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Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
#7407496
01/17/19 10:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 121
HankTheTank
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 121 |
Howdy! Late report, but made my first trip to SHNF on 1/1 - 1/4. Took my dad's .270 he gave me last year (and got a nilgai with at LANWR) and an antlerless permit in hopes of coming home with a doe and some good memories. Arrived and setup camp in the evening before rain came in later around midnight. Spent most of Wednesday in the tent and around camp, but took a drive in the evening to a couple areas of interest and familiarize myself with the roads, etc. Thursday was still rainy so went out to some bottoms/creeks and bumped a hog, but not shot available (good in retrospect). That evening I checked out a new area with fresh hog sign and still hunted a few hundred yards before making my way back to the road and my van. I liked this area because it had good hardwoods, water, and was open for decent visibility/shot opportunities, but little fresh sign. Friday morning decided to go back to that area from Thurs. evening and stand under a tree for a couple hours and see what happens. About 8:30 I decided to stalk up to a nearby hilltop and scout new areas. Got up the hill around 9:30 and saw good fresh sign that deer were actively using the area and decided to stay until lunch. Stood between two big pines with good views all around and an active trail about 20 yards in front of me and wind in my face. Everything sounded like deer...the birds, squirrels, wind, only to be dissapointed. Then at 10:00, I'm startled as I see a deer body on the trail directly in front of me (that I just came in on about 30 minutes before), but it's head was behind two small trees. Through a small space I saw antlers and they looked nice. He stepped out and I about pissed myself when I saw his profile. Tempered my expectations as I knew he needed to be at least 13 inches wide. A brief glance directly at me and I still wasn't sure, but knew he was close to legal. He took a few steps, glanced my way again, and I felt good that he was legal and would take the first good shot he presented. He turned broadside and casually walking up the trail when I aimed just behind the right shoulder and fired. Watched him take off the way he came in and after a few minutes checked out the impact site. There was good blood and sign of a lung shot. After waiting about 15 minutes, I couldn't wait anymore and followed his trail. About 60-75 yards, this is what I found...mass, bladed tines, 10 1/4" left G2, 10 3/4" right G2, and spread of 14 5/16". Hope this hasn't spoiled me, but can't wait to get out there again. At some point I'll get off my arse and start shooting my old Bear Grizzly again. That and being with my kids on a hunt like this is about the only thing that could make this any sweeter.
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7407929
01/18/19 06:46 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862
swampthang
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,862 |
Congrats,nice buck. Looks like a 3.5 year old. Strange he was wandering around in broad daylight that late in the morning on heavy-hunted public land. I would think the rut is long over in that part of the state. Maybe he was just REAL hungry. LOL. Good for you being in the right place at the right time.
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7408166
01/18/19 04:18 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 197
ETXRaider
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 197 |
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7408812
01/19/19 03:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,005
Whack n stack
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,005 |
awesome deer, especially on public! congrats!
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7408990
01/19/19 08:15 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534 |
Awesome deer for the area! Congrats
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7409444
01/20/19 04:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7410228
01/21/19 01:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 834
D Rogers
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 834 |
~Dustin
"Life's complicated, man, like a dang ol' Rubik's cube, man. Talkin' 'bout blue and red, man. Dang ol' get one side, dang ol' messed up th' other side, man."
-Boomhauer
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7410950
01/21/19 10:23 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816
Bigfoot
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,816 |
Now that is a true trophy and great story! Congrats!!
GO TRUMP!
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: Whack n stack]
#7411787
01/22/19 06:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548
SenkoSamurai
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548 |
awesome deer, especially on public! congrats! +1
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: SenkoSamurai]
#7413979
01/24/19 08:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 478
JB1316
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 478 |
that's a bad a$$ Deer. Great job!
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Re: Sam Houston Nat'l Forest Success!
[Re: HankTheTank]
#7415422
01/26/19 04:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,612
1860.colt
emoji colt.45
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emoji colt.45
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 13,612 |
Awesome...
i'm postaddic
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