakinglyraise the Ruger up and acquire a good sight picture.....I slowly ear back the hammer "Click.......Click". The buck looks my way and freezes! Bang! the shot rings out and the deer drops to the ground! I hit him a little high (spine) but he died instantly!

I have never been so nervous, it seemed like it took him forever to come in and I made a big mistake that could have cost me the shot by not cocking the pistol before he got so close.

In my hurry to get down to hunt I left my digital camera at home but I had a cheap35mm camera in the truck and snapped a few pictures. My pistol is back in my holster on my side you can just make out the outline of it on my right hip.

The photo quality is not the best because of the cheap camera but it's better than nothing.

Just thought I'd share.

Great post man. Awesome deer, congratulations!

John welcome to the gun forum were always looking for fresh meat!;);););):D:D
Great story and congrats on a fine buck. See you over in the bow forums.

Really nice buck congrats

Thats cool!!! Way to go, nice buck!

Sweet. Pistol hunting is a ton of fun. I've taken several does, but not a buck yet.
Good job.

Isn't 2nd season shotgun/muzzleloader only?
Handgun/shotgun/muzzleloader is late winter i thought.
Nice buck! Just not sure about the seasons, might be wrong.

Dang John he is a good one. Big congrats on the pistol kill!

Quote:

ORIGINAL: BigJ71
I took this buck on the second gun season here in Illinois with my Ruger Vaquero .44mag. This was one of the most exciting hunts I've had in a while!

Quote:

Isn't 2nd season shotgun/muzzleloader only?
Handgun/shotgun/muzzleloader is late winter i thought.
Nice buck! Just not sure about the seasons, might be wrong.

Not to pee in your cheerios, but I believe that 2nd gun season is shotgun and muzzleloader only. I will check to make sure, and I suggest you do the same.

I know you can use a pistol in the late firearms season in January, but I'm not sure on the other seasons. If that's the case then you got lucky. I won't say another thing about that either way.

However, good shot by the way and great deer.

Paul

Just to let everyone know BigJ71 is legit in taking this deer. I was wrong and apologize as I called to make sure. What I was told was that it is called the firearms season. This is where you can use either shotgun, muzzleloader or pistol. They changed this to encompass all types of guns except rifles in Illinois. I did not know this, but now I do. I think my wife may get mad at me now that I can go and buy a hunting pistol.

Paul

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Newhunter1 at work

Just to let everyone know BigJ71 is legit in taking this deer. I was wrong and apologize as I called to make sure. What I was told was that it is called the firearms season. This is where you can use either shotgun, muzzleloader or pistol. They changed this to encompass all types of guns except rifles in Illinois. I did not know this, but now I do. I think my wife may get mad at me now that I can go and buy a hunting pistol.

Paul

No sweat Paul...at least you read up on it and posted back,;)I appreciate it.

Yep they (Illinois DNR) changed the rules to allow pistols, muzzle loaders and slug guns during the 1st and2nd firearm seasons. I'm glad because I was tired of freezing my butt off pistol hunting in the dead of winter for does only.:D I stilldid it because I love to pistol hunt.

The first season I use my H&R Ultra Slug Hunter Deluxe but if I don't kill anything, and I don't taketwo bucks with my bow before the second season, I'll bring out a pistol and try to kill a nice buck with it...I was able to connect this year.

Thanks to all who posted, if it's legal to do so in your state I HIGHLY recommend taking a pistol into the woods, it's a huge challenge and a blast to do. I've hunted with all of the pistols below.

Top to bottom:
Ruger Super Black Hawk W/Leupold 2x scope .44mag
Ruger Vaquero fixed open sights .44mag (this is the one I used this year)
Magnum Research BFR open adjustable sights .454 Casull
Ruger Black Hawk open adjustable sights 45Colt

Good dea with the revised regsl!! I was actually looking into pistol hunting myself. I was looking at the Ruger Super Redhawk 454. Any thoughts or recomendations on a good pistol?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Tody_PSE

Good dea with the revised regsl!! I was actually looking into pistol hunting myself. I was looking at the Ruger Super Redhawk 454. Any thoughts or recomendations on a good pistol?

Depends on how much you want to spend.

If you just want a good reliable strong built pistol that is accurate right out of the box and won't break the bank.. Ruger is the way to go. With the exception of the "New Vaquero" all of the large frame revolvers are pretty much bullet proof. Ruger revolvers willdigest the hottest +P+ ammo you put through them.

