LightTheTower
Hammer Time Executive member
Ours is November/December-gun, but only first two weeks of November for 2 does, and only one spike and one branched antlers with 13” or greater inside spread. 
2023 Big Game Success Thread
- Thread starter MeatBuck
- Start date
MeatBuck
Hammer Time Executive member
Sounds right.Was in the city park tonight for an Eagle Scout board of review. Saw more deer there than on my two outing.
Thursday, 10/26/23, there was not the usual fog. Lately the fog limited my view
to about thirty-five to forty yards. But the clouds don’t allow the day to be
bright. When I got out of the pickup and put on the backpack I
realized I didn’t have the Steiner Navigator 7X30 binoculars. They bring me much
pleasure searching for deer. Occasionally I even find one or more that I can’t see
without them. I tried using the Sig 2000 rangefinder, but the field of view is very
limited and uses only one eye. Not worth the effort.
When I arrived at the bench which protrudes out into Buck Canyon I quickly
glanced around. Then looked down. There was a doe. I quickly fired a
Hammer Hunter 8mm 198 grainer at 3,054 feet per second from the Weatherby
Mark V 8mm Coyle and saw it fall at the trigger pull. I ranged it: 36 yards. From
habit I bolted another cartridge into the chamber. I put the spent case in my pocket
as I took the rifle from my shoulder. I saw motion a little to the left. By the time I figured it was
another deer I was already sitting down because the Bushnell 6500 4 ½-30X50 was
moving too much while standing. You know, that old man quiver, and maybe a little
excitement probably didn’t help.
About the time I got the scope settled on it I thought I saw some headgear.
They were vague. Yep. I could see something. They were not very obvious due to
the morning mist and probably a little dust on the objective. I couldn’t tell if it
was a big spike or not. It was irrelevant. Oregon now has “visible antlers”, so I fired.
I thought it dropped at the shot and started to slide down the steep hill.
I have come to expect that when I fire this 8mm. Again, I worked the bolt to get a fresh
cartridge in the chamber. Then I realized its head was up it was running! Before I could even react, it ran
smack into a big poison oak bush and stopped. I thought it was finished. I
changed my mind and fired a safety round. Then I realized I was excited and almost
calm at the same time. It was fun. But not as much fun as when I get full on
buck fever. Maybe being seventy-nine years old has a tempering effect. I immediately
thanked the Lord for the fun and success.
I checked the time: 8:26AM. Oregon requires that on the new tag system. I
thought I could be back at the road by 10AM. About 9:30 I had to take a break. I
was really getting tired. By 11:00 both deer were in the pickup and I was again
ready for a rest. The buck had small forks on both sides. Bucks run about fourteen
inches from back to belly. The largest I got was sixteen inches. This one was really
small at thirteen inches. Does measure twelve to fourteen inches. This one was also
small at twelve inches. Hanging on the track, the buck weighed fifty-seven pounds
and the doe weighted 42 pounds.
I checked the gas mileage and distance traveled for hunting. Apparently the cost
is $19 per trip. The grinding and wrapping cost $250 so I concluded hunting is not
cost effective. Never-the-less, it is fun effective. Therefore, I shall look forward to
next year’s hunting.
I have a new phone and the computer won't allow photo uploads. If anyone can take
a text and load it for out .com friends, I have photos of the deer and entrance and exit wounds.
Entrance
Heart on left, lungs on right.
Exit low and back.
Doe insides were mush.
Just for fun
to about thirty-five to forty yards. But the clouds don’t allow the day to be
bright. When I got out of the pickup and put on the backpack I
realized I didn’t have the Steiner Navigator 7X30 binoculars. They bring me much
pleasure searching for deer. Occasionally I even find one or more that I can’t see
without them. I tried using the Sig 2000 rangefinder, but the field of view is very
limited and uses only one eye. Not worth the effort.
When I arrived at the bench which protrudes out into Buck Canyon I quickly
glanced around. Then looked down. There was a doe. I quickly fired a
Hammer Hunter 8mm 198 grainer at 3,054 feet per second from the Weatherby
Mark V 8mm Coyle and saw it fall at the trigger pull. I ranged it: 36 yards. From
habit I bolted another cartridge into the chamber. I put the spent case in my pocket
as I took the rifle from my shoulder. I saw motion a little to the left. By the time I figured it was
another deer I was already sitting down because the Bushnell 6500 4 ½-30X50 was
moving too much while standing. You know, that old man quiver, and maybe a little
excitement probably didn’t help.
