Elkhunter1

If you don't reload try several different loads , Federal, Hornady, Winchester, Barns-x, and Berger. The 150 grn is a good all-a -round weight. Shoot different bullet types and weight. My dad went through several bullets and powder charges before finding the right combination.

What size grouping are you getting , and at what range? That caliber is more than adequate for what you are hunting. My dad reloads Hornady 130 grn sp's and gets grouping half dollar size at 200.

Hsppy B-day hope all went well.

Happy birthday, hope Tj made your day bright and cheerful.

I thought Dianne Tilton was the warden for 34A. Anyway report it

Well with one day remaining in the first rifle hunt Daniel was ready and at my house at 5 AM. After a quick strategy session we headed out to a spot I knew had some nice bucks in it. As we drove into my spot we recalled the events of opening weekend. As I posted in my earlier post "First Buck Down" my plan was to hunt opening day with my good buddy John in one of the southern units and get him a buck, then move into another unit and help bigorange and his group fill at least one of their tags. I got John his buck opening day then headed out to bigorange's camp the next morning. That morning on my way in I got a flat tire on the front end, after changing it I got to their camp well after first light. After making a wrong turn I finally found them. Soon after we spotted a couple of does and a small spike. Bigorange and I decided that the others would get first chance and off they went. As they topped the ridge the does trotted off without the spike. Less than two minutes later the spike bolted from the cut off to their left and soon was out of sight That was the only buck I would see all day however I did glass several does. We heard shots from every direction but no bucks would we see. This area was like being at the mall people ever where. Bradley "bigorange' grilled up some steaks and baked potatoes back at camp. Great meal Brad. I however had to return to the city for other engagements. About 2.5 miles from Brad's camp I noticed my spare tire was also going flat, this forced me to try to plug and inflate the other tire as my spare has a hole in the sidewall. It took both cans of fix-a-flat. I was able to text my wife and let her know the situation I was in and to alert my dad if I didn't contact them be 11:30 I was out of commission. With over 30 miles of dirt roads to travel with no spare and a temporarily fixed tire I was sweating bullets knowing most of that had no cell coverage. I was able to make it home after midnight. Fast forward back to today; we arrived at my spot before daylight. Past experiences has told me to wait until I can glass the hill and ridge on the hike in as I have kicked up deer almost every time. Glassing as we slowly made our way into the area we noticed several other hunters driving in late. I explained to Daniel that I have spotted several bucks in this area and where each one was and where we would glass from. As I topped the high point on the ridge we were on I spotted movement, Buck a good Buck. I told Daniel to move to the next little point to get into position for a shot as the Buck was moving down the ridge. The Buck was 165 yards as we reached the point, he new something wasn't right and was getting ready to bolt, "shoot" I told Daniel and before I could get my binos up and on the Buck BOOOM and the buck rared up spun around and ran towards us then turned left BOOM Daniel's 25-06 barked. As the buck disappeared into the deep cut I didn't see any blood. Time was 6:37 am. After checking the area I was confident he was NOT hit. Knowing this buck as well as I did chasing him the last two years with my bow during the December hunts I knew where he was headed. I told Daniel what the plan was and we started to do it. No sooner than I got my pad, tripod and binos out of my Badlands 2200 to start glassing the area for him I lookup from getting my tripod ready I spotted in he bottom of the canyon. I quickly range him 305 yards. He stands there for over five minutes trying to decide what he is going to do, during which time I am getting Daniel zeroed in on where he is and taking his time with the shot. Using his shooting sticks he sent the 120 grain round down range smacking the big buck right behind the front left shoulder. Time 7:28 The buck circles around going behind a big Mesquite tree and never comes out. We move down to another point on the ridge to get another vantage point. We are now 170 yards from the tree and I still can't see him under the tree. I decide to leave Daniel there and I would move down into the bottom and look for the buck, this would give Daniel a shot if I push him out. Deep down I know he is anchored and not going anywhere. As I reach the tree I can't see him, "oh sh!^, I know he hit him and didn't see him come out." As I circle the tree I see tracks and blood, then there he is in a small ditch. After getting pics and gutting him I realize I will not be able carry him out whole. Daniel and i decide to hike back to the truck to unload our packs and call Brad for some reinforcements. Soon Brad arrives and we start back down the canyon. During the hike we talk about how Daniel will mount him, European or shoulder mount. After getting some more pics, I start the caping job and quartering him out. Daniel with his first Buck EVER! A pic with me. A tough hike out but well worth it in my eyes as this buck will remain in my hunting circle and not in some strangers house. We reach the trucks around 1:30 pm. Back at the truck. WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!! WARNING!!! This next picture is VERY graphic. This is the entrance hole from the 120 grain Winchester 25-06 round with a slight quartering shot. The hole is almost golf ball size, Holy cr@&!!!!

