376 Steyr, West Texas Doe Cull...

Sure, it aint going to be a wild and wooly mountain goat hunt, but I am outta here.

Be back sunday!!

cheers
jeffe

Oh sure, tease those of us stuck at home...

What a GREAT hunt, and I made it not a SHOOT.

We drove out to RockSprings, Texas... Most of the way to california, I think... and found the "camp house" to actually have been a Hunting Lodge, complete with tropy room, tropies (some from the YO) a fantastic fire place (made of petrified wood, what a laugh) great sleeping (okay, 3 HUGE rooms, hot water, heat, and dominos!!) and generally a clean nice place. It's a friend of mine's new lease, that will be purchased later this year.

The morning hunt (sit in a deerstand)... I did't even touch my rifle, but watched a 2.5 year old 6 point play for an hour or two, some turkeys, tons of cardinals and finally jackrabbits, eat corn from about 100 yards away. I called my buddy (Ab) and he came out, and we took 45 LC rugers and went jack rabbit hunting. I am pretty certain jacks are not rabbit, but actually pigmy 'roos. 5 till 9:30 BTW, the first of them, at just-before-dawn-pitch-black tries to get in the stand with me.. slight altercation with a flashlight.. he runs off for later

Drove into town for lunch/shopping with our wive's and generally having a great time..

3:00... Ab ask's what I want to do for my evening hunt, and I ask him to show me a map. I line up a couple feeders/stands/waterholes, fire up my trusty GPS and and go walking (planning till dark or dark thirty... Just before 5:00 I spot 4 deer(later worked out to be), 1 NICE 9 point, an mature 4 point, and two "does".. I suspected the larger was a nubbin buck, and settle on the smaller as MY doe. I am about 250 yards away, and it's cold out.. (Yes, I am wearing a camo COAT.. it was 30 and misty and it's my warmest coat)... To make a long stalk short, I circled to the east a little, and decide to sneak closer.. knowing the next feeder was WEST of us, and I would have to be sure, or face a long walk down the rocks.. It was a long walk.. Apparantly, they where finishing up the corn, and deciding to move back down the draw (aint a canyon)... I freeze, watching them go only about 50 yards, and start bedding (i guess)...

I slowly move down towards them, staying as low as my badback will let me.. moving when the wind is a little gusty... DAMN, i lost sight of my quarry... freeze... hear a turkey gobble...
Wait a few mins... I can see the nicer buck, looking up his back trail (west of me) and I wait.. The smaller forky horn is going his own way.. I really think this is a a buck, doe, last years fawn?!?!? i know she's close....(rock crumbles.. little noise... deer doesn't run, but is now "aware")
heart pounding.. it seems like an hour, but I KNOW it's just 5 mins... he turns back, chewing.. whew... ~175 yards.. I hate shooting this far, and I can't see her anyway...
Scamble down a little more.. damn cactus!! too thorny to crawl through, and too thin to hide behind, unless you are a JACKRABBIT (that story another time)... I get to something like ~100 yards, and I see the doe.. she's getting up, and the bigger buck is playing/charging the one I begin to suspect is a nubbin buck... they're distracted, the wind's with me... 90 yards....
Should I shoot? Should I wait? go forward? Light a cig as this is a good as sex?.... wind is gusting, but it's not disturbing the grass a little lower than me.. and closer to the deer... great, that would meen 50 yards I'll be in the little draw's wind currents, and knowing my luck, it's going to be right in their noses... I settle that If i make it to this little oak/maat/cedar combo, I can take a knee, shoot from behind, and take her... and that's EXACTLY what I did.. no drama, really,.. got behind the ceder (UGH) click the safety (ears perk) lower the cross hairs to right infront of her left shoulder (facing to me) and let the 376 bark!!!

She drops like a flat tire... The bucks FREEzE.. see me.. and POOF!!! White flags headed for the next county....

Well, Bucky-Boys.. next year, when i want a nice 9 point, remember I've chased you home, in your beds.... I think the shot was 85 yards, wind in my face, and a noble quarry taken, I think, ethicly...

Boys, it wasn't the greatest hunt in the world, but Ab was pleased that I got to take the doe my way, and not from a stand.

Ab, If you read this, Thanks again, man, and we'll see you at your lovely wife's birthday party. You see, ab and his wife are our best friends for the last 7 years or so.

Great Hunt, Great Friends, and a nice ranch to boot.... Oh, yeah,... 45LC and jackrabbits.. that's the ONLY way to spend a sunday morning..

Jeffe

Jeffeosso:

Congrats on blooding your .376 Steyr!