6 miles and 9 hours in the snow later...

mattsbox99 · #1 12-01-2010, 01:59 PM

The weather has been great most of the season, but I didn't see much during the season. Then it snowed and got cold, and thats when you see them way back in the sticks.

We were 2+ miles deep into this stuff, down in the bottom its about 8 feet deep.

The perfect tracking conditions, couple with a well placed shot right through the lungs.

And up where he walked after the shot, not feeling to good.

He collapsed at the top of the rise, and slid down the bottom. I watched from about 200 yards away.

Technically a 4x4, but I call it 4x3. 17.5" wide and 16" tall.

My brother and I had quite an adventure. I shot this buck at 10:51 AM and we got home at 6:15 PM. We got the truck stuck, so we had to walk 2 miles back to the road, snag a ride from the neighbor to go get my diesel F350 put a 1700lb bale on the back and tire chains, went back and it took a while to get everything hooked up and a few tries, but we got out.

BarkBuster20 · #2 12-01-2010, 02:55 PM

Nice buck, how far was the shot? what bullets were you using? and how far did it go? sounds like you had a good time.

kdub · #3 12-01-2010, 02:58 PM

That's why its called huntin'.

Good thing you had the means to get unstuck. Had that been me, I'd still be digging!

hillestadj · #4 12-01-2010, 03:34 PM

Nice buck Matt. Is that your 6.5x55?

Shawn Crea · #5 12-01-2010, 04:51 PM

Congrats Matt; nice muley, and nice pics.

mattsbox99 · #6 12-01-2010, 04:56 PM

Yes, it was my new 6.5x55 Ruger No. 1. Lots of people complain about the accuracy of the No. 1, but my first handload of 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip over a good dose of IMR 4350 sent 5 bullets into 1" at 100 yards with just a bag rest and 7x scope plus I was doing quite well offhand on the 200 and 300 yard sihouette chickens.

If you look in the top photo, where the smiley face is on the creek bank in the 3rd bendy of the creek thats where I was standing when I made the shot, about 200 yards. The buck walked up to the ridge line in the third photo, you can see the blood trail. He collapsed right at the top and slid down about 30 feet or so. The distance to where he keeled over is maybe 10 yards, 15 max. I watched the whole thing, I knew it was a good hit, I wasn't worried where he fell.

I strained both of my hip flexors and walked back to the truck in tremendous pain barely able to lift my legs and falling freqently (good thing snow is soft) then when the truck got stuck I walked back to the road where the truck was initially parked and flagged down the neighbor for a ride back to town so we could get my F350. It was dark when we got back.

I cut him up yesterday and made a steak tonight and it was glorious, he'll make very good eating!

hillestadj · #7 12-01-2010, 05:01 PM

Man, that No. 1 of yours makes me jealous....I do believe I'd have to buy one if I ran across one in 6.5x55.

mattsbox99 · #8 12-01-2010, 05:11 PM

Its a fantastic rifle, I'm very happy I bought it. I really like my .25/06 No.1B, but it it was an A, I would like it even more.

They make it pretty easy:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=203198908

jodum · #9 12-01-2010, 05:21 PM

Matt, that is one nice buck. Hopefully my 6.5x55 will bring something like that down one day.

mattsbox99 · #10 12-01-2010, 05:41 PM

Thanks John, he's not the big one I saw and gave a warning shot to on opening day, but he's eatin' size and I don't care much about wall hangers anyway!