coyotekilla
FNG
So... I'm from n.w. pa, pretty much have limited my hunting experience to my local area. Today was the last day of our regular firearms deer season. I had both buck & doe tag, had passed on several small buck in archery, holding out for at least a decent 8pt. No buck were to be found today, though I did fill my doe tag, here is the story.
It was 7° this am, calm, but unusually cold for this time of year. Plan was to get to my stand early in hopes of at least filling the doe tag, I failed the early part... Previously this week I had been scented at 80 yds, spotted at 200 across an open field, and declined a shot on a small 1 at 180.
Today, on my way into my stand, I spot a deer feeding... but its across the fields, no good way to close the distance. If I try to get closer good chance I'll be busted outside 250 yds.
Pull up my glass, it's a healthy, large doe, 350 yds away, 100 farther than my comfort zone. But I have open field to cross, not a blade of grass. If I could get to my spot, it's still a 180 yd. The wind is almost dead calm, unusual for late in the season here.
My rifle, I choose my baby today when I left the house, a Tikka upr in 6.5 creed, scoped with a vortex 5-25 strike eagle, mdt oryx chassis. Longer pokes being possible, I have my fatboy tripod from coyote hunting with me. Ammo is 140 eldm hornady factory, tested and zeroed to about .5 moa at 100.
I check my drops, 5.25 moa hold over requested for that distance. I decide to try from there. Set up the tripod, lock the gun in, gently load a round. Double check my turrets are zeroed, adjust parallax, set zoom to 20x. Pause, double check wind, still almost no wind, come up 5 moa, her head is down, gentle squeeze....
Boom! She immediately drops, and death kicks. Finally hike the 3.5 football fields to get to her, she is expired. Field dress, no exit wound. Lungs are exploded, perfect hit at 355 yds.
Best part, an old hunter had asked for meat. He's 75, on oxygen, no longer capable of hunting, or dragging 1 any more, so I took it down and hung it in his garage. He can eat on me this winter.
It was 7° this am, calm, but unusually cold for this time of year. Plan was to get to my stand early in hopes of at least filling the doe tag, I failed the early part... Previously this week I had been scented at 80 yds, spotted at 200 across an open field, and declined a shot on a small 1 at 180.
Today, on my way into my stand, I spot a deer feeding... but its across the fields, no good way to close the distance. If I try to get closer good chance I'll be busted outside 250 yds.
Pull up my glass, it's a healthy, large doe, 350 yds away, 100 farther than my comfort zone. But I have open field to cross, not a blade of grass. If I could get to my spot, it's still a 180 yd. The wind is almost dead calm, unusual for late in the season here.
My rifle, I choose my baby today when I left the house, a Tikka upr in 6.5 creed, scoped with a vortex 5-25 strike eagle, mdt oryx chassis. Longer pokes being possible, I have my fatboy tripod from coyote hunting with me. Ammo is 140 eldm hornady factory, tested and zeroed to about .5 moa at 100.
I check my drops, 5.25 moa hold over requested for that distance. I decide to try from there. Set up the tripod, lock the gun in, gently load a round. Double check my turrets are zeroed, adjust parallax, set zoom to 20x. Pause, double check wind, still almost no wind, come up 5 moa, her head is down, gentle squeeze....
Boom! She immediately drops, and death kicks. Finally hike the 3.5 football fields to get to her, she is expired. Field dress, no exit wound. Lungs are exploded, perfect hit at 355 yds.
Best part, an old hunter had asked for meat. He's 75, on oxygen, no longer capable of hunting, or dragging 1 any more, so I took it down and hung it in his garage. He can eat on me this winter.
