Author Topic: My biggest deer and 1st with a handgun! (Read 1413 times)

LarryL · « **on:** November 23, 2004, 02:02:55 PM »

My first deer with a handgun! Ruger Super Redhawk, .480 Ruger, 2X scope, factory Hornady ammo.

I was out Sunday morning in Chester NH. Everything was soaked from rain all night, but it was only mist and drizzle in the morning. Walking was very quiet, but the woods were noisy with all the drips falling on the leaves. I was using the Primus doe bleat can call, and also had some doe estrus scent on pads. I was about to move on to another spot, but decided to try the call one last time. About 3 minutes later, this big buck came in at a fast walk straight at me. He quartered off at around 20 yards and I took the shot going low on the shoulder to lungs. He spooked and stopped quick just as I fired, and the shot hit a little high, going through the shoulder, taking out the spine, and lodging under the hide on the far side. The factory ammo mushroomed well, but the core did separate from the jacket at the end of travel. They were together but not connected. He took one step and went down.

He has 4 tines per antler plus two large and two small brow tines for 12 points, and the dressed weight was 205#. I was hunting alone, and it took about 4 hours to drag him a mile and a half to my car. I'm going to have him scored and mounted. The taxidermist this morning estimated somewhere in the 140s.

So, if the picture works, here is my biggest deer ever, and my first deer with a handgun!! Yeeeehaaaa!!!

De41mag · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2004, 02:16:46 PM »

LarryL;

Way to go!!!!
Sounds like you got a monster! And with a handgun, fantastic! :eek: :shock:

Dennis

Gregory · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2004, 02:43:46 PM »

LarryL

Congrats on the deer, sounds like a monster. Couldn't get to the picture though.

myronman3 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2004, 03:30:16 PM »

beautiful buck. congratulations.

BruceP · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2004, 03:37:34 PM »

Congrats on the first deer with a handgun and even better your best buck yet way to go. I couldn't get the picture either but it sounds like a great buck.
BruceP

redhawk44p · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2004, 03:44:19 PM »

I cut and pasted the link and saw the pic. BEAUTIFUL buck I like the look on his face. Congrats. I bet your are hooked on handgunning now.

LarryL · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2004, 12:19:01 AM »

Sorry. I tried to get the image to be embedded in the post, but obviously didn't do it correctly. Here is the link to the photo album with the pictures.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/llowell/detail?.dir=d032&.dnm=9171.jpg&.src=ph

I hope this works better!

KYODE · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2004, 12:59:47 AM »

that is a heck of a fine trophy! congratulations

be hard to pack a rifle from now on huh?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2004, 01:19:26 AM »

Congratulations on your beautiful buck. What a fine trophy.

HogSniper2 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2004, 05:30:59 AM »

FABULOUS! Wish I would have been there. You could have used my deer cart to haul that monster out of the woods.

LarryL · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2004, 06:40:40 AM »

Yep, a cart would have been nice. I had a lightweight parachute cord rope, and made a cross bar from an available piece of oak. A tarp would have helped on the road. Before next year, I am going to get a small, maybe 3' X 4' tarp that can fit in a pocket. Dragging him in the woods wasn't too bad, but the last half mile was uphill on a gravel road. That was horrible, and it also left a rub mark on the shoulder that will have to be repaired during mounting. The sides of the road were brush, so I had to drag on the road. And, yes, I couldn't drive my car to the deer! It was on a private radar tower road with a gate at the end.

I was a little disappointed in fellow hunters. I met a fellow in the woods during the drag, but he checked out the deer and then kept on going. That I could understand and agree with since we were a long way into the woods. However, I met two more guys right at the foot of the 1/2 mile hill on the road. They had parked right behind me and were just walking in at around 1 pm. They too stopped to check out the deer and then kept on going, leaving me to my uphill 1/2 mile drag alone. With three of us, it would have taken maybe 10-15 minutes for us to have that deer up to the car. And, that would have made the rub mark further back, away from the mounting portion of the hide. By myself it took over an hour and a half! If I came across a guy dragging a deer by himself, I would have offered to help immediately, and have done so before. That's part of the hunting kindred spirit. Oh well, maybe I just expect too much from my fellow man...

oso45-70 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2004, 01:14:35 PM »

Larry,

Nice buck and good story, Congratulations, Wish i could have been there with you, Keep up the good work.........Joe..........

daddywpb · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2004, 11:50:09 PM »

What a great trophy, and with a handgun too! Congrats, you must be very proud, I know I would be!

