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Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck #8475456 12/14/21 04:38 PM
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Txduckman Offline OP
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Well really just took one dog.

Hadn't been out since 2nd weekend in Nov.. Got to our place in Montague Sat at 1 and wanted to fill a feeder before the hunt so did that and noticed battery showed low and corn was directly under feeder from morning but didn't think much of it. We got in blind about 3:30 and bumped 4 doe who ran to next county. Then the cows came through for next 45 minutes thinking this sucks. I threw corn everywhere earlier and saw one doe hit some on a road so at least we saw a deer. Feeder should have gone off at 4:15 and didn't dangit. I walk down to it at 4:40 and sure enough battery had enough to barely spin so corn just fell directly down.

Get back in blind and few more cows right in front of feeder. At 5 my son says he sees a deer behind feeder and sure enough it was a buck. He walked up to the pen and stood there for 10 minutes not moving. I recognize him from one picture taken in October over a mile away. He had a perfect rack on one side and weird on other. Didn't even think it was branched but after studying him I see a tine coming off the beam so he wasn't unbranched. He looked big and old though. Then I realized he was way wider than 13 inches so legal. He finally jumped in and ate corn I threw out earlier but never moved from quartering to. I wanted my boy to who is 16 and been hunting with me since he was 5 to get his buck. I say shoot that front shoulder with his 243 100 grain bullet. Deer never turned so he shot and he just jumped literally directly to his side and out of the pen. Son said he saw him standing in two places in the tree about 50 yards away but no shot andnhe was gone. Waited about 10 minutes to look for sign of shoot and any blood but nothing. Looked for about 100 yards and nothing. Son goes to where he saw him standing and found one nickel size blot of blood on a leaf. With dark and thick so no lung or heart dangit. Guys at camp offered to look but there was no way to know where he went so we drive back to camp thinking we will look in morning. It was already 34 degrees and going to be in low 20s. Just too marginal of a shot and could bump it. Then I knew what to do and texted a guy who knows everyone around there and ask if he knows of a tracker. He found one I think some have used but after going back and forth he says he can't make it so contacts another one. He puts me in touch with a guy out of Bryson and agrees to meet at 9:30 next morning.

We have a good time at camp and he was at gate at 9:30 sharp with his dogs and buddy. Drive to feeder and dogs head out and nothing for 30 minutes. We get separated so my son and I are walking randomly with one dog and finally go back to pen. Then tracker comes back and said get your dragging shoes on!! Found him 400 yards away right before our deep dry creek. We drive to another blind that is closer and they drag him down and up the creek for us!! Awesome feeling my son got his first buck and I made sure did everything I could to recover it for him!!

Was worth the $300 plus $100 tip!! Didn't know if meat was still good but was in low 20s so hung him up and cut into it and smelled horrible. I decided not to gut as bullet fragmented and was full of blood. I took the backstrapa and back hams. Still smelled bad from the blood but cleaned them up at home and put on ice and meat is perfect. Will take to Kubys tomorrow after resting. Deer was biggest body I have seen out there so was possibly bad genetic so no one shot him and grew old. Ended up being 17 inches inside and had 3 pts on the jacked up side. Super happy.for him finally. He had an opportunity to take a really big one for our place 3 years ago but was too scared and let me shoot him. That guy went 148. If we did this again I would have waited for a broadside shot for him to take.

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Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475461 12/14/21 04:45 PM
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Good story and recovery..

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475488 12/14/21 05:19 PM
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up Glad it ended well. Cool buck.


...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: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475559 12/14/21 06:21 PM
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Good outcome. clap

Move the Lad up to a 7mm-08 and you can increase your shot angles. Recoil is barely more than the .243 but results (with a 140 bullet out to 300 yds.) are decidedly better. And IF you have 'hogs' better on them too.


