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Coues Sniper

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Posts posted by Coues Sniper

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I think your black dot is a tad too far forward and high. I think ideal spot is about 3" below your pink dot. Having said that, I too believe the cat is dead, and like Casey said, I bet you walked right past him and didn't know it. Also, FWIW, I killed a lion at a similar angle a few years ago. 210 Berger out of a 300 RUM at 120 yards. Impact was just inside his onside leg, and into chest. Bullet lodged into hide just forward of offside hip (didn't hit bone). Cat jumped at impact and bolted until out of sight. I was floored when I found him about 80 yards from where he was hit. When I did the hero photo holding him up, it was like holding up a water balloon - vitals were mush and liquid. They can go a fair ways dead on their feet.

    • Like 2

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Hope i don’t turn into a zombie.

    Dawn of The Walking Dead...

     

    Crazy buck Bridger. I had a friend kill a similar sized deer in MX, he thought the buck was in the high teens, but probably didn't break 80", and couldn't have weighed 60 lbs. Just a miniature version of a monster buck. I was proud of him for being able to hit the dam thing. I don't think he kept the liver, and he gave the meat to the cowboys on the ranch, so can't speak to that.

  10. Posted · Report reply

     

    I think for scoring purposes, the main thing that happens is the skull cap dries up which causes the spread to decrease, more so than antlers shrinking.

    I agree with this. Although I have held tangible proof in my hands that the antlers themselves do in fact shrink. The shrinkage occurs mostly at the mass measurements from what I have seen. I do think that once the velvet is peeled, the antlers shrink continuously, they're literally text book bones and when a bone becomes exposed to the elements it shrinks and cracks over time.

     

    But isn't the bone exposed as soon as velvet is stripped? I do agree that the skull cap shrinks, but there is shrinking of actual bone happening as well.

  11. Posted · Report reply

     

     

    Antlers are true bone, one of the fastest growing bones ever documented. They continue to grow until an increase in circulating testosterone halts the growth. Many of the blood vessels are in the soft covering ("velvet") which is rubbed off when blood circulating to the antlers ceases. Information that I have seen from the Kerr WMA in Texas and work at Mississippi State University indicates that there is very little shrinkage after the velvet is shed until the end of the rut, when testosterone levels plummet and the antlers are dropped. Once the antlers are shed, there is some shrinkage as they dry out and that is why most trophy outfits have a 60-90 day "drying" period before measurements are accepted. In dry climates like ours, there is certainly some additional loss of moisture which causes sheds or harvested antlers to continue to slowly shrink a bit over time.

    So there are veins/blood flow in the antlers, even after the velvet is stripped?

     

    The blood flow slows dramatically and gradually declines to zero internally, when the antlers harden. When they are dropped, the pedicels (the points on the head from which they grow) still has blood and they look and act like flesh wounds, scabbing over and then being replaced by regrowth of the skin until the next antler cycle begins.

     

    Gotcha. So if there's no flow, what keeps the antlers "moist" when they are still attached? i.e., why wouldn't they dry out on the animal (back to trphyhntr's initial question)?

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Antlers are true bone, one of the fastest growing bones ever documented. They continue to grow until an increase in circulating testosterone halts the growth. Many of the blood vessels are in the soft covering ("velvet") which is rubbed off when blood circulating to the antlers ceases. Information that I have seen from the Kerr WMA in Texas and work at Mississippi State University indicates that there is very little shrinkage after the velvet is shed until the end of the rut, when testosterone levels plummet and the antlers are dropped. Once the antlers are shed, there is some shrinkage as they dry out and that is why most trophy outfits have a 60-90 day "drying" period before measurements are accepted. In dry climates like ours, there is certainly some additional loss of moisture which causes sheds or harvested antlers to continue to slowly shrink a bit over time.

    So there are veins/blood flow in the antlers, even after the velvet is stripped?

  19. Posted · Report reply

     

     

    I have two buddies on the strip. One killed a 200" 3 pt and the other a 225" 5x6. Incredible.

    But they are both bruised, battered and sun burnt.

    200" 3-point?! Must have some trash?

    One kicker and a split eye guard. The 3 pt frame is over 190".

     

    Yes I have pics but they aren't mine to post. I will encourage him to post as soon as he gets back.

     

    Yes please, I have a fetish for giant 3's, would love to see.

  22. Posted · Report reply

     

    I used to see guys use those "Fat Cat" bikes. Basically a small 2 wheeled bike with quad tires. Most used it to shed hunt off-road unfortunately, but I've seen tracks from them in impossibly rough and remote stuff. Literally go anywhere. Don't think they make them anymore, but you could likely find one somewhere.

     

    I'm definitely not looking to go off designated roads/trails with the bikes, but thanks for the input on the mini bikes.

     

    Understood, didn't intend to infer. The size and capability seem ideal for your purpose.

    • Like 1

  24. Posted · Report reply

    Was wondering when that buck would make it on here. Wes is my cousin. Great buck, and an incredible story. He and his Dad get it done on huge animals very low key every year. Couple of real ranchers and cowboys. It's been scored. Should crush the current WR, depending on whether or not he strips the velvet. Probably the biggest archery coues ever killed either way.

    Tease.

     

    Will more pictures, story, and score be shared. I appreciate the low key thing, but Pandora's Box is now open, and I want as many details on that thing as possible. Amazing buck.

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