RD's Texas Desert Mule Deer

[Ranch Dog]

Just back from my annual mule deer hunt in Brewster County, Texas between Marathon and Alpine. I saw about 30 to 35 bucks a day and decided on this one. Saw him about a mile away with a spotting scope, way, way up the mountain at the pinon pine level. Made a 1000 yard stalk and shot him at 115-yards with my 444T and my TLC432-265-RF home cast bullet. He dropped like a rock!

The bullet was cast from my bench scrap with #8 shot added and water quenched for a BHN of 21. I used 46.0-grains of H4198 for 2211 FPS (42.0K PSI). The deer did not take a step with the chest cavity hit.

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Hunting/2007/muledeersmall.jpg

The deer weighed 160#, was 5 1/2-years old, and scored 155 and some change (I'm not really into that). It was another great hunt!

[dubber123]

Nice deer, and good shooting! I assume you didn't get the boolit back?

[Ranch Dog]

Nice deer, and good shooting! I assume you didn't get the boolit back?

Thanks! No, the last time I heard the bullet it was heading to Big Bend National Park! The hole in was about 1.7" and about 1.0" out.

[Topper]

Very nice buck, congrats

[Steelbanger]

Congratulations on that fine buck Michael. Was your dad along on the hunt?

I can see you running out of wall space for trophy display! What a problem, eh?

[wolfspotter]

Congratulations on the nice buck! I have a 444 Marlin that I load load with 4198 and 265gr Hornady's but want to get a good mould and shoot some cast boolist out of her someday. What is a 444T by the way? :confused:

[wolfspotter]

Found out what a 444T is, google comes in handy. Also looked up your mould and I'll be getting one for sure!

[Red River Rick]

Ranch Dog, you have a very nice mulie there. I sure wish that I could get a chance at taking one of those fine bucks. Unfortunately, we can't shoot mule deer in my province, endangered, there are very few left due to the brain worm brought in by the whitetail. Congratulations!

RRR

[Scrounger]

Wait, I see a match made in heaven here... Ranch Dog invites Red River down for a deer hunt, Red River offers Ranch Dog great deal on making his custom molds in the future...

[Red River Rick]

Hmmm! Scounger, now your playing with what little mind I have left. That's all I need now, dreaming about mule deer hunting in Texas. It's not like I don't have enough on my mind already. What a great idea...........I'm going to bed now so that I can dream......... of hunting Mulies.

RRR

[Ranch Dog]

Congratulations on that fine buck Michael. Was your dad along on the hunt?

I can see you running out of wall space for trophy display! What a problem, eh?

No, the hunt is a bit pricy for dad to go. Wall space is tough but I will figure it out.

[Ranch Dog]

...want to get a good mould and shoot some cast boolist out of her someday. What is a 444T by the way? :confused:

I can help you with the mold! The 444T is the finest rifle Marlin ever made! Mine is a 1972 model.

[jeff223]

very nice mule deer buck Michael

good going:drinks:

[JDL]

Most excellent Ranch Dog! That is a fine deer and pretty country also. -JDL

[EMC45]

Wow!!

[corvette8n]

Congrats RD very nice buck.

[gregg]

It was another great hunt!

Very Nice great story .

[Glen]

Very nice buck! And taken with a most classy rifle and load, I might add....

[Trailblazer]

Would it be redundant to say, that is a nice buck? You done good!

[Ranch Dog]

Thanks guys now the work comes of trying to find me a whitetail on my home turf. I'm working with my Marlin 375 and a TLC379-235-RF that I've been developing.

[Jjed]

Great deer. Does your marlin have microgrove and ifso how does it shoot with cb's
Thanks
Jim

[Ranch Dog]

Great deer. Does your marlin have microgrove and ifso how does it shoot with cb's
Thanks
Jim

Greetings Jim. My 444T is a 1971 rifle with a 24" Micro-Groove barrel. It shoots this 265 and my 300-grain cast bullets better than my 2000 444P with a Ballard barrel. I will take a Micro-Groove barrel over a Ballard barrel every time. My inside track at Marlin said it is based on economics; the machinery is cheaper to replace and it cost less to produce a Ballard barrel.