A great hunt with C3 Guide

Recently just got back from a hunt with Cody and had a great time. It went a little different than I expected. I had originally planned on hunting with the muzzleloader and had it in the blind with me at the moment of truth. We had seen some great Axis upon entering the field to where I was going to be hunting, Cody felt like it would be best if we set up a popup blind where the Axis entered the brush at. So we set it up and it would give me about a 150 yard or so shot if they returned. Well I got settled in and whitetails and axis started coming into the field about a hour later. No feeder, No high fence, just grazing!! About another hour later the bucks showed up and I was going to get my shot. I ranged it and it showed 126 yards, got the shooting sticks up and the muzzy ready, pulled the trigger and the gun just didn't sound like it should have, excessive smoke and a different sound. Needless to say, I really don't think I made a good shot because of the way the gun went off. I tried to pull back on the bolt on my Knight to extract the primer out of the gun and it would not budge, I worked on it for about 10 minutes or so and could not get the primer out, it had swelled up and was stuck. Bumming, I quickly remembered I had my 25.06 up in the truck and it was still early enough that I had time to go get it. I went over to where the axis was standing when I shot and found no blood or hair so I figured I had a clean miss. I made the long trek back to my truck got my gun and went back to the field that I was hunting. I was loaded with a 110 grain accubonds and this being my favorite gun was ready to hope something would enter into the field again. When I got down to the field I looked at the other end of it I seen a good buck feeding in the field. Lucky, I guess so!!! I made my way over to a blowdown and got a steady rest since my shooting sticks were still in the popup along with my rangefinder, I guessed the buck at about a 150 yards or so. Took a deep breath and put it on its front shoulder, the buck kicked and took off at a dead run. He went about 50 yards or so and piled up!! I was elated with my first Axis buck.
My hunt was over yet, I went back on Wednesday afternoon and killed a great Rio that afternoon. Thanks Cody, had a great hunt!!

Thanks for the kind words! Enjoyed meeting you guys. Look forward to the summer hunt! Was on the ranch were you shot yours at and seen several big velvet axis bucks I think it was the group you and I seen.

You just get that hard horned tied up for me Cody!!! Looking forward to getting back down there and hunting with you again!! Thanks for everything including the taxidermy bill!!!!

I'm tentatively scheduled in the fall, I need for my wife's schedule to be confirmed, I'll know early in June. She teaches part time so the hunt has to work around her teaching days. I'm looking at the last Fri/Sat in September based on her tentative schedule. It's not a matter of if I'm going it's the dates.

Congratulations.

Congrats!

nsmike, looking forward to it. The sika will be looking great when you come down. Also bring a gun for some pigs.if not you can shoot our silenced 308

I do definitely plan on taking some pigs after the deer hunt. I always bring two rifles. I had a friend, drop a rifle, breaking the scope on an out of state hunt. I always have that in mind when I'm a long ways from home. I have a Brno 7mm that I haven't blooded yet so that's the one I likely use. It weighs 7 lbs even with scope and sling. The back up will either be a Mauser custom 30/06 or a Ruger 77 in 243.

Don't forget the AR Mike.... For backup....

Congrats to all!

Thanks!

Nice axis.

If gods of the green wishes I will soon go on this hunt with C3.

Congratulations !!!!

I'm looking to book an Axis hunt with C3. This thread just got me that much more excited to get it booked. I've been trading emails with Diane on the details. When is the best time to go? Any recommendation?

The biggest percentage of bucks being in hard antler and rutting I've heard is late June. They can be hard antlered at anytime but there are peaks. The bucks that rut in June will lose their antlers about November so early fall is doable but you'll have a bigger percentage broken up.

Thanks guys!! I have found out that the taxidermist bill is cheaper in the hard horn!!