I have the most unselfish wife!!!

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

She let me go hunting on our anniversary. Now, brother n' law Rick didn't have to tell me where hunt camp is. That there's bucks running wild in the woods. About a monster buck both he and his brother had seen once this year, and once last. That's almost an invitation for me to crash the party.

So I did. I took Friday off work. And drove most all night from Lynden to just south of Colville, Wa. ~850 mile round trip.

I've never hunted Whitetail before. Muley's, and plenty of Blacktail on the western side of the Cascades though.

Did I mention that she was very generous to let me go? Not like I hadn't been away on our anniversary before. Job and hunting many years ago. Guess I'll have to make it up to her.

I had a day and a half to hunt. But thanks to Rick's information about the lay of the land...
This isn't the one they'd seen,

http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/Hunting/5x6_2005Whitetail.JPG

Highlight of the year has to be that my 13yr old got his first deer. But this comes as a close second. Not the biggest Whitetail in Washington. 5x6, Big enough for me though. Still hunting through the woods. 75yds. Win30-338mag wildcat. Downhill. Snapped spine. Put him out of his misery with the .44mag. Long drag back to camp.

-Steve

 

[countertop]

Nice pick. Nice rack.

Got to LOVE those comfy surplus German/Swedish wool pants.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I've got a few pair of those wool pants. Great for the chilly weather. Big pockets for snacks, map, GPS, gloves... And I've got a couple pair of lighter wool surplus pants for the warmer days. Along with a few of the heavy wool shirts one size large that I wear as overshirts. Got some heavier Gortex gear too, but I always go back to wool. Most quiet stuff I can wear in the woods. Warm when wet or dry. And you can't beat the price.

-Steve

 

[H&Hhunter]

Steve,

Wow, that is a very nice old mature buck with lot's of character. Very nice indeed.

That .30/.338 isn't that pretty much the same as a .308 Norma? A little shorter than a .300 win mag with pretty much the same ballistics? I've heard from people that shoot them that they really like that round.

What rifle is that it's a Good looking little beast.

Congrats on your buck and congrats on a happy healthy marriage.

Greg

 

[WHITEY338]

Unselfish wives

I got married on a Saturday, took my younger brother on a cow hunt in the Ochoco's on Sunday. Didn't come back for a week. I love that woman...

 

[countertop]

What is a cow hunt?

 

[WHITEY338]

cow elk

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

That .30/.338 isn't that pretty much the same as a .308 Norma? A little shorter than a .300 win mag with pretty much the same ballistics? I've heard from people that shoot them that they really like that round.

What rifle is that it's a Good looking little beast. Greg

Yes, the round is quite similar to the .308 Norma. I've been tempted to buy a box, and chamber one.. But not that tempted. I neck size then fireform cartidges out of .338WinMag. 25% less powder than a .300WinMag with the same balistics. (for the most part) Not quite a short magnum though.

The rifle is an early 80's Ruger 77 with Timney trigger. Glass beaded factory wood. Leupold 4-12 VariX II. It shoots minute of angle easily from a bench. I've never recovered a bullet. Speer, Hornady, Sierra, Nosler. Animal always has two wound holes to bleed from. Even shots on deer at 200yds.

Haven't kilt an Elk with it yet... Maybe someday.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Steve,

That's a neat caliber in a very classy rifle. On a scale of 1 to 10 that old girl gets a "cool rig" rating from me.

Greg