So we drop our packs with the other 2 guides and my guide and I start moving quickly downhill through some of the nastiest cactus and cholla patches you can imagine. One thing I would highly recommend is some type of thorn guard pants or even chaps for this type of hunting. I ended up pulling cactus spines for 2 weeks after this hunt. We just kept busting through it as we went downhill. There was no good way around it and the guide had a concern that we might lose the light before we could get a shot. After about 45 minutes, the guide stopped and said if we go any further the deer can see us. I asked for the distance and the answer was 740 yards. I said no way...we're not shooting this far with a borrowed rifle on a tiny bedded Coues. He said we take a big risk in that he will probably see us. I said that's the risk we will take. I'm not wounding this deer. He took a breath and said let's see how it goes.
We take a little side route to try to keep a small advantage and then we slowly moved forward almost daring not to look up at the deer. I knew this might be throwing our only good chance away but I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day, the client is responsible for the shot. Only you can know if it's good enough and in this case, it was too freaking far. I've made plenty of shots on steel at longer distances but that's not hunting. We paused at one point for a short discussion and I said let's try for that bush up ahead...looking up the slope and so far so good.
We get to the bush and the tripod comes out and I start setting up for a shot. I ask for the range and the reply is 522. I take a look at the ballistics dope on the side of the guide's rifle and dial the numbers. At this point, the deer has had enough and is standing to leave...the wind is left to right at 5-7mph...I hold for a high shoulder shot and the trigger breaks...as I cycle the bolt I see the deer falling off the cliff. I get back on the scope and the deer is laying still.
To my surprise, the guide breaks into a run towards the deer. He's excited about something and hasn't told me why yet. He yells over his shoulder, just leave the stuff and bring the gun. He is way ahead of me and when he gets to the deer I hear a big WHOOP. What in the world...I come puffing up the hill and he says what have you done...do you know what you've done? He says this is my best deer with a client! He gets on the phone and calls the other guides and says get down here right away. I'm shocked that they start running down the hill towards us. I'm feeling overwhelmed...exhausted...happy...
We take a little side route to try to keep a small advantage and then we slowly moved forward almost daring not to look up at the deer. I knew this might be throwing our only good chance away but I'm a firm believer that at the end of the day, the client is responsible for the shot. Only you can know if it's good enough and in this case, it was too freaking far. I've made plenty of shots on steel at longer distances but that's not hunting. We paused at one point for a short discussion and I said let's try for that bush up ahead...looking up the slope and so far so good.
We get to the bush and the tripod comes out and I start setting up for a shot. I ask for the range and the reply is 522. I take a look at the ballistics dope on the side of the guide's rifle and dial the numbers. At this point, the deer has had enough and is standing to leave...the wind is left to right at 5-7mph...I hold for a high shoulder shot and the trigger breaks...as I cycle the bolt I see the deer falling off the cliff. I get back on the scope and the deer is laying still.
To my surprise, the guide breaks into a run towards the deer. He's excited about something and hasn't told me why yet. He yells over his shoulder, just leave the stuff and bring the gun. He is way ahead of me and when he gets to the deer I hear a big WHOOP. What in the world...I come puffing up the hill and he says what have you done...do you know what you've done? He says this is my best deer with a client! He gets on the phone and calls the other guides and says get down here right away. I'm shocked that they start running down the hill towards us. I'm feeling overwhelmed...exhausted...happy...
