Guys,
For the second straight year, my brother's SW 44Mag iron sights and my CastPerformance 255gr WFP and 21.5gr of H110 have harvested a Wisconsin Whitetail. Last year was a doe, running at me (I was in stand) and dropped her with one shot in front of the shoulder at 10 yds.

This year I get to hang antlers. 8pt buck at 75 yds, offhand.

My brother and I built a ladder stand on Wednesday and put it up on a very windy Wednesday night. As we were leaving my brother pointed out six deer in an open cornfield next to the stand. There was a doe with her two fawns and a pack of three that were full grown but too far away to tell for sure if they had antlers. We decided to crawl through the marsh and get in position, but they moved too fast and we never got within 100 yards.

Thanksgiving day was cold and windy (-7 with windchill) so I did not go hunting in the morning. That night I went to the stand at 4:00 because it was soooo windy and cold I didn't want to spend too much time there. About 4:30 the same doe with fawns came by at 105 yards, they started trailing away so I got down to do the stalk, again. They were all upwind and that made it possible for me to get down and into the marsh undetected.

Crawling through the marsh, peeking every now and again I was getting closer, but they were moving away. I peeked one more time to rangefind and there he was, walking the same path the does walked, and walking directly at me, wind at his back, my face. Since I had my rangefinder handy I lased him, 75yards. At that point I got closer to the edge of the marsh grass in case he came right at me, I wouldn't have to stand up, just shoot from my belly. Well, he turned to follow the does just as my field of view came clear through the grass. Not having a shot from my belly at this time I stood up as he started walking broadside, toward the does. I had sighted the pistol in at 30 yards and knew these loads from my rifle shooting around KY. I placed the front sight on top of his back, took deep breath and let her rip.

The buck hunched up and ran about 4 steps. I was elated. He was hit hard. I put two more downrange to be sure, but adrenaline was pumping and I only hit him once more. I waited as he stood still, wobbling and slowly dropping his head. I approached to 50 yards and put the coup de grace in his lungs, he fell over and I remembered to breath again.

Filled out the $160 Non-resident tag and tried to load him on the fourwheeler...NO WAY; he was too big bodied. Drove home and got Dad and truck, we struggled to get him in. Never did weigh him, but figure around 175lbs dressed.

Thanks for letting me share. Pictures below.

Jimno

Congradulations!!!

Outstanding. That is the way to hunt them, on the ground on their terms.
I bet that 44 made a whop when it connected.
I just started hunting with a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in 45LC. I'm loading 300grn Penn Cast bullets with 21.5grn H110. I have it 2" high at 50yds and about 1" low at 100yds. I got it for hunting the thick swamp timber areas on my lease in SE Oklahoma.
I get that meat will taste great.

Mike

Thanks, guys.

Yep, at 75 yards you can certainly hear it hit. More of a "wap" than a "thump" that I get from say a 20ga slug.

I'm very pleased with him. Maybe next year I should get my own gun..hmmmmm

Jim

Nicely done. Nice buck.