I hope that I can impose on somebody to post a photo for me. Gatogordo was kind enough to let my Grandson and I hunt on his beautiful NE Texas ranch. He is about a mile from the Red River. We got there just after noon on Friday and visited with his wife and daughters until he and his son were done feeding the longhorns. Charlie picked us up and gave us a tour. He has the most beautiful terrain, large meadows and food plots, several 20-30 acre lakes, bottom land hardwoods, and thickets. It is ideal deer habitat. We got in the blinds at about 3:30PM and in about 15 minutes I had 13 doe in the meadow in front of me. I looked to the right at the tree line that was about 250 yards away and saw 2 more mature does. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a nice buck chasing the does. I got ready for the shot and damned, I forgot the safety. I had buck fever. He was gone, but not spooked. In about 10 minutes he came out of the treeline right in front of me. He was after the other does and was about 210 yards away. Of course I shot and missed. I am now nicknamed crackshot! I took one more shot and he nose dived. I looked through my binoculars and couldn't find him. I was a little worried and embarrassed. Charlie came on the radio and asked where the war was as my Grandson shot at about the same time from the other side of the hill. He rode over on the 4wheeler to look for my deer so that we wouldn't have to trail him in the dark. I pointed out where I hit him and he drove over and then moved about 10 more yards and stopped. The ground was uneven enough and the grass tall enough that I wasn't able to see him until we got there. He was a 9 point and had a 17" inside spread. He weighed 188lbs. The brow tines we 5 1/2" and the first tines on either side were 10 1/2" We didn't measure the others. I will say it was the largest Texas white tail that I have harvested.
We went over and picked up my Grandson's buck which he shot in the neck at about 215 yds. Josh just never misses and he always has made neck or headshots on hogs and deer. His was a 9 point and had a 14" inside spread. It weighed 155 lbs.
Josh used a mod. 7 that I built in 30BR with a Shilen barrel and a Jewell trigger. It has a Brown Precision "pounder" stock. My rifle was a Mod 7 in 6.5x47Lapua. It also has a Shilen barrel and the same stock and trigger.
After cleaning, caping, and quartering the deer, Charlie's wife had a big meal with chicken fried deer steak. The steaks were the size of our plates. I was told by some of his friends that the food would be great and it was! Josh had 3 steaks. Those 15 yr. old boys can put away the groceries.
We hunted a little the next morning and had to leave as my wife was ill. We really hated to leave as they were smoking longhorn, wild hog, and venison for a big meal Sat. evening.
I can't express my appreciation enough for the gracious hospitality of a brother forum member. He has a wonderful family and just a beautiful ranch.
Butch

Sounds like an excellent hunt! I would be happy to post some pictures for you if you want to email them to me.

Thanks very much. Photo is on the way.
Butch

Here you go -- nice bucks!

good looking deer!

Those are some terrific bucks!

As to Gatogordo, I had the privilege of meeting him a couple years ago, and we've corresponded occasionally since then. I can tell you this: He's as genuine and sincere of an individual as you will ever find, and he's never one to pull punches.

He bought a couple items from me earlier that year, sent the $$ immediately and said don't worry about shipping them -- that he'd eventually be down this way and pick them up.

He trusted me -- and that means a lot. As to any future transactions, if he says he wants something, I'll send it that very moment and never worry about the check arriving.

That's the kind of individual Charlie is.

I didn't get to meet his family, but we did spend most of that visit talking about kids, spouses, etc. -- and a little about guns and hunting.

Again, congrats on the deer. Those are some nice bucks.

Very nice deer, congrats to you!

Thanks Guys, I am very lucky to have a Grandson that likes to be with his Papaw and lucky to have a friend like Charlie to give us an opportunity to hunt together.
Butch

Butch:

Thanks for the glowing description of this beat up place. It was fun having you and Josh over. He's a nice young man. The weather was kind of grim but the deer didn't seem to mind. I was relieved to hear that your wife's health problems were not worse but sorry that you had to miss "your" BBQ. It was brutal.....all that beer, all that meat.......but we struggled through.

Bobby:

Thanks for the kind words, the feeling is mutual. As I've said before, if you're ever up in this part of Texas, I expect a visit.

Nice lookin bucks...

Very nice Deer, congradulation on a great hunt

A couple really nice bucks there! I am glad you get to hunt with your grandson. I spent a decade working in and around the Texas panhandle, friendly, hard working people, I liked it.