About the time I got the scope settled on it I thought I saw some headgear.
They were vague. Yep. I could see something. They were not very obvious due to
the morning mist and probably a little dust on the objective. I couldn’t tell if it
was a big spike or not. It was irrelevant. Oregon now has “visible antlers”, so I fired.
I thought it dropped at the shot and started to slide down the steep hill.
I have come to expect that when I fire this 8mm. Again, I worked the bolt to get a fresh
cartridge in the chamber. Then I realized its head was up it was running! Before I could even react, it ran
smack into a big poison oak bush and stopped. I thought it was finished. I
changed my mind and fired a safety round. Then I realized I was excited and almost
calm at the same time. It was fun. But not as much fun as when I get full on
buck fever. Maybe being seventy-nine years old has a tempering effect. I immediately
thanked the Lord for the fun and success.
I checked the time: 8:26AM. Oregon requires that on the new tag system. I
thought I could be back at the road by 10AM. About 9:30 I had to take a break. I
was really getting tired. By 11:00 both deer were in the pickup and I was again
ready for a rest. The buck had small forks on both sides. Bucks run about fourteen
inches from back to belly. The largest I got was sixteen inches. This one was really
small at thirteen inches. Does measure twelve to fourteen inches. This one was also
small at twelve inches. Hanging on the track, the buck weighed fifty-seven pounds
and the doe weighted 42 pounds.
I checked the gas mileage and distance traveled for hunting. Apparently the cost
is $19 per trip. The grinding and wrapping cost $250 so I concluded hunting is not
cost effective. Never-the-less, it is fun effective. Therefore, I shall look forward to
next year’s hunting.
I have a new phone and the computer won't allow photo uploads. If anyone can take
a text and load it for out .com friends, I have photos of the deer and entrance and exit wounds.
Entrance
Heart on left, lungs on right.
Exit low and back.
Doe insides were mush.
Just for fun
Farleg
Hammer Time Executive member
Gday @RichCoyle
You sir make me sit back & look @ the big picture
thankyou for that
Now you better hide those pictures from GL or he will have a coronary
but to me it’s sweet as it gets
Show those pictures to a few & show that a mono is much more than they once believed it could achieve
Great write up thanks for sharing
Cheers
You sir make me sit back & look @ the big picture
thankyou for that
Now you better hide those pictures from GL or he will have a coronary
but to me it’s sweet as it gets Show those pictures to a few & show that a mono is much more than they once believed it could achieve
Great write up thanks for sharing
Cheers
This new phone is NOT cooperating.
I am considering putting the .257 barrel back on the Weatherby. It got 3,919 feet per second with an eighty-eight grainer. Terminal performance was worse than terrible. I switched to 6.5 and discovered Hammers. Maybe a ninety-five grainer about 3,750 fps might be less destructive.Oh my goodness!
Terminal organ damage was excellent.
The bloodshot and meat damage was,,,,,well,,,a bit much.
Go for it. (You need bigger animals too)!
Rausch
Hammer Time Executive member
Well here’s to hoping I can write a full success post about this tomorrow morning.
I able to get my uncle on some elk tonight. Due to a variety of medical issues he hasn’t hunted for the better part of my life and has never shot a bull elk. I found a small herd in a perfect spot this evening. Initially the rag 5 was broadside in an opening at 423 yards, but by the time I was able to get him on the gun he had moved and we weren’t sure where to. We laid in the snow for the better part of an hour watching 6 cows and 2 spikes feed about and I was beginning to wonder if the bull I saw was indeed legal in the first place. Finally he came back over the hill feeding towards us. After another 10 minutes he finally presented a broadside shot at 464 yards. On the shot I saw him hunch up and take a step forward. I took my eyes off him to help reload (Ruger #1 .300 win mag. 160 GR HH) and when I looked back I didn’t see him again. My uncle said he headed downhill into some timber with a few other elk. The rest of the herd never left and I was able to put glass back on both spikes and 4 of the 6 cows before dark. By all rights he should be dead in that timber but I couldn’t get an angle where I could see him. On top of that I chose not to blow the rest of the elk out just in case he is still in there alive, hit or not. We will be back at first light hoping to glass him up dead or alive before I head over to look. We have a couple inches of snow so that will help. Fingers crossed!
