I traded a shotgun restoration for a deer hunt on one of the best private ranches in hill country, the Lagos. I told the gun owner and ranch manager that the deal was for two of us to work on the gun and both get a deer hunt. I cut Ricky in on the deal and he took on the job of getting fore-end parts and re-blackening the barrel and action.
We packed up and went. On the way there another friend said he was taking his family to an exclusive private deer ranch too, as he was being paid to cull does and spikes. We got an invite!
Sunday night we hunted the Buena Agua Ranch and the Quintas. Brandon and I did not see any deer from our blind, but Ricky was able to use his new Stevens 200, 7mm-08 with 140 gr Accubond handloads to shoot a good doe. The 150 yd shot broke a shoulder adn exited 20" back on the opposite side, dropping her in her tracks. First deer of the season for him!
Today, we were up in the dark and headed to the Lagos. Brandon and I were in a very nice blind and Ricky was stationed elsewhere. We could shoot just about any deer with the exception of "white tag" deer. The white tag deer are introduced breeder deer (bucks or does). At 7:00AM we saw a big white tag right next to the blind. At 8:00AM we saw a group of white tags but we were too busy figuring out how to poopy in a grocery bag to shoot. At 8:30 one more deer showed up but it was pee in the bottle time so Brandon was not ready (again). Finally, I could tell I lost his attention. I was going to call Al at 9:00AM to pick us up. At 8:50AM a bunch of deer started crossing way out there. I used the rangefinder and got 250, 256 yards. Brandon got his gun, a 221 Fireball, but I decided against risking a shot that far with a light rifle and inexperienced shooter. Another big deer stepped out and stood for a while. I check the rangefinder - 297. This is somewhat controversial. I made a split second decision to let Brandon shoot my 7mm Mag. I did not expect a hit but figured if he connected at least I'd know it and we could follow up. To make this work, I sat to the side of the rifle. Picture I am holding my arms out straight in front of me, left hand over barrel holding it tight into the corner of the blind window, right hand on the pistol grip. Brandon is kneeling in my lap. He leans his face over the rifle but his head is too small so his right cheek is on the rifle but he is looking through the scope with his left eye. The instructions are simple, "if you see the deer in the middle of the lens, pull the trigger". The words just escape my mouth when "Boom" - the gun goes off. I look up to see the deer jump about 5 feet high and run into the brush with a low head, classic signs of a hit. Another deer follows that one into the brush. Now I am perplexed. Did he hit it? Do we head out there? He can't wait so we go. I rangefind back at 297 and Brandon looks for blood with the help of a bloodlight, even though it is full daylight now. Whoa, he found some. It is a piece of lung on the grass - encouraging. He trails it himself with me lagging behind 25 yds or so. The blood trail was thick enough that he could easily follow it. After 75 yard he says "Dad, I'm not going to tell you where the deer is". I look ahead and it is lying dead in a ravine. We pull it out to the trail. It is hit right in the middle of the body, about 2ribs from the back. Lucky, it was obviously quartering away hard because the 150 gr Scrirocco exited the center of the opposite shoulder. Heck of a shot on his first deer. I think a little devine intervention guided that bullet!
A great weekend camping, hunting and hanging out with a bunch of great friend and my oldest boy. It doesn't get any better!
