Nice end to deer season

[keano44]

My deer season started off bad and got worse from there. I missed a nice buck on the opening weekend (muzzleloader season). I couldn't have asked for a more perfect shot presentation from the stand I was in; I simply rushed the shot and missed.
Then, for the next two months, deer sightings became few and far between. The sign was there, but they were nocturnal as could be! I continued to hunt every chance I got, knowing that if I was in the right place at the right time, I'd get another chance once the rut got going.
Finally, in the last week of rifle season, on a hot, storming rain, Saturday afternoon, I shot this fine, 200#, 11-point buck, at 200 yds.
Two days later, the Monday morning, I shot the 150# 8-point. I had seen 3 bucks in the first 20 minutes of daylight that morning.

 

[pbearperry]

Two great deer.I went to Maine for a week and never saw any deer.

 

[Nevertoomanyguns]

Great looking bucks there. Very wide rack. I'd be happy with those.

pbearperry, don't loose faith there are bucks to be had here in Maine too.

The first three are mine. The next is my friend and the last two are my dad's.

2008 151# dressed 9pt.

2007 201# dressed 11pt.

2006 213# 10pt (9 if you don't count the broken brow tine.

Friends 2007 259# dressed 8pt.

Friends 2003 175# dressed 8pt.

Dad's 2006 260# dressed 8pt

The rack he is holding is a 235# dressed 8pt he shot in 1986 his only other buck, long Waite.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Rule violation pic #1, post #3: Keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

 

[Nevertoomanyguns]

Your absolutely right freakshow, but the gun was checked to be cleared everytime I handled it, the hammer was down muzzle pointed in a safe direction. But I have no argument you are right.

Just to show that I don't want to teach bad habbits I removed the pic and replaced it.

 

[keano44]

Nevertoomany,
Those are some very nice, big-bodied bucks. I really like the rack on your dad's 2006 buck. Deer that big are very rare here in south-central Louisiana.

 

[Covey Leader]

Great deer!

 

[Cascades]

Thought FreakShow was a bit off his rocker--no problems with triggers in the photos. Then I read down--The Old SWITCHEROO.

Beautiful antlers on your Dad's buck. Congratulations to both of you.

 

[salthouse]

Nevertoomanyguns- great pics. Looks a lot like my hunting camp in Maine, except you have deer in the pictures!

What part of Maine do you hunt in?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Keano44...nice deer for certain that you have. Now, tell me about that nice looking rifle with the fancy wood grain stock!

Rifle make ?

What caliber ?

Which Leupold ?

What scope mounts ?

 

[keano44]

C&L,
The rifle is a Ruger 77 Mk II, .308. I bought the stainless/synthetic model and had some custom work done to it; 11 degree forcing cone, lapped locking lugs, etc. While I love the benefits of stainless, I really like a classic looking rifle. The stock is actually a laminated, AA Claro walnut, from Serengeti Stockworks. The Serekote baked-on teflon coating is from Serengeti also. The scope is a Vari-X III 2.5 x 8 Compact. The mounts are the Ruger integral mounts that came with the rifle.
http://www.serengetistockworks.com