I would love to say that I took this deer off of my place, but he came off a friends ranch between here and San Antonio. It is large enough, that every three-year-old doesn't get picked off, and I have taken a couple of nice bucks there over the years. We are having a warm, dry (darn near arid) fall, and I sat up over a little spring creek that always has a bit of water.
I was using my Bailey Bradshaw single shot in 7x65R. This was its maiden hunt, and it had proved in spades that it shot well on my home range. It is also just about the most elegant rifle I have ever taken hunting.
The first evening I went out fairly late because of the warm temperatures. Several typical, spindly hill country deer drifted through, but nothing interesting. Then just before full dark a form separated from the surrounding brush for just a moment. There was no way to judge him in the bad light, but the cream-colored antlers looked tall. I decided it was worth another try in the morning.
A good half-hour before the first light found me back next to my oak and rock overlooking the spring. With the first hint of dawn, animals began to move. A group of does were first in, and though a little early for the rut in our neighborhood, I couldn't help but hope they might cause the big fellow from the evening before to reappear. The sun had not yet begun to fully clear the horizon when he did just that. I had a solid rest against the tree, and the range was under a hundred yards, making my favorite base of the neck shot very practical. He dropped where he stood.
I really pretty deer, and pretty good for our part of the country.
I was using my Bailey Bradshaw single shot in 7x65R. This was its maiden hunt, and it had proved in spades that it shot well on my home range. It is also just about the most elegant rifle I have ever taken hunting.
The first evening I went out fairly late because of the warm temperatures. Several typical, spindly hill country deer drifted through, but nothing interesting. Then just before full dark a form separated from the surrounding brush for just a moment. There was no way to judge him in the bad light, but the cream-colored antlers looked tall. I decided it was worth another try in the morning.
A good half-hour before the first light found me back next to my oak and rock overlooking the spring. With the first hint of dawn, animals began to move. A group of does were first in, and though a little early for the rut in our neighborhood, I couldn't help but hope they might cause the big fellow from the evening before to reappear. The sun had not yet begun to fully clear the horizon when he did just that. I had a solid rest against the tree, and the range was under a hundred yards, making my favorite base of the neck shot very practical. He dropped where he stood.
I really pretty deer, and pretty good for our part of the country.
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