I have been disappointed in my fellow hunters several times this year. I have helped people who were alone drag animals several times. They've offered to pay me, or give me meat, but I didn't take either. I helped because I would hope someone would help me. Don't expect anything, then you won't be disappointed.

Great pics too!

bigjeepman · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2004, 02:58:13 AM »

LarryL ...

That is one awesome buck you have there. I might suggest you have the taxidermist take that look .. "What the h___ was that?" ... off of your trophy's face. He looks like he only took one step after your bullet found him. I just purchased a SBH Hunter in .45 lc that I plan on using next deer season and hopefully get my first buck.

The story of not finding the kind of fellowship in the woods you, I, and others expect saddened me. We must not give up, however, and continue to teach younger hunters/shooters the right way to treat others who share the love of the outdoors and firearms.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2004, 07:23:30 AM »

Nice trophy there pal. I had my S&W 629 with me in the woods and ended up getting my second deer with my Win Model 70 .270 in an open field at the end of the day. He was a second shot. the first was by my friend and he shouted to take the second shot and it stopped him in his tracks. The shot was a running shot at about 130 yards.

As to the morons that didn't help you. I have stopped my hunting and helped others with their deer and lost hunting time doing it! Some people just don't know how to be neighborly anymore. :cry:

Well still have a few more times in the woods to ge that firs handgun shot of a trophy deer. To me they are all trophy deers! :wink:

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** November 25, 2004, 11:11:23 AM »

If you didn't ask them to help they may have figured you didn't need any. The only time I had anyone offer to help drag one out it was much appreciated as it was a tough uphill drag even for two of us. When we got up to the old logging road there were a total of four of them in his group. One of them decided they really wanted the buck I'd taken. He tried to convince the others they should jump me and "whup my ass" and take the deer. I explained it might take more than an "ass whupping" as I had my concealed carry handgun and any attempt by four to whup me would end with someone dead. The others didn't seem to want it all that bad after that.

All they'd had to do was ask for it and I'd have given it to them. But if they'd jumped me to "whup" me as planned someone would have died. I'm too old and fat to run and can't fight four at a time.

LarryL · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2004, 12:40:15 PM »

Hi Graybeard,

I'm not much on asking for help. I figure then I am embarassing them into it. If they want to offer, I will either accept, or say thanks but no. Asking seemed like I am then guilting them into it. I wouldn't feel right doing that. On the other hand, if I see a hunter dragging a deer alone, I will and have offered to help. Must be that New England attitude that I keep to myself and don't bother others, but will go out of my way to help others in need.

Van/TX · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2004, 03:43:05 PM »

Man what a deer. I bought one of those deer carts from Cabelas that I keep folded up in the truck just in case. Haven't used it yet but for $100 it should be worth it if I'm by myself ;-)

Del · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2004, 08:30:24 AM »

Congratulations!!

That is a GREAT buck!! And for it to be your first handgun deer, that just makes it sooo much better! I wish for you to have many more successful handgun hunts, I sure hate carrying a rifle after getting use to handgun hunting!

I haven't read a whole lot on the .480 that have been used on critters in the field, but I was very surprised to hear that the bullet stayed in the animal at that distance! Granted you can't argue with how it put him right down, but I'm one who likes an entrance & exit hole.

Take Care & continued good luck hunting,
Del

ms · « **Reply #19 on:** November 26, 2004, 10:59:06 PM »

Great buck I would sent a picture to Hornady they would like it and to Ruger. For those other hunter you shouldn't have to ask. :lol:

LarryL · « **Reply #20 on:** November 27, 2004, 03:36:20 AM »

Hi MS,

Thanks for the suggestion. I submitted my story and picture to Hornady's scrapbook. I looked for Ruger, but I can't find any sort of email address anywhere on their site. They only list phone numbers and addresses.

Does anyone know if they do have an email address, or do they have any sort of trophy scrapbook for customers?

thanks!