Deer Season 2025

In 2022 I decided to hunt with my .243 and got a crack at this buck and missed. That night while laying in bed not being able to sleep I decided to take @Bob Nelson 35Whelen ’s advice and sell it!

View attachment 729560I had no pics of him in 2023 but got one set of nighttime pics in 2024. This year he was back again and I got these.
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I decided that this year it was going to be him or nothing and only 2 more days left that I can hunt I was resigned to the fact that it was going to be nothing. But tonight with only 10 minutes of shooting light left and after 120 hours sitting for him he finally slipped up! What a marathon it was.
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More mass, sticker points and pearling! Way to go. Bet your'e actually glad you waited to let him grow up more.
 
In 2022 I decided to hunt with my .243 and got a crack at this buck and missed. That night while laying in bed not being able to sleep I decided to take @Bob Nelson 35Whelen ’s advice and sell it!

View attachment 729560I had no pics of him in 2023 but got one set of nighttime pics in 2024. This year he was back again and I got these.
View attachment 729561
View attachment 729562

I decided that this year it was going to be him or nothing and only 2 more days left that I can hunt I was resigned to the fact that it was going to be nothing. But tonight with only 10 minutes of shooting light left and after 120 hours sitting for him he finally slipped up! What a marathon it was.
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View attachment 729564
View attachment 729565
View attachment 729566
@Ragman
As you wisely sold the 243 what did you end up getting your deer with .
Bob
 
In 2022 I decided to hunt with my .243 and got a crack at this buck and missed. That night while laying in bed not being able to sleep I decided to take @Bob Nelson 35Whelen ’s advice and sell it!

View attachment 729560I had no pics of him in 2023 but got one set of nighttime pics in 2024. This year he was back again and I got these.
View attachment 729561
View attachment 729562

I decided that this year it was going to be him or nothing and only 2 more days left that I can hunt I was resigned to the fact that it was going to be nothing. But tonight with only 10 minutes of shooting light left and after 120 hours sitting for him he finally slipped up! What a marathon it was.
View attachment 729563
View attachment 729564
View attachment 729565
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Excellent work!!!!
 
More mass, sticker points and pearling! Way to go. Bet your'e actually glad you waited to let him grow up more.
Well I didn’t intentionally wait the extra three years, but you’re right. It did give him the opportunity to reach his full prime and made it so much more rewarding.
 
@Ragman
As you wisely sold the 243 what did you end up getting your deer with .
Bob
@Bob Nelson 35Whelen for the first 10 days I hunted him with my famous .308 Browning BLR. Then I had to go back to work. When I came back I decided to alternate between my two 7s until I either got him or ran out of days. Day 11 I used my 7mm-08 Browning X-bolt but he was a no-show. Day 12 (the day I got him) I used my 7mm Rem Mag Tikka T3. Ironically the last whitetail I shot with this rifle was in 2018 and I believe that buck was the father of this one. I really wanted to get him with my .308 as it’s my 30th anniversary with it but decided to switch it up. But that’s ok because I killed an elk with it earlier!
 
@Ragman congratulations on a fantastic buck. You certainly put in the time and effort to earn it.
 
After I got my buck’s head skinned off I decided to bring out my 2018 buck who I mentioned earlier I believe is the father of this year’s. Just for comparison. The similarities are abundant I think. I thought I’d never beat my 2018 buck, but by jeez Junior is bigger!
IMG_2902.jpeg

IMG_2903.jpeg
 
Struck out in California rifle season but filled my archery tag with a fair Mulie.
Congrats to all.
Best
Spike
 
@Bob Nelson 35Whelen for the first 10 days I hunted him with my famous .308 Browning BLR. Then I had to go back to work. When I came back I decided to alternate between my two 7s until I either got him or ran out of days. Day 11 I used my 7mm-08 Browning X-bolt but he was a no-show. Day 12 (the day I got him) I used my 7mm Rem Mag Tikka T3. Ironically the last whitetail I shot with this rifle was in 2018 and I believe that buck was the father of this one. I really wanted to get him with my .308 as it’s my 30th anniversary with it but decided to switch it up. But that’s ok because I killed an elk with it earlier!

You can't go wrong with the 7Mag or a Tikka for that matter!
 
You can't go wrong with the 7Mag or a Tikka for that matter!
Except that my wife has claimed it as “hers” and I don’t often get to hunt with anymore! It is a great rifle.
 
IMG_4527.jpeg


Nevada mule deer, rifle, public land, Unit 242, 10/29/2025. Guided with Unbranded Outfitters.

Disclosure: I posted a thread on this hunt earlier but thought I would also join this thread. Congratulations to all of the deer hunters stateside and worldwide in 2025.

Can’t wait for 2026! Happy hunting, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.
 
Not the biggest deer, but it's the first one killed on my property this year. :D

buck.jpg
 

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bigrich wrote on Bob Nelson 35Whelen's profile.
thanks for your reply bob , is it feasible to build a 444 on a P14/M17 , or is the no4 enfield easier to build? i know where i can buy a lothar walther barrel in 44, 1-38 twist , but i think with a barrel crown of .650" the profile is too light .
Duke1966 wrote on Flanders357's profile.
ok $120 plus shipping
teklanika_ray wrote on MShort's profile.
I have quite a bit of 458 win mag brass, most of it new. How much are you looking for?

Ray H
bigrich wrote on Bob Nelson 35Whelen's profile.
hey bob , new on here. i specifically joined to enquire about a 444 you built on a Enfield 4-1 you built . who did the barrel and what was the twist and profile specs ? look foward to your reply . cheers
 
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