I was fortunate enough to take this buck early today using a Monster Bucks rattle box and a custom grunt call made by a friend in South Carolina. I used a TC Encore with a 28" PH barrel in .308 WCF. The load: a 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter ahead of 48.5 grains of Varget. Range: 165 yards, and the buck folded on the spot with a double-lung impact.

For Lavaca County, this is a nice buck -- and my best from this particular county. They generally don't get quite that nice around here.

With me are our twins Grady (center) and Andy, who turned 5 earlier this week.

Good stuff Bobby. Great to see you and your kids out there--I love it!

Congrats--Don

Congrats. I like the antler coloration. Is that common in your area?

LWD

The coloration is not that common. They generally have a lighter tone -- sometimes with a hint of yellow depending on what trees they've been working.

Here is another view of the buck showing the mass, both of antlers and body:

Thanks for the extra picture. That is a nice deer. Congratulations.

LWD

That is a "record" deer for that area!!

Congrats Bobby!!

Bob

I love stories like this, no matter how often they are told. Keep them coming!

Bobby, Congratulations and well done. I love the eye guards and the overall shape of the rack.

PS:
Are you sure that's enough Varget behind the 150???

Actually, in the generous chamber of the Encore, 48.5 still gives slight sooting on the neck..but the acuracy is exceptional at that level.

The load is directly out of the Nosler manual (though with a Sierra bullet).

Hey great deer. I can't wait to get out this year and get me some fresh venison.

Excellent Lavaca county buck Bobby. Congratulations!

He is a dandy congrats

Good looking deer, and good looking family. Congratulations!

Very nice!


Tim

Nice buck Bobby; thanks for sharing! Congratulations!

Bobby,

GREAT Buck!!! Kudos on the kill.
Love that pix with you and the kids!!!!

Don

Great buck for Lavaca county... we have a couple of ranches in and around the Ezzell and Hope communities! I really believe the 13" rule has finally taught folks that they can have good bucks in the Post Oaks if they let 'em age! Congrats again!

I like the 13" regulation, and I've seen the difference. Of course, some in the area are clueless and couldn't tell the difference between a 10 and 20 inch spread if their life depended on it. But when the warden writes tickets, they seem to learn a little quicker...

There were a couple of individuals I strongly reminded recently as there are some nice 2.5 year-olds that are already 8-pointers with good tine length but are only 12 to 12.5" wide.

Nice deer and great story. Gotta love getting out there with the boys. Problem is soon you won't get to hunt anymore. Be to busy loading bullets for the twins!

MM

MM-

You are right. Our oldest is 16, and I can't keep him supplied with ammo. And with Christmas coming up, I keep getting "anonymous" e-mails from him from various gunbroker auctions...

He has an affliction for heavy-barreled varminters, 6.5x55 Swedes, Contenders -- and lately, it seems a P-22 has his interest. At this rate, I'm going to have to win the lottery to keep three boys happy with ammo and guns...