If you want to spend more money, then the new S&W 500 or the Freedom Arms revolvers or the Magnum Research BFR Revolversare an option. BFR stands for "Biggest Finest Revolvers" but if you take one look at them you know it really means Biggest F****** Revolvers!:D

The one I have (454 Casull) is their SMALL frame revolver!

You can get a BFR in .444, 45-70, and many other BIG chambering. They will run you at least $1,000.00 though. I had mine custom done (trigger job, action smoothed, barrel cut to 5.5in, custom crowned, custom gripsetc..) and that alone will run you another $1,000.00

There are others you can consider, Taurus makes a 454 Casull (Raging Bull)as well but for the money and strength, Rugeris the way to go.

I love my Rugers, they simply won't fail you, they are some very strong built revolvers and are the foundation for may of the big custom revolvers being made today.

John,
What loads do you shoot out of those 44's?
I've shothandloads of both the240 XTP and the 270 gold dot soft point. Both work pretty well, the GD goes in and out with not much expansion, the 240 expands nicely and still penetrates pretty well.

John, congrats on a great Buck. That was a great story as well! Once again, CONGRATS!!!!

Nice deer. Congrats.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: rybohunter

John,
What loads do you shoot out of those 44's?
I've shothandloads of both the240 XTP and the 270 gold dot soft point. Both work pretty well, the GD goes in and out with not much expansion, the 240 expands nicely and still penetrates pretty well.

Rybo,

Depends on the pistol....but rest assured I'm bringing the hammer down when it comes to power!!:D

The Vaquero has fixed sights andshoots the best (point of aimat 25yds)with Corbon 260gr jacketed soft points...leathal!! I'm getting 1450fps and 1215ft/lbs out of it.

On the adjustable sighted pistols I can use different rounds and adjust my sights for the vertical impact. For them I like the big 280gr jacketed soft points at 1425fps with 1260ft/lbs or the 320gr hard cast flat points for very big game.

For the 454 Casull I like the 335gr hard cast flat points at 1600fps with 1905ft/lbs or the 360gr penetrator at 1500fps and 2050ft/lbs

The 45 Colt I will shoot the 300gr 1300fps Corbons out of the Ruger but the ColtSAAand Colt SAA clones get the 250gr hard cast at 1000fps to keep them within SAAMI specs so they are safe to shoot.

Thats pretty impressive good for you I cant imagine what that feels like. I took my dads 357 a couple times and i havent had the opportunity i cant imagine what that feels like.

Ryan

Thats a heck of a challenge taking him out with a pistol! Hats off to ya and congrats!

BIGJ...WOW what a buck congrats to you Sir.. and with a pistol..You the man..

Thanks all,

It was a rush for sure, this was the most primitive weapon I've used, as far as sights go.The Vaquero (as I'm sure most of you know) is like an old west 6-gun and only has a simple"V" groove in the rear and a blade post at the front. I experimented with different hunting loads to find one that would hit where I was aiming at 25yds. Once I found it I could adjust (Kentucky windage) for closer of further shots.

I could have made the first shot he gave me (35yds) if I had something to rest the pistol on.I'm right handed and he came in from my right side soI tried to get into a position to where I could support my left arm by resting my elbow on my leg but I just couldn't pull it off without moving too much. If he had come in from my left it would have been easier to get the shot off.

Ever see a 325lb mansquirm around in a small single seat ladder stand...that was me!:DI had taken off the rest because I use the stand primarily for bow hunting and the rest gets in the way.

It was a little too far of a shot off hand for me. I'm sure there are others who could pull it off but I'm not comfortable with it, so that's when I decided to just wait him out. When he got right in front of me I had a good shot at him. Like I said I almost blew the whole thing cocking the pistol. It's amazing just how loud those "clicks" are when your trying to be quiet.:D

I got lucky when he frozefor that split second so I could get the shot off. He could havejust as easily bolted, and this post would have been quite different.;)

John, congrats on your second nice buck this year, and with a pistol that is awesome. Those are some pretty sick pistols you've got there, but then again you're a big guy so you probably laugh at their kick. I shoot my old man's .44 mag super red hawk and with the old style grip that thing is punishing for me. I would love to try to hunt deer with it, but I just haven't done it yet.

Good job and great story.