I able to get my uncle on some elk tonight. Due to a variety of medical issues he hasn’t hunted for the better part of my life and has never shot a bull elk. I found a small herd in a perfect spot this evening. Initially the rag 5 was broadside in an opening at 423 yards, but by the time I was able to get him on the gun he had moved and we weren’t sure where to. We laid in the snow for the better part of an hour watching 6 cows and 2 spikes feed about and I was beginning to wonder if the bull I saw was indeed legal in the first place. Finally he came back over the hill feeding towards us. After another 10 minutes he finally presented a broadside shot at 464 yards. On the shot I saw him hunch up and take a step forward. I took my eyes off him to help reload (Ruger #1 .300 win mag. 160 GR HH) and when I looked back I didn’t see him again. My uncle said he headed downhill into some timber with a few other elk. The rest of the herd never left and I was able to put glass back on both spikes and 4 of the 6 cows before dark. By all rights he should be dead in that timber but I couldn’t get an angle where I could see him. On top of that I chose not to blow the rest of the elk out just in case he is still in there alive, hit or not. We will be back at first light hoping to glass him up dead or alive before I head over to look. We have a couple inches of snow so that will help. Fingers crossed!
kneedeep
Hammer Time Executive member
@Sprint1006
Congratulations to you, the family and friends hunts. I missed this and am very interested in your mom’s moose kill with the 8.6BK.
Is the rifle a 3 twist?
Did you take any photos of internal damage?
From your report of the quick kill, this combo obviously performed extremely well. I’m most curious what the wound channel looks like.
@Farleg
Thanks for the report
Kneedeep
MeatBuck
Hammer Time Executive member
Dang it… sounds like a case of the bfd hog hunt.
Maybe next time just report your hunt in the daily hunt reports thread til you find em dead?
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Mountainman
Hammer Time Executive member
Dang, that's too bad
Rausch
Hammer Time Executive member
Yeah. I really thought he’d be dead right there this morning. Got ahead of myselfDang it… sounds like a case of the bfd hog hunt.
Maybe next time just report your hunt in the daily hunt reports thread til you find em dead?
kneedeep
Hammer Time Executive member
It’s unfortunate it didn’t work out but it’s great that you took the time to take him hunting. The fact that you were able to get him a shot at all is impressive. Sounds like a lot of things working against you in rough country. Better luck next time.
Kneedeep
jrebel
Hammer Time Executive member
Leave in 5 days for my sons cow elk hunt. Kind of hoping he decides to use one of the two rifles I have loaded with hammers (well that are going on this trip) 
. His rifle shoots accubonds so well, that I’m afraid to change his load. He is so comfortable with his rifle it is ridiculous!!! He has killed deer, moose and bear with it and is a crack shot. With that said….if it’s past 500 yards he will use the lapua….and that is throwing 260 grain HH. He is also a crack shot with that rifle and has killed his biggest bear to date with it.
I’ll update when we return regardless…..but if he uses the HH’s I’ll take lots of pictures.
. His rifle shoots accubonds so well, that I’m afraid to change his load. He is so comfortable with his rifle it is ridiculous!!! He has killed deer, moose and bear with it and is a crack shot. With that said….if it’s past 500 yards he will use the lapua….and that is throwing 260 grain HH. He is also a crack shot with that rifle and has killed his biggest bear to date with it. I’ll update when we return regardless…..but if he uses the HH’s I’ll take lots of pictures.
Pictures useful regardless of brand! The Accubonds have worked for us my partner just shot an Idaho moose. He has a lifetime supply of the Accubonds, and won't look at Hammers until those are gone LOL!
.338 Edge 250 Accubond. Less than 200 yards bedded. Looked like it might not get up with first. Shot twice more just because. I recovered bullet, 2 exits.
