.444 Scores

[WyoStillhunter]

I went to the cabin yesterday afternoon to get an early start on my deer hunting. The season opened Oct. 1 but this was my first full day to hunt.

Up at 5 a.m., hit the trail a little after six, got out-foxed by 3 bucks and a doe at 7 right at the base of the mtn. about 3/4 mile from the cabin. I struggled around on Sheep Mountain in the snow and wind for the next 9 hours without seeing a single deer. The cabin sits at 8200 ft. and much of the time I was hunting 1000 ft. higher.

I was working my way back down and planned to try an evening ambush at the base of the mountain. It was blowing something fierce and I was tired. This is a gnarly mountain and picking a route down is a chore. There are some real hellholes awaiting anyone who chooses the wrong route.

I was working my way down an open West face with intermittant sage, trees, and brush. At first glance I thought he was an elk. The antlers just looked to big for a deer. He was feeding about 60 yards below me and facing away. The binoculars showed a buck. Wow!

He lifted his head and looked around. I thought sure he would make me. But, no. When his head went down for another bite, I rested against a Charley Brown Christmas Tree and BOOM! He dropped at the shot and hardly twitched.

I hit high, just behind the shoulder blade and broke the off shoulder. That was a little higher than I prefer but the way he dropped on the spot eliminated any tracking. I recovered the .444 slug under the skin on the off shoulder. (Load and gun: 265 Hdy FN, 46.0 H4198, Hdy brass, Rem. 9 1/2, LFC die, 1977 mfg. 444S with Weaver K2.5 in Weaver mounts.)

4 X 4 plus 1.5" brow tines on both sides. Wide and heavy, nicely symmetrical, but not especially long tines. This isn't a record book head but the nicest I have ever taken. I hope to get pics when I go back to butcher and haul the meat.

I field dressed and positioned him for the night and started down again a little after 5 p.m. What a grind! GPS says it is 1.68 miles to the cabin but it is much farther when you add in the elevation losses and gains, and steep, bad footing. What was I thinking!

Needless to say, I have some serious hiking to do.

[Dawei]

Here after known as the...........

[size=24px]Wyoming 4x4x444 Blizzard Buck![/size]

[JLarsson]

Great story and good job getting so close. To the deer anyway. At least you'll be warm packing him out.

Hurray for WyoStillHunter and the 444!!!

[VTDW]

Way to go Wyo!!! Sweet success.

Dave

[Gunjunkie]

Congrats.. we need pics.. :lol:

[Ranch Dog]

Good work!!! Pictures when you can!

[VerySavage]

[size=18px]Great hunting story, congrats on your hunting success, thanks for sharing with us.
I was out Elk hunting on Monday in the Saddle Hills with a friend, I managed to whistle in a nice Bull Elk for him, once I finish this roll of film off & get it developed I will post a photo of our prize, only negative side is I didn't get to shoot the Bull Elk.
All in all it was a great day!
I have seen lots of Moose this year, sadly I don't have a tag for one this year. My wife was drawn for Cow Moose in WMU357 for the late season which opens in November 1/06 so we will still fill the freezer with Moose meat.

--Ken [/size]

[WyoStillhunter]

After almost 12 hours on the move in rough country yesterday, I feel like the 2000 year old man today.

I came back to town (37 miles) for the camera and my Leki poles. 40% chance of snow today, wind will be 20+ mph, but the temp is predicted in the mid- to upper-30s. It was in the 20s and windy last night.

This situation calls for the totally boneless "extraction" technique. I figure I'm only good for one trip per day with a heavy load. Two trips should do it without bones and hide. It takes 24 hours for rigor mortis to run its course and the meat to begin to relax and tenderize. So there's no rush.

Sorry gents, but I'll not be draggin' my Marlin up to the carcass just for photos.

[405 WCF]

Nice story, congrats to the deer.
Pictures?

[the_mad_rshn]

Nice job! Congratulations!!!
Don't forget to post the picture in the Hunting Pictures thread

Cheers,
Mad