Finally ...

[PsTaN]

1/23/15 -I drove in around 7PM. A buddy had invited me to hunt at his family place the following day and I was looking forward to the trip. An isolated tract of land with a nice camp located next to a Wildlife Management Area - this was going to be fun. Big fire, steaks, a little bourbon, a lot of lies .... just the things that make a hunting camp a hunting camp. Hell, I'm sure there are three guys on any continent you choose doing the same thing right now. We made a plan and took it with us to bed .... morning was coming soon enough.

!/24/15 - We woke up to hot coffee and plans for a big breakfast after the hunt. Slip into the coveralls, lace up the boots, head out in the cool temps after two days of rain. I was taken to an area roughly 20 acres in size that I could hunt as I saw fit. The timber was freshly thinned a few months ago, so I followed a skid road and crossed a creek to hunt a ridge that looked promising. After erecting "Camp PsTaN" next to a large Loblolly Pine, I settled in and watched a covey of quail feed right past me. Rut is in full swing in South West Alabama, so I pulled the grunt tube out to see what might happen. A few grunts later and sure enough I sense something behind me .... ease my head to take a look .... SNORT!! .... and gone. I needed a new plan!
     I decided to hunt up the creek. I'd stalk my way back to the road and walk back to camp. The wind was right and the sun was at my back. After easing my way a couple of hundred yards from my original position, I found the perfect spot. Close to the creek, good line of sight around me, and that perfect tree that grew so a hunter can nestle into it. This was the spot. I sat 10 minutes and saw nothing. I pull the grunt back out and called. Another 10 minutes go by. On my next round of grunts, no sooner than than the call was placed beside me, I see movement. Eighty yards out a buck steps into view. The 10mm was ready and I settled the red dot on the buck, but something said "wait". I lowered and waited. On the buck comes at an angle that would put him passing on my left - and close. At thirty yards he went out of view and I brought the pistol up and turned. At twenty five yards it was clear he was on the move and didnt plan to hang around the area long. I bleat, he stops, and BOOM. The bullet struck hard and rocked him, but off he went up and around a small hill. A few minutes later I was standing over my first deer taken with a pistol - G20, KKM 6" Barrel, Carver Hunter Mount, and Leupold Red Dot - he'd only gone 35 yards. I fell asleep happy that night.

1/25/15 - "You need to get up!! I have a flat tire!!" the wife says. Oh well - It's back to the real world for me. But next weekend ..........




PsTaN   
     

[nickE10mm]

Yes!!!!

Great stuff!

[The_Shadow]

Got to love when a plan comes together! Congrats! 

[mag360]

What ammo?

[PsTaN]

I was shooting Hornady Custom 180's. Stock out-of-box loads.

I did not get a complete pass-through, but I'm certain that was due to shot placement. Bullet went directly through the left shoulder bone. The energy dump rocked the deer nicely and he never put that left leg down in the yards he was in sight.

Time constraints caused me to take the deer to the processor, otherwise I would have skinned myself to retrieve the bullet. 

[mag360]

Aww shucks for me at least half the fun after enjoying the meat would be seeing the recovered bullet.  Great story all the same though. Amd one shot of hornady 180 did the trick. What did it weigh?