wtnhunt Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Things been a bit crazy here this year, lost our 85 year old neighbor back in September where we had sole permission on his 35 acres. His woods have served as somewhat of a sanctuary for us. A lot of unknowns there at this point. We tried to buy the place and came up a day late with our offer. Not been getting much in the way of decent bucks on camera this year a few 8's that had my interest and one we had pics of that was never quite sure how many points he had. Had some large tracks in the bottom that I am guessing were around 3.5 inches wide, looked like cow tracks. Figured there had to be something decent around. So, got up to temps around 18 this morning and got ready and headed out, was up in the stand by about 5:30. Had the video camera in my pocket and never took it out, things seemed slow so did not bother. Pretty calm morning and had a skipper half racked buck come through on a bee line straight to the back of our property. Grunted and he picked up his pace, never looked back. Little later had a basket 8 come through behind me milled his way along to the neighbors woods through a gully eating acorns along the way. Things going pretty slow, heard no close shots and only a very few far off shots. Was kind of surprised to not see any does. Saw movement in the woods to my left and so I glassed the edge of the woods and then put the binos down and look back around going to the right and across the field straight out in front of me and had a deer standing like a statue catch my eyes standing at the very back of the field. It was about 7:40 something. This is a good ways off, about 170-180 yards away but I could see antlers and was a squared bodied solid deer. Pick up the binos and look and looks like a decent deer, to his ears decent height and looking at me so cannot tell how many points, so no time for thinking twice about it I grab the acurra and get on him. I pull the hammer back and get good and steady on him and slowly squeeze and click! What the heck, pull the hammer back again and click again, so I pop out the primer and a fumble around and had to take my glove off to get new one in from one of my quickloaders. Squeeze again and click, again pull the hammer back and again click. You gotta be freaking kidding me. Deer is still standing there, has not moved, unbelieveable. My nerves are starting to get to me by this point. I dig my primer holder out of my pocket and put another in and find the deer again in my scope and again pull the hammer back and squeeze with the second dot from the bdc nikon and this time it goes off. Smoke covers my view, could not see how he took off or which way he went. By this time I am a total wreck. Shaking so bad I cannot stand it. Wife texts me asking if it was me that shot. Called the wife and told her I thought I probably missed, thought I probably shot over him. I waited about 15 minutes and got down and slowly walked my way over where he was standing. I find blood right away but looks like I hit back. He should have gotten his picture made on our trail camera so I pull the card and head back to the house. Looked at the pictures while waiting since it looked like a gutshot and turns out it was a ten point. Big body deer. He got his picture made right before I shot him. I took the card back and put it back in the camera though. Took my time, drank a couple cups of coffee while waiting for the wife to get ready, she wanted to go with me to look. We get back and get to looking at the blood and look at the direction he went into the brush. I saw white and looked with the binos. He was about 25-30 yards down the hill in the brush. As I start to make my way in a doe takes off. She got him killed. That is why he was standing there, makes sense now, I had grunted not long before I saw him. He was probably guarding the doe. I will be taking my 13 year old right back out this afternoon to hunt that same field. Pretty decent buck for around here. Clean ten, a little busted up. Caught the lungs, but did also barely hit the guts, that long a shot not gonna beat myself up over being a little back. Makes the third year in a row that have taken a buck with the accura. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Cool hand Will!...I bet you were shaking, it gave you time to think about it...lol Nice Buck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 wow--big bodied buck my friend. congrats on an awesome shot and really nice buck. todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine Hntr Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Great buck William, big blocky head on him and a little busted up! Congrats on another good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_10acboy Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Congrats! Great deer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Fantastic buck William! Congratulations. I can't believe those primers failed. What kind were you using? Have you had problems like that in the past? I've had one fail on me at the range a couple years ago but the odds of two not working in a row makes me think it might have been something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Fantastic buck William! Congratulations. I can't believe those primers failed. What kind were you using? Have you had problems like that in the past? I've had one fail on me at the range a couple years ago but the odds of two not working in a row makes me think it might have been something else? Winchester primers. Never had a problem before, they simply did not fire at all. Don't know if moisture was a possibility? Wouldn't think so, but don't know what else could have been. Caught myself looking at the hammer firing pin in disbelief after fumbling to get the second one out. Will definitely be looking at these primers a little closer and doing some testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Mine was also Winchester. My buddy works at the primer factory here in IL. If you still have them send them to me. His team researched the issue. He asked for mine last time but I had already discarded it. The main plant moved a couple years ago and I have wondered about the quality since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Dunno Frank, how does shipping work with primers? Can I mail them, didn't think you could