Well, I hunted hard in Minnesota (Nov.6-10) without taking a deer, then through the Wisconsin rifle and muzzle-loader seasons. I was getting somewhat weary after all my efforts failed to produce some venison. The last opportunity was an antler-less hunt. The little stand I was using on Dec. 9 was called "the penalty box" because it was constructed from a round plastic tank, elevated on a platform, perhaps 10 feet off the ground. The confined space and slots for shooting windows makes using a long arm a bit tricky when a deer comes into view.
My wife says, "If you love me, you'll kill for me!"
Given the look in her eye, anticipating the rewards for producing meat for the freezer, I was anxious to please her.
I decided upon taking my 5 1/2" barrel Blackhawk (.357) because the movement within the small stand and the probability of a close range shot. I carried factory 158 gr. semi-jacketed soft points.
The snow was blowing from the East to West, and that limited my desire to look over my left shoulder, as the heavy snowfall was fully in my face. I held the Ruger low, between my knees to keep the snow off of it.
I planned for a neck shot or so, should deer come into the food plot where I anticipated. I thought it possible that I'd hit one badly and then have to track it some distance.
At 3:58 pm, I just happened to look over my left shoulder, out over the shooting window to see two doe at about ten yards. I raised the Ruger and fired on the large one before I gave it much thought, then I was immediately mad at myself, guessing I fired too soon and without enough care.
Since the snowfall was so heavy, I knew right away that tracks will be lost within 15 minutes. Yes, the snowfall was that bad.
I got out of the stand quicker than normal for a tracking situation, but found the half-filled tracks when I approached the spot where the doe had stood. Fortunately, within a few feet I saw the first splatters of blood. This I followed only 15 yards to the deer which curled to its right as it finished it's run and expired.
I normally practice with this revolver at 21 yards, have tuned its action for smooth comfortable shooting, and used to be pretty good with it in "can rolling". The bullet seemed to have gone downward through the chest, creasing the heart with a 3"gash, and exiting low on the left side of the rib cage. No wonder it went so few yards in its run.
I was pleased, as I have now taken whitetails with each of my deer rifles, a muzzeloader and now the revolver.
About the only thing that could have made it sweeter would be a nice buck with a 150 or greater rack!
My wife says, "If you love me, you'll kill for me!"
Given the look in her eye, anticipating the rewards for producing meat for the freezer, I was anxious to please her.
I decided upon taking my 5 1/2" barrel Blackhawk (.357) because the movement within the small stand and the probability of a close range shot. I carried factory 158 gr. semi-jacketed soft points.
The snow was blowing from the East to West, and that limited my desire to look over my left shoulder, as the heavy snowfall was fully in my face. I held the Ruger low, between my knees to keep the snow off of it.
I planned for a neck shot or so, should deer come into the food plot where I anticipated. I thought it possible that I'd hit one badly and then have to track it some distance.
At 3:58 pm, I just happened to look over my left shoulder, out over the shooting window to see two doe at about ten yards. I raised the Ruger and fired on the large one before I gave it much thought, then I was immediately mad at myself, guessing I fired too soon and without enough care.
Since the snowfall was so heavy, I knew right away that tracks will be lost within 15 minutes. Yes, the snowfall was that bad.
I got out of the stand quicker than normal for a tracking situation, but found the half-filled tracks when I approached the spot where the doe had stood. Fortunately, within a few feet I saw the first splatters of blood. This I followed only 15 yards to the deer which curled to its right as it finished it's run and expired.
I normally practice with this revolver at 21 yards, have tuned its action for smooth comfortable shooting, and used to be pretty good with it in "can rolling". The bullet seemed to have gone downward through the chest, creasing the heart with a 3"gash, and exiting low on the left side of the rib cage. No wonder it went so few yards in its run.
I was pleased, as I have now taken whitetails with each of my deer rifles, a muzzeloader and now the revolver.
About the only thing that could have made it sweeter would be a nice buck with a 150 or greater rack!