Yesterday, on the first of the first, I thought I would try and shoot my first deer with my .45/70.
It's shot a number of other animals and placed the final killing shot in a fallow deer but hasn't shot a deer by its self.
It's a mans gun in a boys hand so what could go wrong...
Its was a hot day and as I trudged up the steep incline my mind travelled back to all those previous summer trips to the tops of the Ruahines or the Seaward Kaikouras; it reminded me that I must book a trip down south for late February to chase the Kaikoura pigs, deer, goats and chamois one again. The sun was relentless but I made my chosen high point after only stopping once and sharing the small amount of water I had with Eva the Hungarian. We made it to the top and took some pictures to prove we made it.
Attachment 80513
I'd left home early as this was just a scouting trip, not a 'real' hunt, so I turned and begun the, much easier, decent to my ute. I stopped and glassed on the way back down, convinced I was going to see a pig; after spotting some fresh pig sign on the way up. Each stop revealed a different angle and although it was proably a bit early I knew I'd see something sooner or later. I was about 150 yards off a 4x4 track when I paused for the last time to glass a clearing that has produce a deer or two over the last few years; I was not disappointed when I saw what I though was a yearling hind - perfect for the .45/70 (or so I thought!).
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A hind turned up moments later and confirmed that I was indeed planning to shoot a yearling.
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I ranged the yearling at 180 yards; probably the extent of the .45/70's ability I though as I looked up the drop chart on my iPhone. The chart indicated that the built would drop 14 inches over that distance if dead on at 100 yards. I set up the video camera to record my awesome feat and cleared a rest off a Manuka bush. I placed the third dot on my 2-7x33 VX1 on the yearlings shoulder and pulled the trigger. When the smoke and recoil cleared I saw the yearling and hind take off un harmed...
I replayed what had just happened in my mind and took a look at the video; the bullet had landed just under the deer - not enough elevation! Oh well long range shooting with a .45/70 is probably not as reliable as any of the other four calibers I have sitting in the safe.
https://youtu.be/3uB5PljcIwg
So on the first of the first, I saw my first deer of the year and missed the first deer of the year!
I'm convinced the next outing will be more positive, especially if I stick to under 100 yards with the big hitter...
:-)
