Good Deal, ConGrats What did you use looks like a big hole.

I used an SRH in 454. The hole appears slightly bigger than it actually was. I was using 370 gr. Cast Performance bullets over top of 26 gr. of W296. The bullet exited just in front of the offside shoulder leaving a hole the same size as the entrance wound.
John

Now that's the way to do it! Nice deer. Let's see...now you are hooked.

WELLcome too the club. Nice bragging rights

Nicely done. My first handgun deer was an 8pt with a 480SRH---2MG

Nice buck , Well done . I'm not proud my first was a doe. Good job welcome to the," up close and personal group".



If winning isn't important? Why keep score....

You are ashamed that you shot a doe? Why? They are no easier to take than bucks, though there are usually more of them. They taste as good, and take as long to field dress. Where is the negative in this? I shoot deer to eat them, can't eat horns and most racks are not so spectacular that one would want to mount them. Enjoy your accomplishment, a lot of hunters went home with unfilled tags.

Paul, As one of those who went home with an unfilled tag, what Bull Snake said is 100% right on! Way to go on your doe. I'm sure the story of how you took her is every bit as exciting as if it were a buck.

Hey guys,
I'm most definately not ashamed,I am a equal opportunity deer blaster. In fact as table fare goes I like does better. Sorry about the misunderstanding. I've since have taken a few more of each. Every single one just as exciting and challenging as the last. My father once told me,"Does are for eatin',Bucks are for braggin".
Johnk007 Had it not been for muzzleloading season I would have been in the same boat this year. I still have one tag left.waiting for the extended season,mid dec. does Ill. have such seasons?(muzzleloader,extended or late rifle)

By the by the extended season in missouri is does only..



If winning isn't important? WHY keep score....

Second season firearm is going on as we speak. It ends today (Sunday). Unfortunately I couldn't get away for second season. Muzzleloader only runs next weekend. MAYBE I'll be able to get out. Even if I don't, my son scored twice during the first season, so all is not lost. There's venison in the freezer and there's always next year. Best of luck to you, Paul.

Johnk007,
Best of luck to you as well..blew smoke at a "dandy" 8pt. last year.Sorry no pic.(scanner down for the count i'm afraid). No such luck this year.Muzzleloading season ended about 5 days early for most of us in Mo.,thanks to a massive ice storm.You being just across the river so to speak,probibly know exactly what I'm talking about. Any way Good luck , Let me know how things turn out.



"If winning isn't important? WHY keep score...."

Congrats on a great buck. My first deer with a handgun was also my first and only buck, a spike. It might as well have been an 8!

Beautiful Buck John55. Nice work.

My first with a handgun was a doe that turned into two!

I was stalking in heavy brush in the morning and I heard her coming. When she came into a clear spot I decided to fire, I didn't have a lot of time but I was sure I connected at the shoulder. The doe ran and as she bounded through the trees I fired thee more times.

I waited for about 10 minutes before I moved. I went to where she was when I fired first. I found a great blood trail and quietly followed it up. I found the doe still alive and finished her off. The problem was that this doe was laying in a spot much closer to my firing position than the last time I fired at it.

I looked around and found another blood trail. I walked up on the second deer. She was laying down and stood when I approached. She promptly fell over. She stood and fell again, then she got up and started walking away from me. I only had one shot left and didn't want to blow it. I couldn't get close enough for a clear shot. I let her go and gutted the first one.

I went back and followed the blood trail again for about a km, then no blood. I looked for the next drop of blood for quite a while with no luck. By now I had to start thinking about getting the first deer out of the woods before dark so I went back and dragged it out and hung it up. Then I went back to the end of the blood trail and looked some more. Still no more trail so I continued stalking in the direction the deer had been traveling. I found her laying down after travelling only about 200 yds. Her head came up and she got up and bounded into some heavy cover and fell over again. This time she couldn't get back up and I got a shot at her head. Ended up dragging her out in the dark.

Both deer were shot broadside through the liver.
The second deer was hit on the run while bounding through trees. The first deer was also hit in the hind hoof.
The second deer had stopped bleeding because intestines had plugged the entry hole. No intestines or stomach were broken though.

In both cases the bullet hit a rib on entry and failed to completely penetrate. I'll be looking for a different type of bullet with more penetration in the future. I was in a bit of a hurry when gutting both deer so I didn't look too hard for the bullets.

Quite an adventure for my first handgun hunt.

Ruger SBH 10.5" barrel
44 mag
Blue Dot
Nosler 240 JHP

Vel. 1820 fps.

These bullets expand way to fast at this velocity, at least in these two cases.

Distance was only about 20 yards.