Spartans ask not...how many, but where!
Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475568 12/14/21 06:28 PM
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Good one for the boy. Good for you for getting the dog.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475583 12/14/21 06:44 PM
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I saw these photos on your trackers Facebook. He’s a pretty cool guy. And has great dogs. I’ve only had to use him once, but have stayed in touch. Congrats on the buck.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: spacejunkie] #8475585 12/14/21 06:46 PM
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Glad you got the deer.


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Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475612 12/14/21 07:35 PM
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Congrats to your son on his 1st buck. It's definitely an unusual trophy & he'll remember it forever.

Good tracking dogs are priceless. I know it's a little bit different than deer trackers, but here's y'all a song to commemorate the success.
Cheers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPXJLaswrDk



Last edited by Dodge_Rock; 12/14/21 07:37 PM.
Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475638 12/14/21 07:59 PM
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Congrats to you and your hunter!

Charlie


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Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475643 12/14/21 08:03 PM
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Care to share the trackers name?


At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475657 12/14/21 08:22 PM
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Glad ya'll were able to recover your son's first deer. Also happy that some of the meat was salvageable .

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8475682 12/14/21 08:53 PM
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Awesome hunt and deer. Please share trackers name/info or pm if you get a chance. My dog is good but always good to have a back up.

My .243 is my favorite whitetail gun. Have busted through plenty of front shoulders on that same shot with it and a good bullet. Have also seen a bullet ricochet off a single front side rib so I guess you can always have that rare “wish I brought the .270” moment.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Double AC] #8476198 12/15/21 03:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Double AC Ranch
Awesome hunt and deer. Please share trackers name/info or pm if you get a chance. My dog is good but always good to have a back up.

My .243 is my favorite whitetail gun. Have busted through plenty of front shoulders on that same shot with it and a good bullet. Have also seen a bullet ricochet off a single front side rib so I guess you can always have that rare “wish I brought the .270” moment.


Thanks everyone. I can say if you have blood but no deer, a dog is worth every penny. Known too many who give up or not look enough.

Starting 3 years ago I have only used my sons 243 and everything was DRT or easy tracking job. My big buck went 200 yards but easy blood trail so it is all about shot placement. Only used a 30.06 before that on 60+ deer/pigs but that 243 shoots so nice. Every pig and doe we have shot has gone right down.

Tracker was Quint Hare. Referred to us by Rcky Loftis and then Michael Moore. Said they have plenty of clients in the area lol.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8476222 12/15/21 04:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Txduckman
Originally Posted by Double AC Ranch
Awesome hunt and deer. Please share trackers name/info or pm if you get a chance. My dog is good but always good to have a back up.

My .243 is my favorite whitetail gun. Have busted through plenty of front shoulders on that same shot with it and a good bullet. Have also seen a bullet ricochet off a single front side rib so I guess you can always have that rare “wish I brought the .270” moment.


Thanks everyone. I can say if you have blood but no deer, a dog is worth every penny. Known too many who give up or not look enough.

Starting 3 years ago I have only used my sons 243 and everything was DRT or easy tracking job. My big buck went 200 yards but easy blood trail so it is all about shot placement. Only used a 30.06 before that on 60+ deer/pigs but that 243 shoots so nice. Every pig and doe we have shot has gone right down.

Tracker was Quint Hare. Referred to us by Rcky Loftis and then Michael Moore. Said they have plenty of clients in the area lol.



Nothing wrong with a 243, been killing deer and pigs with one for 27 years. Plenty of gun, just hit your mark.

Bullets are important.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: skinnerback] #8476226 12/15/21 04:15 AM
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Originally Posted by skinnerback
Originally Posted by Txduckman
Originally Posted by Double AC Ranch
Awesome hunt and deer. Please share trackers name/info or pm if you get a chance. My dog is good but always good to have a back up.

My .243 is my favorite whitetail gun. Have busted through plenty of front shoulders on that same shot with it and a good bullet. Have also seen a bullet ricochet off a single front side rib so I guess you can always have that rare “wish I brought the .270” moment.


