Got a great hill country buck last weekend

[Box T]

This was my second nice buck this year. It was a great hunt, I'm going to write the story up over the holiday. The rancher knew how to set up a great photograph, and took this one of me and the buck (I’m sitting a little behind and downhill of him, his rack is in silhouette against the sky, etc.). It makes the deer look even more impressive. Something to note the next time you want to take a great picture with a beautiful animal. It also paid off that I lug my Canon T1i with two lenses around with me hunting. Tikka T3 lite in 270 w/ a Nikon Buckmasters 4-12x50, Hornady 130gr. balistic tips, DRT. About a 100 yard shot, he was moving fast, and stopped just long enough for me to squeeze of a good shot. He was quartering toward me, I put the shot in front of his right shoulder and he dropped like a rock. I think I was the happiest guy in Kerr County.

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

Wow! Even if the photo is a bit 'set up' it is still one of the most impressive deer I've seen from the hill country.

Nice job!

 

[Flintknapper]

Thats a nice buck for the Hill Country.

 

[Yarddog]

Awsome Buck !! How wide? and what would he score??
Y/D

 

[Box T]

I haven't scored him yet - the rancher estimated in the 140s, estimated spread at 21". We were laughing that his open rack and tall, strait, vertical tines and the good photography make him look like a much higher scoring deer.

 

[~z]

Nice deer and a great photo, looks like you got two wall-hangers!
You should be the happiest guy in Kerr County!
~z

 

[Box T]

Definitely got two wall hangers. Here's another photo of me w/ the buck where he fell, showing how a "normal" snapshot didn't do him justice. I'm standing over him so you can't see his body, his rack is not in siloette, the camera's point of view is higher than both of us so we both look small.



I shot him halfway down a canyon slope, and we hauled him up to the top to load out in a jeep, thank goodness the rancher stopped us and set up the great shot overlooking the hills that really showed off the buck.

One other interesting thing - the rancher had a "pet" deer that they had found as a fawn and bottle fed and afterwards it always stayed around the ranch house. He was 11 years old (oldest I've ever heard of) and was as gentle as could be. He would come up and lick your hand like a dog. He started licking my buddy's beer, and he gave him a little - the old man liked it and wanted more! Here's a shot of that:

 

[wankerjake]

Great photos, and big congrats on the nice buck!

 

[Dr.Rob]

Great looking deer!

 

[S&Wfan]

Nice . . . and the look on your face! Memories that last forever. Congratulations,

Tom

 

[Box T]

Thanks! It was an awesome feeling - I felt like a mix between "The Marlboro Man" and "The Most Interesting Man In The World" from the Dos Equis commercials. I'll never forget it.

 

[H&Hhunter]

That is a GREAT 8 point (with a couple of cheaters) congratulations.