Big Buck with Savage

[iowamuzzleloader]

I realized after having been an infrequent member that I should have posted my success story here. But Rifleman and Tar 12 have been the good friends one would hope for from a message board like this and I credit them and all of you for your valuable input and information. The Savage gave me the confidence to make a low percentage shot on this great buck. he green scored 204!

Mike (iowamuzzleloader)

Attachments:

[Dave W]

Can't imagine latching on to a set of horns of that magnitude. Going to be a hard act to follow. Congrats!

[Al]

Dec 31, 2011 1:34:35 GMT -5 Dave W said:

Can't imagine latching on to a set of horns of that magnitude. Going to be a hard act to follow. Congrats!

ditto, what a great buck.

Now spill the beans on the day!!!

[ET]

Congrats on a lovely buck that would make anyone’s day a good one.


Ed

[tar12]

Another Iowa giant.. ;D Now..where is the rest of story? Play by play please... ;D

[jims]

As tar 12 says more details on the shot, gun,stock etc. What a deer.

[Deleted]

That one is THE buck of the year 4 sure, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greenhorn

[iowamuzzleloader]

Sure thing. Sorry didn't want to bore anyone. I guess the beggining was when I saw this buck first 10 days prior. I took my son out during second season shotgun using his youth tag. We can use muzzleloader for this.

Earlier in the year I somewhat regrettabley made him pass on about a 150 inch 10 pointer because is was too young and he already has one in about the 140 class. This 10 pointer was perfect with way more potential than 150. Oh well. That decision may have led to this giant however. ?

So during shotgun, using my Remington ML, my son and I went out several times. One day we had a SW wind so I decided to hunt an area we had seen quite a few deer feeding in the field. Need a south wind of some sort to do it.

Hunting out of a well hidden blind we had a lot of deer out in the field with several small to mediocre bucks. About 10 minutes left in shooting hours I saw a big body heading toward the rest of the deer and could see good size rack through brush and told Devin (son) to get his gun up and ready. I knew it was mature enough and had a good rack. When he cleared the brush and I could get the binocs on him, I said, OMG a 180 inch 9 pointer! The buck stopped, I quick ranged him at 112 yards and had Devin get the crosshairs on him.

Shortening this part up... we spent the next two minutes trying to get Devin steady. I mistakenly set us up where Devin was too short in the chair and he needed to kind of crouch/stand. He was getting steady but I woudnt give the OK till he was rock solid. Being rather breezy and the deer having spooked several times and run back to timber already, two does flippped up their tails and headed in. The big guy decided to go with them. Our heads sunk. I shamefully spat out some curses that one shouldnt say around a 9 year old. But we made the right decision. That was going to be a long shot for a 9 year old even though I know the gun can easily do it. He just wasnt steady.

So late ML season rolls in a few days later. I hit that spot about 2 times but got in a ladder stand. Third time was a charm. Just about the same time, 10 minutes of shooting left, he comes out to feed with the does. Same conditions, SW wind 18mph and they were spooky again. Already had them run back twice. He enters the field about 200 yds away headed right at me. Stops at about 108 yds to feed facing me. I took about 5 seconds to relax away the adrenaline dump. I got him in the scope and held on him solid waiting for him to give me his broad side. I did my mental calculations to hit the vitals at this angle and held there but still waiting for broad side. A thought went through my head that probably sealed the deal. I said to myself, if one white flag goes up, take him where he stands.

Not seconds later 4 flags go up, they run for the timber, my bucks head was still down, I was on him, I squeezed. Usually I can get the scope back on them but couldnd this time so looked up trying to see rack running with the rest of them. There were about 20 so I couldnt find him in the blurr and it was toward end of shooting light. Since there was still some ambient light, and hopefully a flashlight wasn't necessary, I got down quickly to take advantage and check for blood. I went to where he stood. No blood. Checked all the trails going into the timber, no blood. I snuck back to my stand, grabbed my stuff and took a wide route outta there.

