The Accurate Reloading Forums
I let this one walk last season! (172")
22 November 2010, 07:06
edholumI let this one walk last season! (172")
Just harvested this South Dakota buck this morning. My dad and I watched this deer last year and I had him at 50 yards and decided to pass because his mass and length wasn't great but he had the same kickers as he does this year. My dad jumped him during a pheasant hunt and he got really excited that he was still around. The kickers may not seem that significant but kickers are fairly rare on bucks in our area so we knew it was him.
I watched him chasing does at 300 yards in the neighbors harvested corn field for about an hour in the morning sleet and fog. Then he disappeared into our tree belt and reappeared about ten minutes later at 34 yards and I hammered him. It was awesome. I rough scored him at 172" gross. Good evidence that passing on an ok deer can turn into harvesting a trophy!
"Conservation through Hunting"
22 November 2010, 07:11
DLSThat's an incredible buck! Congratulations, and yes, you've learned a great lesson about being selective in the animals you choose to take. This buck is probably at his absolute prime, you did well.
22 November 2010, 07:15
vapodog
Another one for the wall.....and letting him go last year was indeed the right thing to do!
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22 November 2010, 07:16
jwp475Congradulations, that is a very nice buck
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22 November 2010, 07:16
smarterthanuMan imagine what that dear could have been if you just would have heald out one more year.
Congrats!
22 November 2010, 07:22
edholumThanks!
In our area it is always a gamble to let a good deer go because neighbors or the local poachers (road hunters) might get him. It is amazing how many people were aware of this buck being in the area and the number of people who drive by even though they have no business being in the area. We even caught a guy spotlighting the night before season started. I was very lucky to get him.
"Conservation through Hunting"
22 November 2010, 07:26
Bobby TomekCongrats on taking a bruiser of a buck!
Bobby
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The most important thing in life is not what we do but how and why we do it. - Nana Mouskouri
22 November 2010, 07:33
Mike_DettorreThat deer is "pig" class...
MikeLegistine actu quod scripsi?
Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
22 November 2010, 07:41
VemoNICE buck Ed! I like the third picture.
JOIN SCI!
22 November 2010, 07:47
SlattsGreat pics. What are some of the measurements on that rack?
22 November 2010, 08:15
adamhunterThat is a stud! Congratulations!!
30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking.
22 November 2010, 09:16
SevenxbjtVery nice buck. Congrats.
22 November 2010, 10:26
Kyler HamannCongratulations on a wise and mature management decision and the resulting terrific trophy.
22 November 2010, 14:40
impalaslayerJust shows that the old saying is true "Let him go see him grow". Well done.
Life member NRA
formally scrappy
22 November 2010, 20:18
Tim HeraldThat is a beauty!!!
Good Hunting,
Tim Herald
Worldwide Trophy Adventures
tim@trophyadventures.com
22 November 2010, 20:20
NortonHell of a deer....congrats!
22 November 2010, 22:36
ReloaderAwesome buck, Congrats!
23 November 2010, 00:17
matt uWhat a stud!
congratulations
23 November 2010, 02:10
Hot CoreNice KILL!!!
23 November 2010, 06:14
rolltopI wish more folks would let medium size bucks have a pass.
Nice buck!
25 November 2010, 23:09
ravenrcan you say "TOAD"
25 November 2010, 23:38
GatogordoCongrats on a great deer but I'm just as happy to see you and your Dad beaming. Moments like these mean a lot to both father and son. Treasure them.
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I have come to understand that in hunting, the goal is not the goal but the process.
26 November 2010, 20:03
bisonhunter1Very, very nice deer. Those kicker points add some nice character. While I was able to get a nice (and my best whitetail) deer in your state on a 2008 hunt, it was no where near as grand as your.
I bet you and your dad are very pround of it. Again a very nice deer. Hope you are getting a mount of it?
Willi
26 November 2010, 21:10
SGraves15526 November 2010, 23:19
edholumI was able to get the entire story published in the articles section of SouthDakotaHunting.com
Here is the link:
Story of my buck
"Conservation through Hunting"
01 December 2010, 04:17
Eland Slayergreat looking buck!!
01 December 2010, 05:02
edholumThanks for all the great comments!
"Conservation through Hunting"