When I had sat down and gotten set up, I chambered a round in my 30-30 and backed it up with two more in the tube. Within 5 minutes of being in the stand I had 6 does come in within 50 yards, 2 spikes within 60 yards, and a 4 pt. at 100 yards. Of course, I decided to pass the small 4 pt. and wait for something just a little bigger.

Half an hour later, I glanced to my left to see a deer jump the fence to the left, coming across the road. I made my own "grunting sound," and he stopped in his tracks and gave me a broadside shot, and looked at me. He was a beautiful typical 10 pt. with a very wide, tall rack. Although, I noticed when I was about to shoot that he had a 2-3 inch drop tine. I took the safety off, made sure it was a good shot, and pulled the trigger. And to my surprise, (with my kind of luck) the gun didn't fire. At that moment I wondered if I hadn't loaded or something. My next reaction was to crank it out of the lever action 30-30 and crank another one in. By this time the monster buck had hauled into the bush, and I knew he wasn't coming back. Another buck jumped the fence shortly after, and elected to take him after I had a decent shot at him. It looked bigger than it was, and ended up to be an 8 pt. with no brow tines (making it truly a 6 pt.) When I had dropped the smaller buck I picked up the 30-30 cartridge that had failed me... the primer was a dud and didn't fire.

Never again will I make the mistake of buying Remington ammunition, especially at Academy! I will never forget, and always remember this remarkable hunt of a lifetime.

Sincerely,
Casey Arkell