2025 Hunting Trip Done w/ Animal Pics

[tallbm]

Took my yearly meat hunting trip and only went after 2 animals this year. I bagged 2 large does (large for my area) that were maybe 100-110lbs.
My brother bagged 1 doe and 1 spike.

Normally I get more animals but my freezers are quite packed so this is what I was happy bagging to fill them back to max capacity for the year.

The meat processing is done which I did this year versus the past couple of years taking it to a trusted processor. Last couple of years I was on a very good contract for work and couldn't justify taking off time to process and it was far less loss of money to take to the processor to just grind it all out versus loosing a week of billable work.
This year was not the case so I did it myself BUT did not do any grinding or sausage making so it went fast in just a couple of days solo.

All the meat is vac sealed in the freezer now with no pics of it. You've all seen tons of vacuum sealed raw meat before. HOWEVER, I have pics of all the wild life shots I took plus a pic of the animals we bagged. I edited us out of the pic and covered up a bit of gore from one of the deer that took a head shot.

It was a great trip and even managed to catch 5 catfish that were at least five pounds in weight at he smallest, my brother caught 2 that are the same story.
I'm luck to be able to do this and very thankful for it all and for the animals that we take off the land.

Here are the pics, enjoy!

YEP they have a white buffalo on the ranch! :D

 

[Timber II]

Well done!!

 

[pc farmer]

Great pictures and congrats on a successful hunt

 

[sandyut]

Looks like a big win! Great pics brother.

 

[Fueling Around]

Nice job C. Does are much better meat than a randy buck.
What rifle and ammo were you using this year?

 

[tallbm]

Well done!!

Thanks!

Great pictures and congrats on a successful hunt

Thanks!

Looks like a big win! Great pics brother.

Thanks!

Nice job C. Does are much better meat than a randy buck.
What rifle and ammo were you using this year?

Thanks!

This year I am using a new Savage 110 in 30-06 that I rebarreled with a Shilen bull barrel.
I channeled out the fore end and steel bedded action of the already pillar bedded Hogue stock that came with the Savage 110 I bought. I figured I had nothing to lose working on the stock and if it all failed I would just get a more "real" stock hahahha. It worked out well.

I worked up a good load using H4350 powder and Barnes LRX 175gr bullet. The barrel twist rate supports the length of this bullet for stability.
When I do my part the load has bullets touching pretty well at 100yds, and when I don't well I'm not off too much :D

Here's the load ladder that let me find the one I settled on so people can get a little insight on how much matching a load to a rifle can help vs the lottery of buying store bought ammo and hoping :D

 

[JLinza]

Awesome, sounds like a great time.

 

[hoity toit]

Took my yearly meat hunting trip and only went after 2 animals this year. I bagged 2 large does (large for my area) that were maybe 100-110lbs.
My brother bagged 1 doe and 1 spike.

Normally I get more animals but my freezers are quite packed so this is what I was happy bagging to fill them back to max capacity for the year.

The meat processing is done which I did this year versus the past couple of years taking it to a trusted processor. Last couple of years I was on a very good contract for work and couldn't justify taking off time to process and it was far less loss of money to take to the processor to just grind it all out versus loosing a week of billable work.
This year was not the case so I did it myself BUT did not do any grinding or sausage making so it went fast in just a couple of days solo.

All the meat is vac sealed in the freezer now with no pics of it. You've all seen tons of vacuum sealed raw meat before. HOWEVER, I have pics of all the wild life shots I took plus a pic of the animals we bagged. I edited us out of the pic and covered up a bit of gore from one of the deer that took a head shot.

It was a great trip and even managed to catch 5 catfish that were at least five pounds in weight at he smallest, my brother caught 2 that are the same story.
I'm luck to be able to do this and very thankful for it all and for the animals that we take off the land.

Here are the pics, enjoy!
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YEP they have a white buffalo on the ranch! :D
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good neck shot. Where in Texas?

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Good hunt!!

I bagged 2 large does (large for my area) that were maybe 100-110lbs.

Those would be big around here, too. Our average doe is in the 70-80 lb. range.

I'm sure this fellow is on the do-not-shoot list unless someone has very deep pockets, but man what a buck!!

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Awesome buddy! You can always store some venison in my freezer.

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Congrats on the successful hunting trip. I did a high fence in Texas in Feb for an Audad and it was really fun to see the various different animals, I have always wanted a black buck and now I want one even more. I'm a Barne's shooter as well typically but do play with different bullets once in a while.
Yesterday while driving I was just thinking that a 130gr TTSX in a 30-06 would be a wicked little round as you really don't need that heavy weight for penetration on most game beings the bullet retains so much, you pick up a little more speed that should translate to a little better initial shock and temp wound cavity and potentially a little reduced recoil. If I ever get caught up on my other reloading projects that might need to be my next one, currently got a 6.5-284 Norma and 257 Wby Mag to develop.

