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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #5982746 10/18/15 07:41 PM
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Nice deer!

up Awesome about getting drawn! Good luck! I myself got drawn this year for Youth only Mule deer antlerless hunt at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. And this is the first year I applied peep

Last edited by chital_shikari; 10/18/15 07:42 PM.
Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: grout-scout] #5982802 10/18/15 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted By: grout-scout
So what model & caliber is going to the Chap and who's riding along out West with you? I remember from the Marlin Forum (I think it was that one) that you had quite a collection.

Yeah, I got quite a few and a complete line of Rossi leverguns as well. I'm still pondering the whitetail hunt, it really will depend on what I end up doing with what rifle on the ranch during our whitetail season. I haven't done any hunting with my 336D (35 Rem) in years and was thinking about it.

For this mule deer hunt I was thinking about my Rossi R92 scout rifle chambered in 45 Colt with my TLC454-290-RF cast bullet. This little rifle is very accurate, a 1.25 MOA shooter, and light weight. Coupled with a saddle ring sling, you don't even know that you are carrying it. I load it to 35.0K PSI so it isn't grandpa's 45 Colt, it really sends that 290-grain bullet downrange. I've killed a couple of large hogs with it out at 200 yards and it just dumps them. Here is what I expect out of it at 200-yards.



I was hoping to do a nilgai hunt this year but it is not going to happen. Would have used the Rossi R92 scout chambered in 454 Casull with my 330-grain bullet. I'd favor it for saddle sling carry being those hunts cover so much ground.

I also have a Remington 600 chambered in 35 Rem that I absolutely love but never take hunting because I love the levers. Not sure I could leave a lever home and favor it. I think there would be an uprising in my gun room!


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #5983841 10/19/15 03:56 PM
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elvisp_bucks Offline
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I would shot something that is more capable of making a 200 to 300 yard shot


Jason
Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #5984637 10/20/15 12:57 AM
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His 200 yard target looks pretty good to me and half of the fun in hunting is using something that you enjoy. There's a reason why some guys quit using high powered magnum center fire rifles and start bow hunting, takes the fun out of it.

I like seeing the man use a traditional old western type rifle and like him, I love the look and low weight of lever actions as well.

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: elvisp_bucks] #5985304 10/20/15 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted By: elvisp_bucks
I would shot something that is more capable of making a 200 to 300 yard shot

Oh, so that would be my 444 Marlin. I'm not the least interested in long range hunting. I like spending the time to work in close. If it doesn't work out, it's not a big deal for me as I enjoyed the hunt. Almost all the desert mule deer I've killed, have been inside 100 yards.


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6077703 12/11/15 02:25 AM
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Just got home and a bit tied up with "to do's". Here is a teaser.... will be back as soon as I can.

  • 2X3
  • 21 7/8"
  • 158# field dressed
  • 7 1/2 years or older
Only mature deer I saw.


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6077718 12/11/15 02:32 AM
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Congratulations. Tell us the details when you have time.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6077746 12/11/15 02:41 AM
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Awesome


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6077934 12/11/15 05:02 AM
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Nice Muley

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078111 12/11/15 01:41 PM
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up texas

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078737 12/11/15 08:31 PM
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Still trying to get my head above water but thought I would post some more pictures. This was a pretty tough hunt, I think all four hunters would say this and all of us have experience hunting mule deer. The deer were not moving well, the staff felt it might be just a bit early on the rut phase, and the deer I shot was the only mature buck I saw. Only saw four does, two of which were yearlings. Saw a bunch of spikes and forkies that were very young. On the first afternoon, I saw a "classic" framed 4x4 about 900 yards away and took about 400 yards off the distance and decided he was only about 3 1/2 and I just wasn't interested. As fate would have it, I saw this deer the last morning in the same area but on my road in the dark. He was about 15 yards away. I rolled down my window and talked to him, he did not wander off. In about 3 years when he stops putting everything into skelton, he will make a dandy for some lucky hunter!

I had parked my truck on the perimeter road of my unit before daylight on my final morning and wanted to work back up the road still hunting the ravines that crossed the road and glassing the slopes. I worked my way up the road with the wind in my face and sun behind me for two miles until I got to a point that the FBI crossed in front of me going up to the top of the mountain to work on some of their monitoring stuff on the top. I hadn't seen anything so I started the 2 miles back. On the return, I saw only the 2 yearling does and a whitetail spike. I was a bit discouraged.

