Hi folks
This is a special thanks to three members of the forum in particular
Cervus and EMcC for arranging a bit of stalking for me (this forum is useful in so many ways!) and to tartinjock for the excellent and simple instructions about how to set up an account on photobucket and then how to upload piccies.
This is what is hopefully my first (ie not only) cull buck of the season
Thankfully it was a clean shot, I had watched the buck for an hour or so, at first he was lying in a ditch in a patch of weeds and all I could see of him was ear tips and antler tops, there were a couple of does feeding between me and him but he wasn't interested (they had kids at the heel, does that make a difference?), but when a young single doe came into the field he perked up a bit, then when she urinated he came running over to investigate.
He stopped in front of me, broadside on about 80yds off and stretched his neck out to have a good sniff at where she had wet the grass, and stood stock still when he did. For a change I didn't get a touch of the shakes but managed to keep a steady aim on him.
My 150gr .308 Nosler BST entered the right side of his rib cage as prescribed and left a tidy exit wound on the left (you might just make it out in the photo) and he dropped on the spot I'm glad to say.
When gralloched (expertly by EMcC by the way, that man can handle a knife!!) we could see that I had top heart shot him and the BST round had pulverised his lungs as well as removing about a quarter of his heart, I hope he was dead before he hit the ground, there was no sign of kicking or thrashing where he lay, just a lot of blood and a big chunk of lung by his side so I think he died quick and clean (I hate to think of the little fellas suffering at all).
Incidentally this and a couple of other recent experiences confirm the .308win as my calibre of choice now, I used to love the .243win (and still do for foxes) but I have seen similar shots run a bit with the lighter calibre, in future I'll pack "enough gun" where circumstances, ie cops and FAC, allow and take the bigger rifle.
He was only a cull buck with a skinny, barely sixpoint head (he made 38lb clean weight which surprised me), but with such a clean shot and having spent a warm summer evening watching does, kids, hares, bunnies and birdies it was a time to remember.
Thanks once again to the guys mentioned above and to the rest of you, admin team in particular, who make this forum worth a visit for a chat, a bit of brain-picking or even accessing some shooting. I hope you like the photo and my first attempt at posting a picture with report.
All the very best, Geoshot
This is a special thanks to three members of the forum in particular
Cervus and EMcC for arranging a bit of stalking for me (this forum is useful in so many ways!) and to tartinjock for the excellent and simple instructions about how to set up an account on photobucket and then how to upload piccies.
This is what is hopefully my first (ie not only) cull buck of the season
Thankfully it was a clean shot, I had watched the buck for an hour or so, at first he was lying in a ditch in a patch of weeds and all I could see of him was ear tips and antler tops, there were a couple of does feeding between me and him but he wasn't interested (they had kids at the heel, does that make a difference?), but when a young single doe came into the field he perked up a bit, then when she urinated he came running over to investigate.
He stopped in front of me, broadside on about 80yds off and stretched his neck out to have a good sniff at where she had wet the grass, and stood stock still when he did. For a change I didn't get a touch of the shakes but managed to keep a steady aim on him.
My 150gr .308 Nosler BST entered the right side of his rib cage as prescribed and left a tidy exit wound on the left (you might just make it out in the photo) and he dropped on the spot I'm glad to say.
When gralloched (expertly by EMcC by the way, that man can handle a knife!!) we could see that I had top heart shot him and the BST round had pulverised his lungs as well as removing about a quarter of his heart, I hope he was dead before he hit the ground, there was no sign of kicking or thrashing where he lay, just a lot of blood and a big chunk of lung by his side so I think he died quick and clean (I hate to think of the little fellas suffering at all).
Incidentally this and a couple of other recent experiences confirm the .308win as my calibre of choice now, I used to love the .243win (and still do for foxes) but I have seen similar shots run a bit with the lighter calibre, in future I'll pack "enough gun" where circumstances, ie cops and FAC, allow and take the bigger rifle.
He was only a cull buck with a skinny, barely sixpoint head (he made 38lb clean weight which surprised me), but with such a clean shot and having spent a warm summer evening watching does, kids, hares, bunnies and birdies it was a time to remember.
Thanks once again to the guys mentioned above and to the rest of you, admin team in particular, who make this forum worth a visit for a chat, a bit of brain-picking or even accessing some shooting. I hope you like the photo and my first attempt at posting a picture with report.
All the very best, Geoshot