Yes that was the idea but the round that the military uses is a full metal jacket. It tumbles inside, it doesn't expand like the hunting rounds we use.

BIG!

I agree If NATO has been killing 175lb to 250lb men for like 50 + years then you should be more than capable of killing a 140lb Coues.

Only when bigorange and I hunt together, mainly I hunt solo, my brother is too busy. So do you hunt solo because you want to or no one is available go with you? I do a little of both. For day trips sometimes I like to go alone but more multiday trips its nice to have someone along to help glass and telling hunting lies around to campfire! My job requires that I work weekends so opening weekend is the only time I can take off, then the rest of the hunt is during the week when I am off normally. I would really prefer to hunt with some one as most of the time I hunt Southern units as I posted in other posts "350lbs" where I assisted BP in the apprehension of 5 and 350 lbs of dope. It would be nice to find another bowhunter with the same days off.

Nice! they look very happy, so do you! Congrats

I thought you'd like that, always got to promote the website

Thanks for all the kind words. I just love being out in the wilds, and I enjoy sharing what I know. I learn some thing new every time go out

OK I'll add another one. Back in 2010 I was scouting for my dads first hunt for Coues. I parked the truck in a wash and walked up the wash about 100 yards or so then turned and headed up the ridge to my right to glass a large valley on the other side I had chased a few in during my Aug. bow hunt. After getting to my glassing spot, I got the tripod, binos and butt pad out and started glassing the opposing hill and valley when I started hearing some movement behind and to my left. I put my glasses on and looked over my shoulder to see 6 Javelina running right at me like someone lit their butts on fire. Four ran to my right, one to my left and the last one jumped over me and the Barrel Cactus I sat in front of. As I watched them run through the valley up and over the other hill, I checked my draws. I never saw what made them run like that until I was walking back to the truck. I saw Lion tracks in my boot prints that I walked in on. They were going in the same direction I was, "was she tracking me" I thought. Pucker factor of 10!!

This test was developed by the FBI as a control test to gauge penetration, weight retention, and expansion. It gives you the base numbers for what a bullet will do.

t\The second chapter of the story has been posted, here is the link. http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/44297-first-buck-down-chapter-2/

John got to my house a 4:30 and was down the road by 4:45. We got to the parking spot under the cover of darkness and soon was climbing the ridge that bigorange and I started our Aug. hunt on and where we spotted 6 bucks from. Before we could even get to the glassing spot I noticed some deer about 150 yards away in the saddle. It was still too dark to make out if any were bucks. As it got light enough I could tell the three remaining deer were does. " John I think that deer that snuck away was a buck, he didn't stick around." John responded, "ya maybe, still too dark to shoot anyway." Not long after making it to my "Rock Pile" spot John spotted movement on the far ridge headed up to the second saddle. One big doe chasing three others. Something kept telling me to look below us. After the third time hearing that voice "look below" I peered over the edge of the rock pile and below us at 115 yards was two deer. "John I got deer below us, One's a buck get ready and pear over the rock!" After a few minutes John spots more deer below. I quickly glass the others and determine that there is no other horns walking around. The buck steps out and John makes a perfect shot dropping him. Time of death was 6:55. The Mossberg 270 has struck again.

Great job! all I need is the same come December archery.

I shoot the 147 grn XTP in my 9. There is a better test you can do. It takes some building but it works better. Build a small troff out of wood about 3 ft long and wide and tall enough to put 1 gallon ziploc bags full of water in (open-ended) so you can shoot lengthwise. When you test the rounds place the full bags standing in the troff so they line up at least 32 inches deep. From about 10 inches away from the first bag shoot into the troff so the round will travel from one end of the troff to the other. Measure from the front edge (first bag) to where the bullet is in the troff. Take that measurement and multiply it by .56 this will give the penetration equal to ballistic gelatin. Then I take the round and measure its diameter and weight. Figure what the weight retention and the expansion is. My rounds penetrate 11.5" with a weight retention of 96% and expand 2.3 times normal size. This test was similar to what the FBI used back in the mid 90's as ballistic gelatin was hard to come by.

It seems that I am better at getting others on them than I am at getting them! hahaha that's how it always goes. Like having a bull tag and only seeing cow and vice versa. Story of my life! I bet if I got a rifle tag it would still end the same way! There is just such a rush to be able to get in close with my PSE.

It seems that I am better at getting others on them than I am at getting them!

Only when bigorange and I hunt together, mainly I hunt solo, my brother is too busy.

Congrats! teach her well and the freezer will stay full.

After several hours I finally got it posted. Here is the link, enjoy! http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/44297-first-buck-down-chapter-2/

My buddy John and I want to thank all of you with your kind words and just to say, your welcome for your "thank yous."