You would think I was in for a sleepless night. Somewhat hard to fall asleep but then I managed 5 hours. I have taken deer at 300 yards with my other Savage and this one seems a little more accurate so sleep was not difficult with a 108 yard shot. I knew the shot was solid. The buddy I hunted with that night was a little bugged the next day when I told him I shot a big one. He wondered why I didnt tell him that night. I said because I could have been talked into pursuing him that night. And with no blood, not sure exaclty the direction he took, I have learned to leave em. And he would have talked me into going because he had to work the next morning. so I made the right call not telling him that night. Took another friend to help me look the next morning. We went south and spread out and worked back north. On the way back north I replayed last night, and it seemed logical he was with a few deer that went east and north. I just had the feeling he would be that direction.

Indeed. I spotted him at about 80 yards away, and for the second time in my life I approached a downed deer... and it got bigger and bigger instead of what usually happens. Ground shrinkage. My daughter shot a 167 last year that got bigger and bigger. Her buck was really heavy too.

When I got to him, no blood even where he lay. Bullet went in through left scapula and I found the bullet just under the skin where a belly button would be.

I took him back to another friends place who has a rail with a scale built in. I left the guts in. He weighed 252. Not the heaviest Ive shot, but close. Just a curiosity on my part. I like to know the weight.

When I gutted him is when I found the bullet. Since the guts are in line with the vitals at that angle, I couldn't stand the stench enough to mess around in the gut pile to see which vital I hit. But likely the left lung and of course everything else in the bullet path. I will post a pic of the recovered bullet. The scapula stripped away the copper from a 300 BO.

Of course by this time, we took photos wieghed it and friends kept showing up. One of them who does a bit of measuring asked if I was going to score it. I said someday I suppose. Not right now? he asked. I said you can if you want. So he did. the calculator was up to 188 and we hadnt even started on the non-typical points! So another surprise when 204 1/8 was figured.

But he does have it all. Foot long tine, the rest close to that. 27 & 28 inch beams. 5 of the 8 circumferance measurements are at 6 inches.

So for you Savagephiles. I have a laminated SS, but I used the gun I bought from Dwight. Rayhill bedding and thumbhole stock, Ziess 3.5-10 Z800, 60gn VN120, 300gn BO, Right at 2250 fps. I love that thumbhole. I bought it from Dwight for another friend. He had some issues with it not firing. Without going into it, it was a pretty simple issue with the custom trigger that my friend has no patience for. I did some work for him and he offered to pay me with this gun. He-- Yes! was my answer. He did get another savage. But he didnt like the thumbhole either. I dont get it guys, but I love the thumbhole. So he's happy. And I'm happier.

Did I leave anything out? Let me know if I did.

I am having a hard time sleeping now though. Because these antlers keep poking me! Oh yes, I'm sleeping with them!

not really

[tar12]

Very nice write up! I figured that the BO and N120 played a role when you mentioned Dwight and Tar12 in the same sentence! ;D Once again...awesome story and deer!

[Dave1]

That's a great buck Mike. Congratulations on the hunt and harvest. That bad boy left some sheds out there somewhere. Those would be trophies as well if you ever find them.

Hopefully there are other bucks of that caliber out there so you have alot to look forward to.

Dave

[timberpig]

Holy cow, that thing is an absolute SLOB!! Your right, that buck has it all. Congrats on a fantastic buck and a great story!

[huntmeister]

Great story and WOW what a giant of a deer! Buck of a lifetime. You're going to have a hard time topping that...just have to settle for a dink 170" deer I guess.
Congrats!!

[iowamuzzleloader]

156 is my biggest bow kill. I would love to beat that. I really thought I would get a hog with my bow someday, as opposed to LM season. But there's a goal for me. A good friend bought a farm in southern iowa. We saw a 180 ish deer down there when we were in the purchase process. (Im his real estate broker.) So theres likely my chance at a bigger one with a bow. I hope someone clobbers a giant down there.

[iowamuzzleloader]

And I would sell my children for a dink 170!

[iowamuzzleloader]

The really great thing here for me (besides the terrific story and hunting with my son) is that I shot it with my Savage. I have been their unpaid salesman around here for years. And I have sold about 4 just from owning one and people seeing them perform. Smokeless is such a no brainer. Why is that so hard to get people to understand? Oh well. As I said, more for us!

[lwh723]

That is a NICE deer! Incredible.

[iowamuzzleloader]

Just want to say thank you. I appreciate the genuine happiness you all have for me. I hope you all can get one like this, or BIGGER!

[Rifleman]

Well I am glad you got a bruiser with that old worn out gun I sold you!