without paying a hazmat fee? I had the primer holder and quickloaders in my parka pocket, they had been there since the season opened last week. Parka was kept in a plastic tote outside on our porch. Would not think moisture would have been an issue, not been rained on, but don't know. Went back and pulled that card on the camera this morning. Just before I shot him. First time I have had one at a camera when I shot. He was more broadside to me from where i shot at the other end of the field. The 240 grain xtp mag hit rib bone, exited right where i was aiming, entry slightly back but should not have hit the guts. Think the piece of rib bone deflected back and just barely clipped into the guts. Using 115 grains loose triple 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 Great looking buck, William. Way to get it done. That's quite a poke. Love the trailcam pic before the shot. Our season starts on the first for a couple of days. It might be my best chance at a buck with all that is going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanHalen Posted November 16, 2014 Report Share Posted November 16, 2014 I had a health issue last year that now has me not working. However buddies of mine, 10 total, that I went to high school with at least some land about 45 minutes from my home in Southern Birmingham Alabama. Having 120 years and now getting back into it again cameras are big big deal. To be honest gun season doesn't start until 11/22 so I have been hunting with a crossbow. My question is this, to find a mature buck, should I be looking for bedding areas feeding areas or both? It seems like the wind is always blowing north or northwest. We have 1200 acres which a bit of it is click clear cut but we have patches of plans and hardwoods with peaks and valleys. I have always been told to hunt in the thickest stuff but I have yet to find any buck sign. I'm attaching a satellite pic of the property. Any and all help will be much appreciated because I feel a little overwhelmed. My health issue with stage for colon cancer. I'm 42. Please find out if you have any history and your family of cancer. Because that's all the doctors at UAB have asked me. Do you and your family a favor. GOD BLESS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Welcome to the forums Stan. Sorry to hear about your cancer. You would probably get better response starting a new thread. That said, tough to really say where you would be best to hunt, cannot see the map. Hunt between food and bedding. Look for funnels. Surely the 10 buddies of yours will be able to help you out some too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 good deal william, nothimg like a good muzzle loader buck! ! i switched from winchester ammo this year because at the range over the off season i had 4 different fail to fires with ballistic silvertips in 7mm and accubonds in 7mm-08. thought I should share that after hearing your primer issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 William, just hang on to them - I'll ask my friend about the shipping. He's management so I would think they would know how to ship and take care of any expense. That's really great about the trail cam picture. Adds another "coolness factor" to what's already the best sport on earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Any guesses on age based on the trail cam pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Great buck!! Congratulations William!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 17, 2014 Report Share Posted November 17, 2014 Congrats William! That buck is a beauty! I had a similar situation with my muzzleloader a few years ago. I think i narrowed it down to the cold making the firing pin a little sticky & not hitting the primer hard enough on my bolt action. In my case it was about 20 degrees, and just like you it took three times for it to loosen up enough to fire. I must have gotten a little bore butter around it and it just got too thick when it was cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Nice deer William, congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Any guesses on age based on the trail cam pic? 3.5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bug House Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Nice buck! Congrats! I was gonna guess 3.5yrs as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Thanks everyone. Actually my first typical 10. He is a little lacking with mass and spread. I am not an expert but i did check his teeth, pretty sure he is a 3.5 year old. Congrats William! That buck is a beauty! I had a similar situation with my muzzleloader a few years ago. I think i narrowed it down to the cold making the firing pin a little sticky & not hitting the primer hard enough on my bolt action. In my case it was about 20 degrees, and just like you it took three times for it to loosen up enough to fire. I must have gotten a little bore butter around it and it just got too thick when it was cold. Don't think there was anything on the hammer/ firing assembly to gum or freeze up, but i will definitely check into that. Don't want that to happen again, doubt i will ever have a buck stand that long again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Wow sorry I'm late to the game. Congrats on s great trophy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosierhunter Posted November 19, 2014 Report Share Posted November 19, 2014 Grr this app drives me nuts...anyway, first typical 10 is awesome! My dad has hunted for alot of years and only shot 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2014 Grr this app drives me nuts...anyway, first typical 10 is awesome! My dad has hunted for alot of years and only shot 1. First deer is still my best scoring deer to date, he was a typical 9 point. Been running trail cams since about 2002 and including this one only gotten trail cam pics of i think a total of 4 deer with 10 or more typical points. The majority of bucks here that make it past 2.5 never go beyond a main frame 8. And yeah the app still has a lot of issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted November 23, 2014 Report Share Posted November 23, 2014 Beautiful buck William, congrats!! You and mrswtn are having a great year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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