As we are saving for Africa again, we decided not to get a deer lease but to instead hunt public land in East Texas. We tried a new area this year, and have been rewarded with numerous deer sightings every time out. We've also been trying to get our daughter her first buck (both hunting near the house and in East Texas). Sunday morning after Thanksgiving, my wife & daughter were sitting together when 2 eight point bucks showed themselves well back in some dense cover. My daughter couldn't get on them and my wife decided to take a shot with her .375 Ruger (300 grain hornady factory loads). The buck was strongly quartering and the bullet entered in the right flank and exited the left shoulder. She only got one lung and the only bones shattered were ribs, as the exit missed the front shoulder bones. The buck ran off about 75 or 80 yards before falling into the creek. Initially, my wife couldn't find the blood trail and went to get our dog. I would have found the blood trail shortly, but having the dog sure made things easier as she found the trail almost immediately and led us right to him.



Interestingly, the buck had a large scarred over wound on his left hindquarter - apparently, someone had shot him the year before. The wound was about 3-4" deep in the ham but grown over with scarred skin and no hair.

That is fantastic. I'll bet she's happy as can be. I'm impressed!

Good stuff Troy, a handsome critter for the Ruger to take to task!

That's a GREAT buck for East Texas public land! Congrats are certainly in order!

That is a nice deer Troy.
Butch

Very nice public land buck!

Be careful advertising that you used a dog to find the deer. It is VERY illegal in most east Texas counties (which I completely disagree with), but it is the law.