EMC45
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- Joined
- Jul 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,953
It almost looks cartoonish
2023 Hunting Picture Thread
- Thread starter WestKentucky
- Start date
It almost looks cartoonish
Savage30L
Member
I hadn't had a spot to hunt in a while. This past season I got a last-minute invitation from a buddy to hunt his place because his regular hunters got chosen for a draw hunt in a different part of the state.
I shot this yearling buck with a 30-06, with Nosler 150-grain ballistic tip (estimated range 25 yards). It was a frontal shot right to the heart. The ballistic tip liquefied the heart and lungs...and also, unfortunately, completely mangled the left front shoulder, nothing but ground meat and sharp bone splinters; I had to throw away the entire leg, couldn't even use the shank. I did not retrieve a single bullet fragment while cleaning the deer.
I shot this yearling buck with a 30-06, with Nosler 150-grain ballistic tip (estimated range 25 yards). It was a frontal shot right to the heart. The ballistic tip liquefied the heart and lungs...and also, unfortunately, completely mangled the left front shoulder, nothing but ground meat and sharp bone splinters; I had to throw away the entire leg, couldn't even use the shank. I did not retrieve a single bullet fragment while cleaning the deer.
Patocazador
Member
The first time I used a "hunting" ballistic tip, I had the same result. I shot a170 lb. 8-point at 25-30 yards with .338-06 AI and a 180 gr. BT. The shoulder was demolished as were the lungs, heart and everything else short of the hind quarters. Pieces of shattered bone were in the loins and one ham.
People say, "Use a Ballistic Tip for long-range shots." I have yet to know how far away a deer may appear. Could be 200 yards and also could be 15 yards. I now use Nosler Partitions when they are available and only use ballistic tips for the range.
BTW: Nice buck.
Savage30L
Member
This is a buck I shot back in '15 with the same ammo, range about 7 yards.
The wound you see on the deer is an entrance wound, not an exit wound. You can't tell it because of the way the skin is stretched in that position, but the entrance hole was big enough for me to insert my fist. The heart and lungs were liquefied, field-dressing that deer was an absolutely messy job. The bullet did not make it to the far rib cage. I looked through the guts and did not find a single piece of the projectile. Those darn things just explode like rifle grenades.
I'm starting to get the "ballistic tip at long range only" idea. The problem is that, as I posted in another thread, the places I've hunted are as thick with brush and trees as the hair on a dog's back, I don't get long shots. In fact I usually hear a deer before I see it. I'm going to try other bullets in other calibers....I just loaded up a couple of boxes of some old Nosler 27585 boat tail soft points; maybe I'll use them.
For 10 years I lived in Maryland, and was restricted to shotguns with slugs, or muzzle-loaders. A foster slug pokes a .72-caliber hole right through a deer, which, at least leaves a good blood trail....and you "can eat right up to the hole", as Elmer Keith used to say.
The wound you see on the deer is an entrance wound, not an exit wound. You can't tell it because of the way the skin is stretched in that position, but the entrance hole was big enough for me to insert my fist. The heart and lungs were liquefied, field-dressing that deer was an absolutely messy job. The bullet did not make it to the far rib cage. I looked through the guts and did not find a single piece of the projectile. Those darn things just explode like rifle grenades.
I'm starting to get the "ballistic tip at long range only" idea. The problem is that, as I posted in another thread, the places I've hunted are as thick with brush and trees as the hair on a dog's back, I don't get long shots. In fact I usually hear a deer before I see it. I'm going to try other bullets in other calibers....I just loaded up a couple of boxes of some old Nosler 27585 boat tail soft points; maybe I'll use them.
For 10 years I lived in Maryland, and was restricted to shotguns with slugs, or muzzle-loaders. A foster slug pokes a .72-caliber hole right through a deer, which, at least leaves a good blood trail....and you "can eat right up to the hole", as Elmer Keith used to say.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
Had some coyotes completely clear out my chicken coop so I went on the war path.
So far I've shot 3 and pops got one since. About 1 a week, basically. I'll see if I can find pics. Didn't get a pic of the last one...
Story time:
I had just got my son (8 months old) up and changed him. I go to put him on his playmat and I look up to see a coyote trotting north in an orchard west of our hay field. Well wouldn't you know it...
My wife is asleep (she works nights), and I'm still in me undies...
So I hee and haw about what I'm going to do. Coyote starts head east across the field. I think "if he trots far enough I can go meet up with him away from the house...
So I do my best impression of a fireman's scramble to get pants on, I grab my rifle and some ears, then slip on my "outside" slippers.
Then I haul ass to a levy a hundred yards from my place and go prone looking looking north.
Sure enough, coyote comes trotting out of the creek headed east. Just about 200 yards out. I shot him somewhere in the midsection. He went down trying to bite his wound so I shot him again and he lay still.
