On Friday (3 Dec 10) I was hunting on a bluff and got to watch several does up close for a good while. This was nice, as it'd been several hunts since I've seen any deer that I could reasonably even take a shot at. At about 0817 I looked to my left and saw what I finally realized was a bobcat. I never heard it coming. I've only seen two other bobcats while hunting, and as soon as I saw them they disappeared. This one was only 7 yards away, but since I was in a 15 foot ladder stand, and it was down the bluff a little, it seemed a little farther (but not much)! As it went behind a tree I raised my NEF .270 loaded with 150 grain Remington Core Lokts. I knew I had to shoot as soon as it cleared, and I did. I saw it jumped and it bounced all the way down the bluff. No blood and it didn't drop. I thought I'd missed it. About an hour latter my hunting partner and I got down. I found two leaves with a drop or two of blood. We had to walk around to get to the bench I thought it was on. We walked right to it! It was a perfect shot right above the right shoulder. The taxidermist said it was a good sized male and that he could easily fix the exit wound, which due to the angle, was out of the chest. This .270 is the only gun I have ever hunted deer with, which has been about 15 years.
On Saturday (4 Dec 10) I was at my other hunting partners cabin with our sons. My son Nathan, is 7 and it is his second year hunting. He could have shot a doe last year, but he could't find it through the scope. We spent a lot of time this summer shooting an H&R .22 with a scope, and doing target acquisition drills.
We were hunting in a ground blind over a small food plot with his H&R .243 loaded with 100 grain Remindton Core Lokts. About 0743 I looked out the back window (behind the food plot) and saw a deer coming our way. I told him to stand up and I cocked the hammer and handed him the gun. I have to hold the barrel up, like a tripod, since he's not quite strong enough yet. He got the deer on target and then lost him. Then the deer went behind a large downed tree. I told him we've got time, just be patient and shoot when he's on the heart. We could only see the top half of the deer, so I was sure he was going to hit the tree. I was watching the deer when he shot, and it dropped instantly! It was a little far back, but it exited more towards the front shoulder. It was 21 yards away. A nice little three pointer for his first deer. I'm going to get it European/Skull mounted for him. Needless to say, I am one pround Dad!!!
None of my hunting partners understand my love for the Handi rifle. I just tell them you only need one shot, they're simple and reliable, they're light and compact, they're accurate, they're affordable so you can have several calibers, and they are made it America!
Thanks for reading!
-Kyle
