Hill Country Buck Hunt

[Red Leg]

As I have noted in other posts, we retired to South Texas and have a place along the San Gabriel River. It is deer season here, and had a very good weekend. Normally couldn't care less, but this one went 164. About as good as we get here on the edge of the Hill Country.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats, that is a nice hill country buck!

 

[Bullthrower338]

Great buck Red Leg! Love that sticker. Congratulations Sir,
Cody

 

[Clayton]

Very nice trophy. Congratulations.

 

[BRICKBURN]

That is an incredible buck and certainly about as good as it gets.

Congrats. You sure picked a good place to retire.

 

[bluey]

nice white tail.....
looks old
congratulations

 

[gizmo]

Great deer Leg and Congrats!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Very nice buck RL!

 

[wesheltonj]

That's a huge deer for the Hill Country.

 

[Red Leg]

Great deer Leg and Congrats!

Thanks partner. Nothing like you can show a client on your ranch, but not bad for one wandering down the river.

 

[Wheels]

Great looking buck RL. Congratulations.

You picked your retirement property well.

 

[sierraone]

I would certainly be proud of that deer! Just wandering down the river you say! If I ever fish that river it should be during your deer season, with a long barrel revolver on my side!

 

[gizmo]

Thanks partner. Nothing like you can show a client on your ranch, but not bad for one wandering down the river.

Brother that's a dandy deer anywhere a fella could ever hunt. Hell im damn proud for ya.

 

[gillettehunter]

Nice buck. Well done

 

[gizmo]

Leg what rifle/ammo were you using and if you don't mind what is the story?

 

[Red Leg]

Leg what rifle/ammo were you using and if you don't mind what is the story?

It is my favorite little deer rifle - a Merkel KR1 in .270. It shoots almost anything MOA. I am currently shooting the Sako 156 gr Hammerhead which is a bit heavy for caliber, but I have yet to ever recover one.

Not much drama to this hunt. Veterans Day weekend has always seemed to usher in the start of the rut most areas we have lived and that seems to be the case here. My property is too small to hold deer (40 acres), but we always get a couple of rub and scrape lines along the river. I shot a typical little Hill Country 8-pointer on the same day last year as he cruised through at dawn.

This year the trail cameras were showing the usual little guys and a 150 class non typical with a palmate left antler. He was here last year as well, and has never shown during daylight. Anyway, with only a 200 yard walk off the patio to my stand, it is fairly easy to make a daily dawn sit. I was hoping the big fellow would get held up by a doe or another buck. This guy came along with his nose to the ground at first light and gave me a shot at about 120 yards. Aimed for the base of the neck and that was that.

 

[adgunner]

Congratulations on the buck, sir. I have a nice buck that is doing the same thing to me right now on my 50 acres, cruises through every day but only at night, hopefully he will make a mistake shortly!

 

[gizmo]

It is my favorite little deer rifle - a Merkel KR1 in .270. It shoots almost anything MOA. I am currently shooting the Sako 156 gr Hammerhead which is a bit heavy for caliber, but I have yet to ever recover one.

Not much drama to this hunt. Veterans Day weekend has always seemed to usher in the start of the rut most areas we have lived and that seems to be the case here. My property is too small to hold deer (40 acres), but we always get a couple of rub and scrape lines along the river. I shot a typical little Hill Country 8-pointer on the same day last year as he cruised through at dawn.

This year the trail cameras were showing the usual little guys and a 150 class non typical with a palmate left antler. He was here last year as well, and has never shown during daylight. Anyway, with only a 200 yard walk off the patio to my stand, it is fairly easy to make a daily dawn sit. I was hoping the big fellow would get held up by a doe or another buck. This guy came along with his nose to the ground at first light and gave me a shot at about 120 yards. Aimed for the base of the neck and that was that.

270 is my all time favorite deer rifle. I use a relatively light bullet in comparison, 130 grains, up here. Only reason I do is for the extra velocity for the wide open spaces. I've killed loads of deer with that caliber as well as pronghorn, springbok, and Impala. It was my go to of rifle in Africa. I'm a huge 270 fan, though your Merkel is certainly a far nicer rifle than my Ruger.
Sounds like a wonderful present for Veterans Day too. Which btw, happy Veterans Day and thank you very much for your service.

 

[Sand Rat]

Great looking deer @Red Leg. I've been on a major turnaround at work since the first of September but fly home this Friday and plan on being in the stand Saturday morning. Hope the East Texas boys left me something to shoot.

 

[Red Leg]

270 is my all time favorite deer rifle. I use a relatively light bullet in comparison, 130 grains, up here. Only reason I do is for the extra velocity for the wide open spaces. I've killed loads of deer with that caliber as well as pronghorn, springbok, and Impala. It was my go to of rifle in Africa. I'm a huge 270 fan, though your Merkel is certainly a far nicer rifle than my Ruger.
Sounds like a wonderful present for Veterans Day too. Which btw, happy Veterans Day and thank you very much for your service.

Very kind of you - thanks very much. Always remember absent comrades on this weekend. Too many these days. And of course, that 130 gr is the classic load for the 270.