I wanted to share a few pics from my Thanksgiving week(end) hunting...

I harvested the biggest whitetail I've ever seen on Thanksgiving evening. He weighed 165 lbs (field dressed), which is really big for Texas, excepting the northern panhandle. I measured him roughly at 145 gross B&C, although I don't really care...he's beautiful to me. He had almost 40 inches of mass-over 5 inch bases-really striking.

I had seen him for three days in a row, but never in good light, and he was NEVER standing still. He was hot on the tail of a doe every time I saw him. Finally, just at dark on Thursday, I saw a doe running down a fenceline perpendicular to mine, and I knew he would likely be following. I got my binocs up, saw that it was him, gave a grunt and got my gun ready. He jumped the fence onto my property about 60 yards away, and I shot him on a dead run (after yelling once to try to get him to stop) at around 50 yards. The 180 gr Partition from a 300 Ultra Mag hit him in the spine just a little forward of where the neck meets the shoulder (I was aiming for the point of the shoulder ). He dropped immediately, of course. The postmortem indicated perfect Partition performance. Not much damage on the entry or exit (about 1/2" exit hole), but massive damage in the middle of the neck.





As a side note, I did some Partition trials on the leaves of Prickly Pear cactus with the 180 gr Partitions. I noted expansion at both 50 and 100 yards after passing through just one 1" thick leaf. Penetration was admirable, with complete pass-throughs every time (sarcasm, please don't chastise me on the ineffectiveness of Prickly Pear to stop a bullet). I was practicing from various non-supported positions for my trip to Africa next summer, and the PP's 6-8" diameter leaves make perfect targets. I thought the fact that the Partitions would open on one was interesting. Just wanted to share.

I spent the rest of the weekend with my girlfriend's family in Eldorado, Tx. Below's a pic of a ring-tail cat she shot with a 17 HMR. She also shot a very nice grey fox that I'm tanning for her. Overall, it was a terrific week, for which I'm very thankful.

I don't know which "deer/dear" to be jealous of, the one you hunted or the one that hunts with you! I hope you realize you've got a good life going there...

Hi,
Nice buck and really symmetrical too! I bet you're glad he couldn't get back over the fence eh?
BTW I have never heard of a ringtailed cat before, are they only found in texas? Is it a considered a varmint or just a rare trophy?

Thanks for the replies...

The ringtail cat is native to the southern/western parts of Texas, I believe. It is pretty small, with very soft fur and a face/body that resembles a ferret. The tail, as you can see, is longer than the body, with black/white rings. They are considered a varmint and can be called like fox, coyote, bobcat. I think they are related to the raccoon.

Internet literature states that they can be domesticated and are prized as mousers.

Super buck, and big for a TX whitetail like you pointed out.

My happiest days as a youngster were spent hunting after Thanksgiving with my father and his coworkers near Llano, TX (where the deer seldom get as big as yours).

And as someone else said, looks like you've got a great companion who also enjoys hunting.

Congrats on a fine buck.

Congrats also on a GF that will hunt.
Trust me, that could well be and important consideration for the REST of your LIFE!

LouisB

Where in Texas was he shot? I am going hunting this xmas break in Del Rio Texas and hope to get one just like that!! Thanks Nathan

GREAT buck,,,,

and from teh picture of the ringtail, i will suggest you had better behave... or it's YO ASS!!!

jeffe