Just joined so I thought I would share a recent hunt.

Ranch was the Leinweber Ranch in Mountain Home, 6000 acres low fence. I was using my Ruger Hawkeye with 338 Federal and 180 Ballistic Tips.

Hunt was first week in June when the rut just started. I was able to get an Axis and a nice Blackbuck. It was spot and stalk, both shots were 150 yards from sticks. I actually missed the Blackbuck on the first shot but my guide said I think you hit him so I took a 2nd shot at a running animal and dropped him with a neck shot. Turned out I missed the first shot. That 2nd shot was a miracle but I thought I was shooting at a wounded animal.

Congrats on a couple nice animals

Congrats on two very nice trophies!

Looks and sounds like a fun hunt, great looking bucks

Welcome to the Forum

Wow two great trophies!

Really nice black buck...what is the length?

Thanks for all the replies. Black Buck was 18". He wasn't a monster but he was interesting with some nice curls and his horns had an unusually narrow angle. The Axis had 32" main beams. The ranch had no supplemental feeding so everything was living off the land. The water seemed to help all the wildlife. I saw a pair of chocolate Fallow bucks but they were still growing their antlers and in velvet.

Looks like a great hunt! I love that part of Texas.....someday I'm gonna retire down there

looks like you had a great hunt...and a little luck is never a bad thing.....congrats

Congratulations on getting some fine trophies! Pretty country.

Looks like an amazing hunt! Two great animals as well.

Congrats and welcome!

Very Nice and will make two great mounts

Good work on 2 wall hangers, lots of good eating there

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Thanks Elkhunter. I know you have some really awesome mounts with beautiful eye guards.

Nice animals! Very interesting round you used for your hunt. (I've always been curious about ALL .338's). I just came home from Mt. Home, TX. I had a GREAT Axis Hunt w/ Longer Outdoors (Capt. Ryan Longer).

X2,

Congrats

338 Federal is just a 308 necked up to shoot 338 bullets. Easy on the shoulder but you can launch 200 Accubonds to 210 Partitions to 2600 FPS. Not a barn burner but good enough.

I was using now discontinued 180 Ballistic tips that I picked up for $10 a box. I loaded it with 48.5 grains of TAC which was good for 2700 fps. Worked well but probably anything would have because they were both neck shots. My 338 Federal Hawkeye is of one of my most accurate rifles so I took it.

Beautiful animals. That is a great hunting area for sure. Welcome to the forum

Very nice!

[quote=scottfromdallas]338 Federal is just a 308 necked up to shoot 338 bullets. Easy on the shoulder but you can launch 200 Accubonds to 210 Partitions to 2600 FPS. Not a barn burner but good enough.

I was using now discontinued 180 Ballistic tips that I picked up for $10 a box. I loaded it with 48.5 grains of TAC which was good for 2700 fps. Worked well but probably anything would have because they were both neck shots. My 338 Federal Hawkeye is of one of my most accurate rifles so I took it.



That's a good choice to hunt with Scott, I normally use my old 300WM for 3 reasons. First is I have a lot of confidence in my ability with it and second if I see an exceptional animal at a long distance I want to be able to reach out and touch him. Last is because when you pay if you wound an animal I want him on the ground!!! Again , congrats on 2 fine animals!! Baker

Great advice. I felt really good about the rifle, load and accuracy. I knew if I missed, I would have no excuse. I knew if I made a decent shot, I had more than enough firepower to put him down quick. I just had to control buck fever.

Thanks again for everyones positive comments. I'm a member of other forums but since I live an hunt in Texas and love it, this seemed like a forum I needed to join.

Nice axis.