I unload and trot my slippered ass back to the house.
I haven't seen one since.
I built an 18" AR for this kind of thing and since I started using Hornady 68 grn rounds I've had a lot of success.
The pic in the grass was an easy shot at 100yrds or so.
The one in the dark I shot with the last few seconds of light left. Basically I wanted him closer but I took the shot before I couldn't see him anymore. Was under 300 yards, I'd bet, but not by much.
Attachments
FL-NC
Member
Got my season limit on Fl turkeys, both easterns. 870 w/ 3" #5 longbeards.
Patocazador
Member
You sure didn't waste any time since the season just opened on Saturday.
Congratulations are in order.
Patocazador
Member
On another note, I pulled all the SD cards from my trail cameras and found this brute on one.
The large head with ears that look small and far apart indicate a potential P&Y trophy since the head measurements are what they and B&C use as parameters for "the Book".
courtgreene
Member
That’s a massive Bruin.
Armored farmer
Member
My #1 son got a gobbler today on his bday....4/7/23...but enough about that...
Last Sunday, my seven yo grand daughter took her first turkey during Illinois Southern Zone Youth Season.
Last Sunday, my seven yo grand daughter took her first turkey during Illinois Southern Zone Youth Season.
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
courtgreene
Member
How old is your son? I’m hoping for some b day luck on the tenth.
Armored farmer
Member
He is 32 today. He has taken several turkeys over the years on his birthday. His first ever was on his bday.
He was tagging along with me and my neighbor when I killed my first Tom in 2002. He was 11.
Best wishes on your bday hunt.
Southerner up North
Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2021
- Messages
- 308
Congratulations to both. I bet your granddaughter was super excited
courtgreene
Member
Thanks! I’m a terrible Turkey hunter. I have learned not to take it too seriously to preserve my sanity.
Patocazador
Member
That gobbler of your granddaughter is as big as she is.
Like courtgreene I am also a terrible turkey hunter due to no patience. Also, I don't hunt them on purpose since I can't get fired up about them. That's because I killed a gobbler the 1st time I went after one. I bought a box call, listened to a cassette tape about how to call, went out and lucked into one within an hour. I decided there was no challenge if it were that easy.
Like courtgreene I am also a terrible turkey hunter due to no patience. Also, I don't hunt them on purpose since I can't get fired up about them. That's because I killed a gobbler the 1st time I went after one. I bought a box call, listened to a cassette tape about how to call, went out and lucked into one within an hour. I decided there was no challenge if it were that easy.
Armored farmer
Member
I did just about that same thing....I had been getting landowners tags for spring turkey, but I am always just stupid busy that time of year. My neighbor came by my house in 2002 to show off his gobbler that he got on the property adjoining ours. He said there were plenty of birds. He told me to get my gun and permit and he would take me the next morning. I got my gear gathered and we went back to the river and I killed the biggest bird of my life 30minutes later 11½" beard 1⅝" spurs. Of course that was pre-digital days so no pics except for the trophy board in my mancave..That gobbler of your granddaughter is as big as she is.
Like courtgreene I am also a terrible turkey hunter due to no patience. Also, I don't hunt them on purpose since I can't get fired up about them. That's because I killed a gobbler the 1st time I went after one. I bought a box call, listened to a cassette tape about how to call, went out and lucked into one within an hour. I decided there was no challenge if it were that easy.
However I really like spring hunting in the warmer weather, AND wild turkey is delicious and not an all day affair to take care of the meat.
Armored farmer
Member
½" of rain on Thurs night gave us the weekend off. Fortunately, ½" of rain was just enough to pop the morels through the leaves.
This is a hunting thread.....right?
This is a hunting thread.....right?
1976B.L.Johns.
Member
WisBorn
Contributing Member
@Armored farmer, it looks like you are passing down the hunting tradition
Hugger-4641
Member
Went on my first Texas hog hunt. 
Our guides, JP and James were great. Didn’t get the big boar we wanted but it was a great trip. I took the big sow with .350 legend, first time I've ever shot this cartridge. Sils took the piglet with .223, putting him on the grill today
Our guides, JP and James were great. Didn’t get the big boar we wanted but it was a great trip. I took the big sow with .350 legend, first time I've ever shot this cartridge. Sils took the piglet with .223, putting him on the grill today
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marksman13
Member
Another coyote bit the dust tonight. Small male at 79 yards. 6mm Creedmoor folded him like a metal chair.
marksman13
Member
Just added a second coyote for the night. 66 yards. 6 Creed completely unzipped him and left his last meal laying on the ground beside him. Looks like he ate about five baby cottontails earlier today. He won’t eat another. Came absolutely FLYING in to a cottontail in distress.
