Finally Shot my S. Alberta Mule Deer. I actually went in this coulie to look for a whitetail I saw run into it. My friend and I watched the whitetails run out the far end of the coulie (around 1 mile away) and we saw this buck witha doe sitting paying no attention to us at all. We backed out of sight to gain ground and a better position, but when we came back into site they were gone. My partner then spotted them actoss the far side of another Y in the coulie (for those who don't know, a coulie is kinda like a system of deep ravines on the bald-arsed prairie), after further inspection with the binos I decided he met the criteria (I had missed a larger buck the day before due to my running, -25 celcius, and a wicked case of buck fever). My buddy lasered the buck at 420 yds. I dropped into a cross legged position with my shooting sticks (these deer planned on moving out soon). I used the 400yd hash in my Burris Fullfield (which is a incredible bargain) and promptly shot over his back. The windage being good, I adjusted so the 300yd hash was about 2/3
up the shoulder. The 168 TSX out of my 300WSM arrived about 4" lower than the hash, breaking the onside shoulder, and making a mess of the heart. The buck stumbled for about 10yds and started rolling for the bottom. The coulies were quite steep and about 500ft deep, so you can imagine how relieved we were when he hung up about 150ft from the top. When I found the spot where the buck had stood when I shot him, I ranged where I had shot from. 444 yds. Man, am I ever happy I burn as much powder as I do, and love hunting with accurate rifles. By the way, the load I used was the only one I tried in this brand new rifle, and due to time constaints, I had to settle for 1.5 MOA. Goes to show you don't need .5 MOA rifles to be minute of deer. Though it is nice. Just for reference the dummy in the background is 6'4" and weighs 240lbs. The buck is 26" wide. My 4 yr old daughter pet it ever day in the garage, saying "you'll be very tasty." Kinda morbid, but to a hunter it brings hope and is kinda cute.

congrats on fine deer and raiseing a future hunter, as long as they can watch bambi and still appreciate a dead one, no matter how big you are doing a great job.

ax

Great deer! Great story! Congratulations!

Nice buck. Congrats!

Cheers,
Canuck

Congratulations on a very nice buck!

What is that scope you refer to? Is that sort of a mildot set-up? And how does it help if your bullet doesn't strike where you aim at those various distances? Just trying to get educated here, it's not an attack. I couldn't hit a deer at 400+ yards with my set-up if my life depended on it.

Frans

That's one handsome buck! Congratulations on your successful hunt and a great story.

Great job on the mulie. Sweet looking buck. Sounds like your daughter will be a huntress A.Flemming.

Fran, my guess is the Burris scope has the ballistic-plex reticle. Its very similar to the Boone & Crocket reticle in the Leupold VX3 scopes. Works great once the load/bullet weights are dialed in at the range. On the Leupolds I use the main cross hair for 200m, next mark is 300m, next is 400m, next is 450m and the top of the bottom post is 500m. Take a look at the Leupold website for more info on the BC reticle and Varmint reticles. Works like a charm! My wife took her bull moose on the last morning, using a Tikka T3 LS 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds dialed in with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 BC reticle scope at about 325m.

Nice Buck, Thats what I am Talking about.

Frans,
Peace has it right. I practice alot with shooting sticks from a sitting position (I burned an 8lb keg through a .270WCF in one year a while back). I am very confident out to 500yds. The ballistic-plex works great if you match your load to the reticle. Saying that, each mark can be 1-3 inches off of the plex + or - in the course of trajectory, and still be very effective. The idea works on the 'pipe theory' or point blank. Match this equipment with a quality rangefinder and you are off. PM me if you want more specific info. I also live in Calgary.
As for the buck, ya, he's nice. For the area he's really nice.I haven't scored him (don't know if I will), but he's getting a high quality euro-mount.

I can suggest a good dude for the Euro mount thing. He did one for me last year and it's nice work.

the chef

Nice story - nice deer. Thanks for taking the time to share!

Chef,

I am going to have the skull cleaned by the people in the Turner Valley area (beetles). I happen to due some fine hardwoods work myself. So it will be a euro mount in theory. I due believe I'd like to know who you are talking about as my little moose may need some services.

are you a resident and what did it cost?

A fine trophy, and a great story... And rearing your daughter to enjoy the outdoors is great, as well. I suspect she will make someone a very special mate, because when he hunts she will be right beside him!

Awesome buck....looks like the area of SE Alberta I hunt....

Shootaway,

It cost me about 35 bucks, plus 70 bucks in gas. I'm a resident.

Rackmastr,

In the first picture I am facing Travers Dam.

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
A fine trophy, and a great story... And rearing your daughter to enjoy the outdoors is great, as well. I suspect she will make someone a very special mate, because when he hunts she will be right beside him!

If she invites him. He might be at home watching the kids while she is in deer camp.

Hi nice mulie and great story. i too have a 10 month old daughter and im counting down the years till she can join me on my hunting adventures

Nice little buck Flem.
This year was probably one of the best seasons we have had in quite some time. Great mulie and a decent whitetail

Rack, What part of S. Alberta are you in?

Tk