I'll let Earlybugle do the talking, but he killed a whopper caribou in AK. Here are his pics of bou and bullet:

Congrats on a great looking caribou! Give us some details of the shot and stats on that bullet.

Perry

First I need to thank Doc for helping me quickly get to an optimized load for my new .300 RUM this year. If anyone else is glued to Doc's very learned comments on this fine forum you'll know he's a big fan of the Barnes Triple Shock-X. After meeting Doc and trying his suggestions, I'm sold too. I've converted all my hunting loads over to this bullet as it's the most accurate hadloaded round I've EVER fired in my rifles. (can you say half inch groups at eye-popping velocites?)

Anyway.. about the hunt.

I just got back from a 2 week unguided fly-in/drop hunt to the Alaskan Interior. My primary goal was to tip over a trophy AY Moose. The area I hunted is near Delta Junction, where there is a slim chance for a decent bull caribou, but I wasn't expecting to even get a shot; maybe a wolf, hopefully a moose, but not likely a decent caribou bull.

To make a long story shorter, I saw some very nice bull moose, but none that I could get a shot at. Yet one morning I spotted a lone caribou crest a ridge at a steady walk, quartering away, at nearly 400 yards. Realizing I couldn't risk that kind of a shot at that distance, I dropped my pack with my hunting partner and sprinted after him across the (%^*&#) muskeg in hopes I could close the distance.


Twice during the chase I has nearly lost hope of getting close, but I finally cut him off and at a distance of about 120 yards I was able to put a round in him - chase over. From where he sat at the start of my chase, my hunting partner laser-ranged me at over 400 yards! (I'm thinking that's not too bad for a 47 year old ex-jock!)

After catching my breath (minutes later) I took stock and realized I'd taken a nicer bull than I originally thought.

Another shock came when I recovered the 180 gr. Barnes TSX that had shattered the upper leg bone. I weighed it when I got home and it weighed 170.0 gr! That's exactly why I (and Doc) shoot them - half inch groups at 3450 fps and still they retain almost 95% original weight after breaking bone.

By the way, my partner also took an outstanding bull caribou AND a fantastic male wolf that was colored the rare "blue" phase. Both were taken with a .300 RUM as well ... But I'll let him tell the story and post pics.

Five days later I'm fully healed, recharged, and already dreaming of my next trip north! - Bill

Thanks for the kind words, and what an excellent hunt!

I'd love a caribou like that.

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

Nice 'bou!

very nice 'bou.. gotta do that hunt sometime real soon.. just looks like too much fun!

bwanamrm,
Who's quote is it that you show in your signature/tag line? It's terrific!

Thanks to you all for your kind comments. - Bill

Earlybugle, very nice bou.