 

[tallbm]

Awesome, sounds like a great time.

Thanks it sure was!

good neck shot. Where in Texas?

Thanks! This was in the Santo/Weatherford TX area. Palo Pinto county.

Good hunt!!

Those would be big around here, too. Our average doe is in the 70-80 lb. range.

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I'm sure this fellow is on the do-not-shoot list unless someone has very deep pockets, but man what a buck!!

Yep same size does usually here.
Oh yeah, that guy would cast a couple of arms and legs to take for sure. He is big and the rack massive with a million points!

Awesome buddy! You can always store some venison in my freezer.

Hhahahaha thanks! Yeah I know some people who would make the same deal. I'm sure my meat would be safe with them, right?! :P

Congrats on the successful hunting trip. I did a high fence in Texas in Feb for an Audad and it was really fun to see the various different animals, I have always wanted a black buck and now I want one even more. I'm a Barne's shooter as well typically but do play with different bullets once in a while.
Yesterday while driving I was just thinking that a 130gr TTSX in a 30-06 would be a wicked little round as you really don't need that heavy weight for penetration on most game beings the bullet retains so much, you pick up a little more speed that should translate to a little better initial shock and temp wound cavity and potentially a little reduced recoil. If I ever get caught up on my other reloading projects that might need to be my next one, currently got a 6.5-284 Norma and 257 Wby Mag to develop.

Thanks!
Oh man it is awesome to see all the animals. I've never seen an Audad out on a ranch but have seen Mouflon and was given the green light to take an ewe but didn't see one that year.
I think the 130gr TTSX would fly in a 30-06 and I think it wouldn't have a problem being stable in a standard 30-06 twist rate. These all copper bullets get long so twist rate matters to ensure they will be stable but also pushing that light of a bullet out of a 30-06 with such high speeds should help stability.
Yeah these all copper Barnes stay together and mushroom out big time. It would do the job for sure. The powder for pushing a 130gr in a 30-06 might change for you to one that works better on lighter bullets, but no telling until you start researching it more.

I hear ya on catching up on reloading. I still have to solve the mystery loads of a couple of WWII military rifles I have. The throat on my German 8mm mauser goes on for miles so loading anywhere close to the lands is not going to be an option. My Mosin Nagant has been a work in progress for years that I never get to. I think I have reworked it to where it SHOULD be just a matter of finding a bullet and load that CAN shoot ok. Right now it might hit a pie plate at 100yds hahaha.
They are not as simple as a more modern rifle. But it's fun to work on :D

 

[Fueling Around]

Love Barnes. 30 cal in an 06 cartridge needs a balance

 

[luvcatchingbass]

Thanks it sure was!

Thanks! This was in the Santo/Weatherford TX area. Palo Pinto county.


Yep same size does usually here.
Oh yeah, that guy would cast a couple of arms and legs to take for sure. He is big and the rack massive with a million points!


Hhahahaha thanks! Yeah I know some people who would make the same deal. I'm sure my meat would be safe with them, right?! :P



Thanks!
Oh man it is awesome to see all the animals. I've never seen an Audad out on a ranch but have seen Mouflon and was given the green light to take an ewe but didn't see one that year.
I think the 130gr TTSX would fly in a 30-06 and I think it wouldn't have a problem being stable in a standard 30-06 twist rate. These all copper bullets get long so twist rate matters to ensure they will be stable but also pushing that light of a bullet out of a 30-06 with such high speeds should help stability.
Yeah these all copper Barnes stay together and mushroom out big time. It would do the job for sure. The powder for pushing a 130gr in a 30-06 might change for you to one that works better on lighter bullets, but no telling until you start researching it more.

I hear ya on catching up on reloading. I still have to solve the mystery loads of a couple of WWII military rifles I have. The throat on my German 8mm mauser goes on for miles so loading anywhere close to the lands is not going to be an option. My Mosin Nagant has been a work in progress for years that I never get to. I think I have reworked it to where it SHOULD be just a matter of finding a bullet and load that CAN shoot ok. Right now it might hit a pie plate at 100yds hahaha.
They are not as simple as a more modern rifle. But it's fun to work on :D

I haven't dug into it too much but if a rifle stabilizes a 150-180gr cup and core then a 130 Mono should be just fine. You are correct that powders might change a little but that is part of the tinkering I guess. The Hammer bullets have got me intrigued as well lately so if you haven't looked at those there is another reloader rabbit hole for you if you get bored, I've heard they are really easy to load tune and they are interesting because they are designed to shed their petals.