|
Post by darrellh on Nov 24, 2016 21:12:47 GMT -5
Hey Guys, I spent last Sunday afternoon scouting an area on the Chattahoochee National Forest in North Georgia that I had hunted last year. Last year in this area, I had seen several deer (including a couple of bucks) and it was covered up with scrapes. I intentionally stayed out of the area this year until now. During last Sunday's scouting trip, I found a good rub line and a couple of scrapes, so I hung a stand and left the area. I hunted the stand on Thanksgiving morning and around 10:00 a.m. this 8 point came cruising thru searching for does. I hit him through both shoulders with a 240 grain Swift A-Frame from my 6" Freedom Arms 44 Mag. The shot took the use of his front legs away from him and he pushed himself out of sight with his rear legs. I didn't think that he would go far, and he didn't. I walked up to him and he was lying on his back with his antlers in the dirt. However, he was still breathing so I put another A-Frame through his chest cavity and this ended things quickly. Due to the fact that I was about a mile away from the truck with no road or trail to drag him out on, I hoisted him in a nearby tree, skinned, deboned and packed him out. Ready for transport: On my back and ready to go. It was a difficult pack out around the side of a mountain in wet leaves, but I tried not to complain. It had been an awesome morning to be in the woods. This is the second deer that I have taken with my Freedom Arms .44 Mag purchased from board member and friend/mentor Ken O'Neill. It is quickly becoming a favorite.
|
|
paulg
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,420
|
Post by paulg on Nov 24, 2016 22:12:13 GMT -5
Excellent and kudos on a very nice hunt and venison package. Great job and thank you for taking the time to share it with us.
|
|
|
Post by zeus on Nov 24, 2016 22:21:18 GMT -5
Darrell, as always, nice work!!! Absolutely the hardest hunter I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Guys, this man hunts the hard way!!!! When I grow up, I want to be like Darrell! Way to go buddy! Never fails to impress!!!! I'd love to tag along and film some of DHs hunts!
|
|
Odin
.327 Meteor
Posts: 971
|
Post by Odin on Nov 24, 2016 23:15:12 GMT -5
What a beautiful buck! Fantastic work, Darrell, thanks for sharing.
|
|
|
Post by zeus on Nov 24, 2016 23:44:12 GMT -5
Got a pic handy of Last years deer with the O'Neill 44?
|
|
|
Post by sixshot on Nov 25, 2016 0:52:40 GMT -5
Nice buck Darrell, what Red Dot is that on your Freedom Arms, Burris Fast Fire or Delta Point?
Dick
|
|
|
Post by markhampton on Nov 25, 2016 8:02:25 GMT -5
A mature buck on public land with a revolver -- that's getting it done the hard way. Congrats Darrell! Great job -- and fine looking FA.
|
|
|
Post by Ken O'Neill on Nov 25, 2016 8:11:05 GMT -5
Congratulationson a fine day, Darrell! That FA is indeed a great .44. I'm glad it passed into active hunting hands!
|
|
|
Post by bulasteve on Nov 25, 2016 8:25:11 GMT -5
Very nice ! Also, thank you for the finishing shot. The right thing to do in my mind.
|
|
|
Post by magman on Nov 25, 2016 8:27:11 GMT -5
Congrats there Darrell.
|
|
|
Post by darrellh on Nov 25, 2016 9:02:45 GMT -5
You're way too generous Glenn, but thanks! My hunting is more of a "blind hog eventually finds an acorn" kinda thing. I do, here is last year's buck taken with the FA 44 Mag: Thanks Dick! This is a Trijicon RMR; RM06 model to be specific. Thank you Ken! Wherever the red dot is, that's where the bullet goes with this gun. My biggest challenge is to keep that red dot from bouncing! Thanks again for all of your remarks guys, I appreciate it! Darrell H
|
|
|
Post by zeus on Nov 25, 2016 9:15:10 GMT -5
Whatever bud, Blind hogs are not conisistent year after year after year. You put in the time and MILES and it pays off maybe not everyday but no one is that "lucky". ESPECIALLY on public land.
That deer from last year is even bigger than I remember.
|
|
|
Post by BigBore44 on Nov 25, 2016 9:21:05 GMT -5
Great looking bucks, Darrell. Congrats to you, Sir!!! That's a good lookin rig you hunt with to and, in my favorite caliber, the good'ol 44 Mag Enjoy the good grub. BigBore44
|
|
|
Post by schunter on Nov 25, 2016 9:30:51 GMT -5
Congratulations Darrell!
I agree wholeheartedly with Glenn - the most persistent and dedicated Hunter I know. Scores consistently, with a wheelgun. On public ground. WAY back in there.
And couldn't be a nicer guy. Proud to call him a friend.
|
|
KRal
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,029
|
Post by KRal on Nov 25, 2016 10:24:32 GMT -5
Congrats, DH! Being mainly a public land handgun hunter myself, I can say "It's not easy!". Now, as far as the blind hog remark...we all know a hog has a very good sense of smell and most critters that are disabled in one of their senses, really excel in one or more of their others. This explains why this blind hog consistently finds acorn; he smells them very well!
I always look forward to DH's hunting adventures, they alway make for good reading.
Darrell, if you would, expound on you reason of the RMR. I know you experimented with most of the major brands of reflex sights and settled on the trijicon; why?
|
|