Drew First Blood With My New 30-06

[jduckhunter]

October 1st opening day of pronghorn rifle season in eastern Wyoming I got to take my first critter with my Ruger Hawkeye Hunter in 30-06. It was going to be an easy shot or so I thought. I drove my SxS up on the top of a small hill so that we could have a look around at miles and miles of wide-open country. The plan was to locate a nice antelope buck and figure out a plan of pursuit. But when I crested the top there on the other side of the hill not 50 yards away was what I was looking for, a nice mature pronghorn and his lady friend. They looked as surprised as we were to see each other there and for several seconds we just checked each other out. That is until I stepped out of the buggy to get my rifle from the scabbard. They just started walking down the back side of that hill like they were out for a Sunday stroll, with no sense of urgency or panic. The problem was that they had their backsides toward me, and I enjoy antelope meat too much to take that shot. So, I just sat and waited and watched till they reached the bottom of the hill and decided to turn broadside to take a look back. It looked like less then 300 yards to me, so I settled the crosshairs where I wanted them and slowly squeezed the trigger. It was a bang-flop. The Hornady 150 gr. SST did its job as usual, they are dynamite on pronghorns. After the dust settled my partner in the SxS announces that the shot was 291 yards, that would have been good info a few seconds earlier, but I thanked him for it anyway. Anyone that knows me knows of my infatuation with the 30-06 caliber and when I saw the Ruger Stainless Hawkeye Hunter in 30-06, I just had to have one. I've played around with several other calibers over the years, but I keep coming back to the good old 06. I topped this one with a Leupold 4x12, I've always used 3x9's but my eyesight ain't what it used to be, and the extra power is sure nice on longer shots. I now find myself with a half a dozen 30-06's I had whittled it down to 4 but you know things happen. I'm toying with the idea of selling my Ruger Guide Gun in 30-06, if anyone wants to talk me out of it, please feel free.

 

[gillettehunter]

Good shooting.
Bruce

 

[shootist~]

Good shooting with a classic caliber. Hoping you fix the picture...

 

[ramagarret]

Awesome skills and experience.

 

[R.M.C.]

Can't go wrong with the 06, congrats on the pronghorn!! I bet someone on here will take that guide gun off your hands lol

 

[jduckhunter]

Don't know what happened to the original photo but here it is again.

 

[gbflyer]

Nice critter and great picture. Looks like you only worked one year at the sawmill. Hahaha.

 

[jduckhunter]

Nice critter and great picture. Looks like you only worked one year at the sawmill. Hahaha.

A valuable lesson was learned that day. Cutting short boards on a saw with no guard can be hazardous to your health, especially if you run into a hidden knot which causes a kick back.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Great hunt, thanks for sharing.
nothing at all wrong with the ‘06!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Heartiest congratulations. The .30-06 Springfield is one of my top 5 favorite rifle calibers of all time.

 

[colorado]

How do you guys post pictures here? I used to use photobucket and that worked fine until it became a pay service. I use imgur now, it used to work but doesn't seem to anymore? Help?

 

[shootist~]

@colorado
Just click the "Attach Files" box in the comments section and select a picture from your phone, tablet, or PC's hard drive. I'm Android, btw, so i suppose IPhone procedures will be different.

Edit: Added pic from my tablets Gallery, rifle hanging from the tripod is my 30-06.