Drew Tag for my First Mule Deer Hunt

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Feb 2, 2020
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I drew a really hard to draw Mule Deer tag for the Black Gap WMA through Texas Parks and Wildlife. The area is just outside of Big Bend in West Texas. The hunt is in late December.

I've never hunted mule deer before. All my hunting for the past 20 years has been archery hunting. I do shoot rifles pretty regularly at our land where we have a range set up to 550 yards.

I have two rifles that I shoot the most, a Tikka Superlite in 6.5CM and a Tikka Superlite in .308. The guns are set up exactly the same, in MDT HNT26 chassis, Maven RS1.2 scopes, MDT bipod, Dead Air Nomad TI cans. Only difference is the calibers.

I like shooting the 6.5CM more than the .308. Can't tell you why, but just feel like I shoot it better. Maybe its the reduced recoil. In the 6.5CM, I shoot Hornady 140 gr ELD-M. But like I said, I don't hunt with a rifle so I don't have experience with ELD-M on deer and I have no experience on Mule Deer at all.

Is 6.5CM with ELD-M a good choice for a mule deer hunt? Or should I find another bullet that the gun shoots well to take?
 
I just got back from my mule deer hunt. Killed one at 440yds with a 147ELDM out of a 6.5CM. Front lung was gone, back lung had the front quarter jellied and bullet exited. No loss of meat to bloodshot.
I endorse the 6.5CM with ELDMs
 
Congrats on the draw and good luck!

Like others said the 6.5cm with the ELD-M will do great.

Since you said you have the .308, an option in that one is the Sierra tipped match kings.

Just food for thought, good luck!
 
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