I took the family back to my folks in east Texas for the holiday. I hunted out there a lot until about four years ago when I was transferred to central Texas for work. I make a dove hunt or two every year but haven't deer hunted or messed with a scoped rifle since I moved. Pop owns about 15 acres and has permission to hunt the adjoining 60. Its typical small place east Texas. It usually has a doe or two and maybe a spike somewhere. I've hunted it with him for 15 years and killed two does. I've hunted entire seasons there an not seen a thing. So, I wasn't planning to hunt at all and didn't bring any gear.
Thanksgiving evening, Pop said that I should go sit Friday morning. I was less than enthusiastic. Friday morning rolled around and I was up by 5 am anyway. They don't have cable or internet. So, I figured why not go and get some peace and quite before the hoard of kids woke up. I put on my tennis shoes, grabbed a sweater, and the mossberg. I had bought a ATR compact in 243 for my wife, < $200 at academy at the time. Since, she decided she didn't like hunting. I permanently loaned it to Pop. It had been sighted in and shot maybe 3 times in 6 years.
I got to the stand a little late and was able to get in the box stand without a light. I set there maybe 15 minutes as daylight came. It sounded like a slow hail storm as the acorns fell. I have never seen as many acorns as this year. I gave it another 20 minutes or so then poured a coffee form the thermos. My mind wondered to when I had hunted this stand in past. To the few times I hunted with my grandmother as a child and how it was similar. No special hunting clothes. Hunting wasn't a lifestyle and horns didn't much matter.
About 1/2 way through the first cup, I see a red flicker through the brush. It was obviously a deer. Dad hasn't been of good health and hadn't done his usual stand prep. Everything was overgrown. A small year and a half 8 pt wondered out eating acorns. I was surprised to see anything. This was the first "rack" buck I had seen on this place. He was about 12" wide with horns like a pinky finger. He milled around about 5 minutes and I noticed a second flicker from the same direction he came. It was a much larger bodied deer. I couldn't see it well but did notice a heavier horn.
I got ready with, no corn and uncleared shooting lanes, I wouldn't have much time. He made it clear of the brush for a quick assessment. I had trophy hunted for years and frankly got burned out on the whole process. This deer wasn't one but he was 3.5 yrs old 15" wide eight point and the largest deer we had ever seen on this place. He turned broad side and began to go on his way. He was less interested in acorns.
I put the crosshairs behind the shoulder and boom. The .243 made a decent pop but much less than the hammer recoil of the 7mm mag I usually use. I never lost sight of the deer in the scope which was a real plus. The buck immediately lifted his left front leg and fast walked out of sight. I heard some thrashing around. The other buck started to follow then turned and went the other way.
I unloaded the gun and finished my coffee. I expected Pop to show up anytime since the stand was less the 200 yds from the house. I got down a few minutes later and walked the 70 yds to where I shot the deer. He was piled up about 20 yds down the trail just out of site of the stand.
The 100 grain corelok did what it was supposed to do. It punched a .243 sized hole in the hide. Hit a rib, expanded and left about a quarter sized exit hole while turning the heart and lungs into runny jelly. The offside rib cage didn't fair very well. Otherwise, not much damage to the meat.
Ultimately it was an odd hunt. I was totally unprepared for it and spent less than 45 minutes hunting. I was wearing street clothes, used a cheap rifle I hadn't shot in years, and didn't do anything for scent control. Still I thoroughly enjoyed it and it will be a hunt I remember for years.
Thanksgiving evening, Pop said that I should go sit Friday morning. I was less than enthusiastic. Friday morning rolled around and I was up by 5 am anyway. They don't have cable or internet. So, I figured why not go and get some peace and quite before the hoard of kids woke up. I put on my tennis shoes, grabbed a sweater, and the mossberg. I had bought a ATR compact in 243 for my wife, < $200 at academy at the time. Since, she decided she didn't like hunting. I permanently loaned it to Pop. It had been sighted in and shot maybe 3 times in 6 years.
I got to the stand a little late and was able to get in the box stand without a light. I set there maybe 15 minutes as daylight came. It sounded like a slow hail storm as the acorns fell. I have never seen as many acorns as this year. I gave it another 20 minutes or so then poured a coffee form the thermos. My mind wondered to when I had hunted this stand in past. To the few times I hunted with my grandmother as a child and how it was similar. No special hunting clothes. Hunting wasn't a lifestyle and horns didn't much matter.
About 1/2 way through the first cup, I see a red flicker through the brush. It was obviously a deer. Dad hasn't been of good health and hadn't done his usual stand prep. Everything was overgrown. A small year and a half 8 pt wondered out eating acorns. I was surprised to see anything. This was the first "rack" buck I had seen on this place. He was about 12" wide with horns like a pinky finger. He milled around about 5 minutes and I noticed a second flicker from the same direction he came. It was a much larger bodied deer. I couldn't see it well but did notice a heavier horn.
I got ready with, no corn and uncleared shooting lanes, I wouldn't have much time. He made it clear of the brush for a quick assessment. I had trophy hunted for years and frankly got burned out on the whole process. This deer wasn't one but he was 3.5 yrs old 15" wide eight point and the largest deer we had ever seen on this place. He turned broad side and began to go on his way. He was less interested in acorns.
I put the crosshairs behind the shoulder and boom. The .243 made a decent pop but much less than the hammer recoil of the 7mm mag I usually use. I never lost sight of the deer in the scope which was a real plus. The buck immediately lifted his left front leg and fast walked out of sight. I heard some thrashing around. The other buck started to follow then turned and went the other way.
I unloaded the gun and finished my coffee. I expected Pop to show up anytime since the stand was less the 200 yds from the house. I got down a few minutes later and walked the 70 yds to where I shot the deer. He was piled up about 20 yds down the trail just out of site of the stand.
The 100 grain corelok did what it was supposed to do. It punched a .243 sized hole in the hide. Hit a rib, expanded and left about a quarter sized exit hole while turning the heart and lungs into runny jelly. The offside rib cage didn't fair very well. Otherwise, not much damage to the meat.
Ultimately it was an odd hunt. I was totally unprepared for it and spent less than 45 minutes hunting. I was wearing street clothes, used a cheap rifle I hadn't shot in years, and didn't do anything for scent control. Still I thoroughly enjoyed it and it will be a hunt I remember for years.
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