I decided to drive out the way I had been and go to the west side of my units. As I approached the point I turned around on my still hunt, I saw this deer moving down a gradual incline toward the perimeter fence. My truck was at a choke point on the road with heavy brush on both sides and the sun behind it so I got out and started to move slowly up the road. I honestly thought that I would not see the buck again as all it had to do was stop in the thicket but just as I thought that the buck came out on the road ahead of me and slid to a stop (literally). I think he saw my truck but not me as I was on the edge of the road in the shade. His nose was about six feet from the fence and had he crossed he would have been good for another day. Instead, he turned and started to run down the road away from me.

I had already slid my left arm through the Savage Scout's shooting sling and brought the rifle up. He was running straight away and I was bellering at him but my crosshairs were pretty solid on him. As he hit a raised rainfall diversion across the road, he twisted around to look at me and I lit it off. The "splat" of the bullet hitting him echoed down the valley, it was loud. I had shot about 200 rounds the week prior to this hunt and had instinctively taken all the slack out of the AccuTrigger and when I thought "go", it went". I love that trigger!

I also couldn't believe that I had shot at the buck standing, offhand, at what I figured was about 160-yards. At the shot the deer had just pranced over the diversion and went out of sight. I waited a few minutes and easied up the road to the point I could peep over the diversion and I saw some blood and a bit of lung in the road. I went back and sat at the truck for another 15 minutes and let myself relax. I used the rangefinder to measure from where I stood to where he was and it was 171-yards. Once better suited for another follow up shot, if needed, I worked up the road and immediately past the diversion could see that the rocks leaving the road where sprayed with blood. He laid in some rocks and yuccas about 15 yards away. It was quite a sense of accomplishment and relief that the hunt was completed.

I had camped at the "primitive" site which is as it is described and is very remote from the headquarters and anything else. They do have awnings with picnic tables, a compost toilet, fire rings, and a tap with non-potable water. I placed my tent under the awning and a tarp over the table. Hey with almighty sky and horizon, I didn't find the need for that dark, nasty toilet either! When the lights go out in this country, they go out and it gets cold. The first night, the night before the hunt, it froze pretty hard. All my water was frozen. Wasn't as bad the following nights. It would be windy at times but not bad during the night. Coons and javelinas will mess with your sight at night.

Staff is very friendly and willing to help. There is a walk in cooler to store the deer but once you shoot, you are done. You cannot go back into your units, only the campsite.

Finally, to describe this deer as a 2X3 just doesn't do the old fellow the justice he deserves after living the tough life he surely led. Here is how he places with some of his compadres immediately across the WMA's eastern fence that I have been lucky enough to hunt a bit over the years.



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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078764 12/11/15 08:44 PM
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Oh, didn't mention but the 180-grain bullet hit the exact spot that I had aimed at, on the last rib and out the forward edge of the opposite arm pit. It had sliced the aorta off right across the top of the heart and taken out the bottom of both lungs.


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078779 12/11/15 08:52 PM
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Great job and good shootin'. Thanks for all the pictures; gives a good feel for the place.


...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078813 12/11/15 09:17 PM
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great story, felt like I was there

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078843 12/11/15 09:34 PM
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Thanks guys!

I've kept the maps and all kinds of notes. If anyone is drawn in the future, do not hesitate to PM about the info.

Also the hotel & food situation in Alpine is very good and reasonable. I think that if I were ever to return, I would just stay in town particularly in that I hunt alone. The nights are plenty long and it is only a short drive. This place leaves you wanting a hot shower at the end of the day.


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078853 12/11/15 09:42 PM
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Keep forgetting to add stuff...

Saw five bighorns, four rams and one ewe. On the drive out saw five mature cow elk and a flock of turkeys. What a great place!


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Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078890 12/11/15 10:03 PM
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Great write up and congrats!

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6078926 12/11/15 10:33 PM
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Congrats on an awesome hunt!

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6079062 12/12/15 12:05 AM
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Congrats! Great writeup and pics!

Re: Drawn ~ Elephant Mountain! [Re: Ranch Dog] #6079478 12/12/15 04:39 AM
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Thanks guys!


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