Our trip started off with rain, rain, and more rain. I was beginning to wonder if this would be the trip from hell. We had spent 3 hours the afternoon before we were to leave, trying to get our rifles zeroed in.(We had each used our rifles recently and didn't have any trouble, so no we didn't just pull them out of the closet after sitting for a year) It wasn't happening. Ran out of ammo, tried different scopes on different guns, didn't have the right rings, etc . Neither one of us was gonna take the guns we were used to. We spent 3 hours Thursday morning shooting in the rain. I had to borrow a .308 from a friend, and hubby finally got a scope that would behave on a new 7mmMag that he had previously not shot. Finally got them both to hit bullseye, 2 shots back to back. We packed up, loaded up in the pouring rain. We were wet, sandy, and a little on edge. Almost came *thiiis* close to calling it off.

Got to the ranch, got our gear unpacked, and the owner arrived shortly after that. There was one other hunter to be hunting that weekend as well. We all gathered in the hunters sleeping quarters, and went over who had what guide and what we were each hunting for. The owner thought that only my hubby was shooting. He told him no, that I was hunting too or we were going home. They got it all worked out, and we were back on track. My hubby and I both wondered how the other hunter was going to do, as he seemed not quite "right" and kind of scatter-minded. Turned out he had brain cancer, was not doing well with radiation due to having had too much, and this was probably going to be his last hunting trip.

We all shot our guns to make sure we were good to go. Our guide for that day had to make a couple adjustments to the other guy's scope but got him on bullseye quickly. It was already 4:00 by then, so off we went. We all went to the same blind for that first hunt.(We weren't too thrilled, but we decided to just go with the flow and see how it went.) It was extremely large and we fit easily. Saw some fallow, axis, whitetail, only a couple of whitetail bucks, nobody was willing to pull the trigger just yet. Day 1 done

Friday morning we separated, the older guy and his guide went their way and we went ours. It was around 8:30 and we hear a shot. Sounded like a good hit, we waited for a bit then headed their way. The gentleman had taken a whopper! 36 points!





During this time the ranch manager texted our guide that another of the big boys was up front with a couple of does. We got the other guys buck loaded up and off we went to look for the next victim. Drove around for a good bit, never saw him. Dropped off the other guys buck at the cleaning rack, and got him processed. Time for lunch by then, so we went into town and grabbed a bite. As soon as we got back, both of the guides wanted to keep looking for that other buck, so off we went. Found him laying down amoungst some old cattle feeders, and broken down stands. We scared him outta there, got him moving and hubby got his trophy.





Got him processed, and back to work for me! No pressure, ha! So, we went back to the blind we had been in the first night. I had decided that if I saw one of the bucks that we had seen before, I was taking him. I couldn't get him out of my mind. We get set up, and wait. Slowww movement, animals coming from complete opposite direction, not feeling really good about it. Then here he comes, like out of dream, walking straight into us from 85 yards out. I got the gun up, no time to be nervous, fired and he bolted to the right. We lost sight of him, but I knew he wasn't far with a high shoulder shot. Sure enough he had only gone 20 more yards. :banana1:





My hubby ended up taking an axis buck Saturday morning as well. Here are some other pics, of all the animals, with our guides and the ranch owner.

Great story to go with those great deer....Congrats

Congrats on 2 fine looking bucks! Thanks for sharing the photos and the great report. Those bucks will make an awesome mount. Baker

Those are some brute's. Congrat's to both of you.

Those are some great deer congrats to the hunters

WOW!!! Congratulations on a great story and trophies!

Nice bucks! Congrats to you both!

Awesome deer!

Nice bucks, and a good read.

Thanks for sharing.

those are some fine looking trophies. Congrats!

Really good bucks. Congratulations to all of you. I hope the 3rd hunter in your bunch was equally pleased with his hunt as well.

Awesome animals.

Wow! Congrats to you all!

WOW amazing, all i can say is your blessed to have that ranch

Thanks everyone. It was a weekend I won't soon forget.

Cat-aholic, we were paying hunters at this place, we don't own it.

Congrats!

Congrats.

WOW!!!

Congratulations! Great, Great Bucks!
Where were you hunting?
Adios,
Gary

Gary, we were at Mustang Creek Ranch in Salado.

I thought that was Bill Grace in last picture. He has a beautiful place. Bought quite a few deer from him earlier thus year. That big 36 pt buck I'm sure I saw when we were there moving deer. Pictures don't do him justice. Congrats on two fine trophies!

Congrats on some nice deer.