Moved to Snyder four years ago and immediately found a hunting lease. Not great, but its close and cheap. First 2 years I saw a ton of deer and passed on a few that in hindsight I should have shot.

Last year was really tough, saw lots of bucks, no does, and antler growth was pretty bad.

This year started off great with tons of pictures in September and October of decent bucks. Then in October the farmer plowed away nearly 300 acres of CRP that my stand sits in. After that deer sightings went to nearly nothing. Pretty much had 6 weeks of pictures of mostly John Deere tractors. Hunting every weekend since the opener and saw my first deer, a young 6 pointer Thanksgiving day.

Missed last weekend to go duck hunting in Nebraska. Couldn't wait to get back cause my stand would have been undisturbed for nearly 2 weeks. Checked my camera during the week on my way back in town and had 15 pictures.

Had our Christmas party Friday night so was a little tired Saturday morning. Almost just stayed home. My CRP is gone, tons of tractor work, and have only seen 1 deer all season. Then I remembered action around my stand always picked up post-rut when bucks began hitting the feeders. Got dressed and headed out.

I make it to within 100 yards of my blind at exactly legal shooting light. What do you know, what looks to be a good buck is standing 20 yards from my blind. I knew I couldn't make that shot free handed so just stared him down. He finally jumped the fence and ran west. I was downwind of him so was hoping he didn't really figure out what I was. I picked up the pace, climbed in the blind, took out my grunt call and grunted 3-4 times. Then 200 yards away he jumps the fence and comes out. I pick up the gun but couldn't make out horns with the absence of light and the trees in the background.

He starts trotting away. When he hits hte open field I can see he's fairly tall and wide. Looks like a really nice deer. I'm realizing he's quickly getting out of 30/30 range. He finally stops about 280-300 yards out. I hold the crosshairs on the top of his back above shoulder and squeeze one off. Nothing happens. Can't see where bullet hits and deer doesn't react. I chamber a second round. Thinking I must have hit low. I raise the crosshairs over his back, pull the trigger and I miss high. What the hell. Put in a third round and thinking, I better just watch this one walk off after two misses. All of a sudden he falls. He gets up, stumbles about 10 yards and he was down for good.

I have shot about 6 boxes of this leverevolution at the range the past 2 months and I just love the ballistics of this thing. Turns out first round hit exactly where I thought it would hit. Was contemplating purchasing an -06 or a 270 a few months back, think I will stick with this 30/30.

The point of trees sticking out is 200 yards from my stand. Feeder is 70 yards from stand between stand and this point, just to the left out of picture. The little white spot to the right and above the treeline in field is the deer about 10 yards from first shot.



Not the wall hanger I was hoping for, but was a good mature deer. After only seeing 1 deer all year, wasn't going to pass him when I saw how wide and tall he was only 5 minutes after shooting hours and with him moving away. Think if I had gotten a better look would have still shot, even though I was slightly disappointed when I approached him. Just a hair under 19" inside spread. Was missing 3 bottom teeth with the rest really worn down.





The kids were more excited than daddy.

Great deer to take. Congratulations! Looks like the rolling plains to me! Good ole red dirt.

Congrats and great shot!

cool story and damnn good shooting. Congratulation on that buck.

Wow, great shot with a 30-30! What type of scope do you have on it? I have a 30-30 (iron sights) as well but used a guides .270 on my last hunt. Got to check out the specs on that leverreveolution ammo. 160g? Again congrats on a great shot.

Hell of a shot with the old red rider! Congrats!

That's an excellent deer. Definitely looks mature

Congrats

HELL OF A SHOT

Helluva first Texas buck!

Awesome!!! The leverevolution make a big difference. But with that field I would be thinking of a 25-06 at least.

Nice story and nice shot and nice buck!

Nice job congrats

Way to go

Wow, great read. Good job shooting at the range and getting comfortable with your weapon and load. I would not have thought that type of shot was possible for a 30/30, but very glad it turned out perfect for you.

Love the kid pic.

great story , thanks for sharing

great story, great deer

Currently using a $30 Tasco from Wal-Mart. Wanted to see how I liked the ammo before investing in a higher in scope. My goal was being able to consistently shoot 200 yards. If I didn't feel comfortable at 200 yards, I was going to leave the gun with open sights and invest in another rifle.

I'm currently shooting the 160 grain. According to Hornady's website they make a 140 grain as well, but I haven't been able to find it. The ONLY thing I don't like about the ammo is it causes my Marlin Barrel to heat up pretty quickly and then shoots high and groups horribly. I really want to check out the 140 grain to see if its any better.

But straight out of the case while cold I can put three shots within a qurater sized hole at 200 yards, 2 1/2" below bulls eye, do the same thing at 100 yards 2 1/2" above bullseye. Much more shooting after that it really gets worse quickly. I figure I shouldn't need more than three shots on most occaisions.

The corlockts shoot slightly bigger groups, but don't open up after continuous shooting. But when I'm 2 1/2" high at 100 yards, I'm 8" low at 200 yards.

Great shot!

I've been invited on two different deer hunts this year and was practically guaranteed a buck in the 140-150" class. Turned both of them down. Just didn't want to go sit in someone else's stand, and take advantage of someone else's scouting and or feeding.

Was also invited to hunt a high fence ranch next week for either whitetail or fallow.

This buck right here means more than any monster I could have shot on any of those hunts. Maybe some people think I'm weird, but I LOVE hunting and have no desire to go shoot a deer on these other places. Thinking of going to the high fence place and just bringing my camera.