Thanks everyone. I can say if you have blood but no deer, a dog is worth every penny. Known too many who give up or not look enough.

Starting 3 years ago I have only used my sons 243 and everything was DRT or easy tracking job. My big buck went 200 yards but easy blood trail so it is all about shot placement. Only used a 30.06 before that on 60+ deer/pigs but that 243 shoots so nice. Every pig and doe we have shot has gone right down.

Tracker was Quint Hare. Referred to us by Rcky Loftis and then Michael Moore. Said they have plenty of clients in the area lol.



Nothing wrong with a 243, been killing deer and pigs with one for 27 years. Plenty of gun, just hit your mark.

Bullets are important.


What do you like? We shoot Hornady American Whitetail 100 gr. Luckily have 1.5 boxes but that is it and have not seen a single 243 box in a store for a year now. Looks like plenty online though.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8476234 12/15/21 04:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Txduckman
Originally Posted by skinnerback
Originally Posted by Txduckman
Originally Posted by Double AC Ranch
Awesome hunt and deer. Please share trackers name/info or pm if you get a chance. My dog is good but always good to have a back up.

My .243 is my favorite whitetail gun. Have busted through plenty of front shoulders on that same shot with it and a good bullet. Have also seen a bullet ricochet off a single front side rib so I guess you can always have that rare “wish I brought the .270” moment.


Thanks everyone. I can say if you have blood but no deer, a dog is worth every penny. Known too many who give up or not look enough.

Starting 3 years ago I have only used my sons 243 and everything was DRT or easy tracking job. My big buck went 200 yards but easy blood trail so it is all about shot placement. Only used a 30.06 before that on 60+ deer/pigs but that 243 shoots so nice. Every pig and doe we have shot has gone right down.

Tracker was Quint Hare. Referred to us by Rcky Loftis and then Michael Moore. Said they have plenty of clients in the area lol.



Nothing wrong with a 243, been killing deer and pigs with one for 27 years. Plenty of gun, just hit your mark.

Bullets are important.


What do you like? We shoot Hornady American Whitail 100 gr. Luckily have 1.5 boxes and have not seen a single 243 box in a store for a year now.


For my grown up kids I started them off with 100 grain Remington Core Lokts, they work great and I used them for many years.

Then I switched to 95 grain Winchester Silver Tips. My youngest boy shot both of his deer with Silvertips.

Those are the only two bullets I have used in a 243, and they both work well if you do your part. up I have killed an awful lot of pigs with a 243, and some big nasty ones too.

I have no personal experience with the Hornady American Whitetail 100 gr rounds, but I'd bet money if you put that bullet where it's supposed to go it will work just fine. up

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8476362 12/15/21 12:58 PM
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I am glad they were able to find him for you and your boy.
Congrats to him on his first buck.


High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8476416 12/15/21 01:55 PM
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Congrats to your son on a fine first buck cheers
Good job getting a tracking dog involved for the recovery up


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Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8480064 12/19/21 04:36 AM
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Thanks. I just checked the cam setup at this feeder that was on late October to last weekend when he got him. This buck is not on a single pic. Only mature bucks on cam were one day late Oct, 11/17 to 11/20 and 11/24 & 11/26. Kinda tells you when the rut it. And oh boy did we miss out on a giant that showed one day. Very happy to get this guy. Bucks don't hit feeders where we hunt.

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8480172 12/19/21 01:45 PM
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Congrats!

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8480228 12/19/21 02:37 PM
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Congrats, enjoyed the read


Originally Posted by Chunky Monkey
Never been to a camping world. I prefer Dick's to be honest.
Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: TEXASLEFTY] #8480246 12/19/21 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by TEXASLEFTY
Congrats, enjoyed the read

cheers


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Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8480266 12/19/21 02:54 PM
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Glad your son was able to his buck. He will remember that hunt forever. up

Re: Tracking Dogs Work - Sons First Buck [Re: Txduckman] #8480313 12/19/21 03:11 PM
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Right on

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