opening day Lampasas county 8pt

I never hold out much hope for opening weekend at my ranch outside of Lometa. The chips have never really fallen into place for me, I am usually either helping my old man hunt or it's to hot. This year my luck changed. Saturday afternoon the wind picked up a little bit so I snuck out to my blind in the middle of my main pasture where I can see about 200-400 yards in any direction and its waste high grass with scattered pecan trees. Around 330 I was watching a main deer trail 200 yards out on the tree line when a doe popped out. Five seconds later a buck appeared with his nose to the ground. I have only seen this guy once before and it was last weekend. I told myself last Friday that if I saw him I was shooting. I new it was him so I grabbed the rifle. He was trailing slow with his head down and never stopped. I let the 300wm shoot and he humped up and dove back into the trees. I new it was a good hit. I walked back to the house and grabbed Pepper, my Catahoula and went back out. She made short work of the blood trail. 30 yards at best, but still good work for her. I couldn't be happier with this deer. He is my biggest 8 point to date. And in my opinion a great deer for northern Lampasas county. We don't see to many larger 8's on my place. Just thought I would share. I didnt hear much shooting this weekend either.

John

That's a good one! Congrats!

Nice buck....

I hunt down the road and was happy I got an 8 that was half as wide and half as tall. Great buck.

Good looking buck
Congrats

Very nice

very nice

Very nice buck. Congrats!

That's a pretty deer. Pretty dog too. Looks just like my.mini Aussie, only larger. Luna even has the blue right eye.

Great looking buck. Congrats

Congratulations that is a heck of an 8 point anywhere Very symmetrical, big thick bases and a wide one to boot
Do you know how wide of an inside spread?

BTW good looking pup!

Great buck, Congrats!

Thanks everyone! Stub, he almost broke 20 inches inside. His g3's flared out a little giving him a little extra something on the measurement. As for Pepper, she's my biggest pain in the butt yet my favorite hunting partner all rolled into 1. She is the typical Catahoula. Hyper, hard headed, and very smart. She only listens to me and goes out of her way to ignore everyone else. My wife hates her. But she can track blood like its nobody's business. I've watched her pick fights with more than one hog. She lost a few of them but won a few as well. I have to carry a medical stapler in my hunting pack just for her. I've thought about offering her services for tracking but just don't know how she will react with other hunters around. It has always just been me. Maybe when she gets a bit older. She is 3 1/2 right now.

Nice buck. Real pretty dog. Catahoula is a great breed.

Good deer!

About as purdy 8 as you're going to find

congrats

Fantastic buck congrats

Very symmetrical, a fine buck anywhere, and I think it would make a great looking Euro-mount...

Awesome buck - looks like he was definitely in his prime. I would vote this for THF cover photo of the month!

Nice buck. Good to let dog get some work.

Thanks Halfadozen! I made a guess on his age the week before. Pretty sure he was a 4 year old. I suspect he is a deer I had living at a feeder 2 years ago. Same horn structure just much bigger. I may be off. I try not to get to deep into the age, history of deer debate. If I see a deer that I like, I go after it. That may not be the popular vote here but it is what it is. I plan to shoulder mount him in a full sneak so he looks like he trailing a doe.

GREAT 8! Please post pictures after you finish the taxidermy.