Big doe down

[rangeball]

Went out this past Sunday afternoon. 6* and dropping. Farmer who's property borders us on our NE corner has a picked corn field, main food source for our area, but it's hard for us to hunt in the evening because you have to walk through the bedding areas to get to the field edge, not good. He does a bit of outfitting, but is done hunting for the year so told us to have at it to shoot does. I took a 4 wheeler straight north of our cabin and followed a ridge line that intersects with the middle of his field. I planned to take my small fold up chair and sit against a tree or blow down and cover the field. When I got to the edge of the field it hit me, I forgot the chair in my jeep. Being so cold I didn't want to sit on the ground, but luckily he had a ground blind still out. The zippers were frozen and it took me about 10 minutes to get it open, but there was a chair in it much to my relief.

I settled in at 2:30 and about 45 minutes later a group of 8 does came out straight across the field from me. The lead doe immediately started staring down something to the south, I couldn't see what, got nervous and they all turned and ran out of sight to the north. About 15 minutes later I saw a buck working the field edge where they were, no idea if he's what spooked them, but he did work the way they went. 15 minutes later two does stepped out across the field but way south. I watched them for awhile, and figured I'd get a yardage on them, only to discover I didn't have my rangefinder They were working to the north, but would soon drop down into a ravine and probably be gone. I estimated and guesstimated and came up with 250 yds. I figured I'd take a shot if one turned broadside as it would either be a kill or clean miss. Right before dropping out of site, one turned to look back into the woods which put her broadside to me. I centered the crosshairs right behind her front leg and pulled the trigger. Bullet hit WAY short of them, looking back it was probably closer to 325 yds, but at the shot they got confused and actually turned and worked out in the middle of the field and came my way. I reloaded, and they continued until they were out in front of me at 150 yds (later paced it off). They were identical in size so I centered on the lead one and pulled the trigger. She mule kicked and nose plowed about 10 yds and was done. Complete pass through.

Getting up to her, she was big, probably 160-80#s. I only took one pic with my camera phone, no way to get it on the computer until my daughter emails it to me, but just imagine a big doe laying with a nice center punched hole behind her front leg

Thor 250gr .50 over 42gr N110 with a fed 209A from my H&R SMI with WCE 2.5x10x50.

[lwh723]

Good work! I've been out trying to fill a few late season bow tags here in Iowa. I've been having some success, but it's brutal with the cold!

[rangeball]

Thanks. I was real happy that it only took about 2 hours total. Chair in the blind was a metal folding chair. My back side did it's best, but it never did warm up

I have 2 bow tags left, but don't personally need anymore meat, will probably give them away if I'm lucky enough to fill them, unless it doesn't warm up, then I'll make tag soup.

[DBinNY]

Good plan and good shot! Sounds like you shot a horse. Fortunately, in NY we can use our "special season" bow/muzzle loader tags with either weapon and the late bow and muzzle loader seasons are at the same time. I guess I'm getting too old to bow hunt educated deer in that cold late season weather.

[ET]

Rangeball

Congrats on a nice size doe.


Ed

[smokeless77]

Rangeball, Way to hang in there, with the frigid temp's.

Congrats, John

[rangeball]

Thanks fellas

We an also use our bow tags through the last late season antlerless this year, but you still have to use your bow. Supposed to warm up tonight and tomorrow, be in mid teens but with it comes 6-8" of snow then temps drop again. I'm not too optimistic about filling my tags. I used to love the cold... not so much anymore

[rangeball]

Butchered her last night. Here's a pic of the entrance wound from the 250gr thor-



Looks like fully opened right off the bat. Probably why the big watermelon WHALLOP sound at impact

Straight pass through, inside pic of exit didn't turn out too well but it was smaller, like more the size of the expanded bullet.