I've always been the kind of hunter that finds the thickest most remote area of the farm to hang my stand, which leads to short range shots. Hunting in thick or timbered areas has always produced good results for me but since I've gotten into long range shooting, I've had the hankering to do some long range deer hunting. This gun season has been pretty dull for me, I think because of the hot weather we've been having. Yesterday morning I sat in my stand in a wooded hollow that leads down into a thicket where I had located several beds and several rub lines. I stayed in the stand until about 10:00 without seeing a deer. I was getting pretty discouraged because it was the last day that I was going to be able to hunt this season. The other half of the farm that I was hunting on consists of a large reclaimed strip mine that is about 1200 yards wide with a long deep ravine that runs through the middle of it. I drove along the ridge top on the back side of the farm glassing the area hoping to spot something. There's a big strip pond in the middle of this ravine and I noticed some ducks on the pond so I was looking at them through my binos. As I was looking at the ducks I noticed a buck laying down in the middle of the field about halfway between me and the pond! There was also a doe bedded to the right of the buck. I dialed my rifle scope up to 20X to get a better view of the deer. The buck was a 6pt with a ganked up looking rack so he was a good one to take out of the herd, plus I needed some meat for the freezer. The buck was laying down facing me so all I could see was from his chest up. I ranged the deer at 247 yards. I dialed up 3 1/2 moa, placed the cross hairs on the white patch of hair on the buck's throat and sent it! I heard the bullet smack and the buck flipped backwards and never got up. I figured that the doe would leave the country in a hurry when I shot the buck but instead she stood up and just looked around. I had an unfilled doe tag and since this was my last day of hunting it was a bad day for her too! She was standing broadside so I put the cross hairs on her shoulder and sent one her way! I heard the bullet smack and down she went! She got back up and started stumbling around. I held on her shoulder again and sent another one her way, she went down again for good! My tags are filled and my freezer is full!! The buck wasn't the size I was hoping for this year but oh well! This was the first time I had taken deer beyond a hundred yards or so and I'm hooked! Actually being able to hear the bullet hit the deer was pretty cool! I was using my semi customized SPS tactical with my hand loads which is a 155gr Lapua Silver Scenar over 43 grains of RL-15 in Winchester brass. This is also another good example of how match bullets perform for hunting. All three rounds struck exactly where they were suppose to causing massive damage which resulted in quick humane kills. Pics to follow!
