My First Deer

[markT]

Snert, thanks for the info. Makes sense. I'm in SC, so the deer are not as big as up north.. I've decided to buy a 243. ( box store Savage Model 11 with scope. I ordered a Leupold XR 4x12-40 with illuminated "fire dot" reticle.. I plan to use a 90 gr partiton or a bullet designed for deer. Still learning about bullets.
I will post if I get more down, as that is the goal. my dad's trail camera shows a very nice 8 pt coming at at 7:15 "every" night.

 

[nakneker]

I've never been a deer hunter and never had a reason to hunt deer. But, now deer are doing crop damage to my dove fields and my folks vegetable garden. I put up a "poachers" ladder stand ( thanks poacher) that I cut off a tree last year.. The only rifle ( pdogs) I had any ammo for is a 22-250 / 50 gr Vmax.
I shot this young (varmint) buck in the shoulder. ~125 yds.
Have a look at what a Vmax does. Wow.
Now I'm hooked. Will be back in stand.

First of all congrats on your first deer, you may stumbled on to a hobby that will become a lifelong passion. The first one always stays fresh in your memory.

Many of my kids used either a 22-250 or a 220 swift for their first deer. There's some good tips in the responses of others to consider. Shoot behind the shoulder and avoid the heavy should bones, neck shots, head shots are good options with a varmint bullet. We used nosler 60gr partitions with lethal success, to each their own. As you start filling more tags you'll gain experience and form your own opinions.

Welcome to the deer hunter club!

 

[CTK]

First of all congrats on your first deer, you may stumbled on to a hobby that will become a lifelong passion. The first one always stays fresh in your memory.

Many of my kids used either a 22-250 or a 220 swift for their first deer. There's some good tips in the responses of others to consider. Shoot behind the shoulder and avoid the heavy should bones, neck shots, head shots are good options with a varmint bullet. We used nosler 60gr partitions with lethal success, to each their own. As you start filling more tags you'll gain experience and form your own opinions.

Welcome to the deer hunter club!

Did you kill that monster mule deer yet?

 

[nakneker]

Did you kill that monster mule deer yet?

Yesterday was the last day of the seven day hunt. Me and my wife hunted hard the entire hunt and covered some rough miles. We ended up seeing more deer than I've seen in years in that area, some very big elk, a bear, javelina, turkeys, a bobcat and some yotes. We passed up a shooter buck in the hopes of finding one of the two big bucks we had on camera. We never saw either be of them, they don't get big buy being stupid. I spent half the hunt behind my 15x Swaros, after a couple days tuning up its amazing what you see. My wife filled her tag the second to the last day with a mid sized three point. I hunted up to the last light of the final day and never pulled the trigger, passed up several bucks, just had my heart sat on the two big ones. If I'm lucky I'll pull a tag next year or one of my friends will and we can do it all over again.

 

[CTK]

Hope was a fun hunt. I have never forgotten those monster muley pics that you posted. They will be there next year.

 

[markT]

Well got number two. Head shot this time. .243 / 65 gr Vmax. 75 yds. I saw 6 deer while in stand. Less than 2 hours.

 

[snert]

Well got number two. Head shot this time. .243 / 65 gr Vmax. 75 yds. I saw 6 deer while in stand. Less than 2 hours.

Nice shot!

 

[markT]

#3 and #4.. this afternoon.. 243 / 65 gr Vmax. ~85 yds.. 2 mins apart.. dropped one with a spine shot the other qtr'ing away with a rib shot and she ran ~20 yds.
This a lot of fun,,,

 

[snert]

Like varmint shootin, only bigger

 

[markT]

I would agree, snert.. I view them now as varmints. The processor said I was #1137, and #1138. That's a lot of deer in my opinion..Hopefully more to come.

 

[long40shot]

Good shooting. I plan on seeing how a 22-250 running a Barnes 50tsx does.

 

[snowpro440]

Like varmint shootin, only bigger

JUST BIGGER SQUIRRELS THATS ALL.....

 

[markT]

Another one. Check out the fat. Well fed. / corn fed.

 

[markT]

Question for you guys / deer hunters: I been using 65 gr Vmax ( in my. 243) and I'm thinking I should not use a frangible bullet. What bullet would you recommend? I reload and I am using Varget. The rifle is a Rem 700. Not sure the twist.
Thank you.

 

[snert]

Oh boy...there is a can of worms popped open!

In a nutshell:
If you want to break bones (shoulders) or raking shots and get a shoot thru...Barnes TTSX
If you want a cup and core advanced bullet with penetration for raking shots and exit : Partitions or bonded
If you want chopped up innards and an exit: 100 grain cup and core
If you want to slip it into the ribs broadside and turn the cavity to soup: 75/87 Vmax or similar
If you want to shoot heads and thoracic and get the return sound like a bass drum: 65 grain varmint bullet
And then there are the various 85-100 grain Bergers, Sierra, etc, all proven deer killers. Many swear by the Sierra gameking.

Basically, your 700 will stabalize and shoot most bullet weight from 65-100 or so. Just pick a purpose and then try several bullets of that construction.

 

[markT]

That's a lot of info. Thank you. I believe I will stick to the 65 gr Vmax. And not shoot them in shoulder.. thanks again!

 

[markT]

Another one. Head shot. Obvious. .243 / 65 gr Vmax.. ~63 yds. Dr "Vmax" is not too friendly to the skull area.