Here's what I did on last day of 2010....Hunting

[357 S&W]

Friends, I admit, I have been too lazy to post my pictures; finally I got some motivation from Prashant. If my friend can travel half way across the globe and write about it to us, I guess its time I shared my hunting pictures on the last day of 2010.
I know you all must be wondering why would a guy with a sensible head do this on the last day of the year where you all are invited or planned a great new year bash with your friends and family. Well for me this was more exciting than that. Believe me I am no couch potato or no parties guy, I have had enough share of mine in years I have spent here in the US, like being in the big apple to watch the millennium celebrations, celebrating two new years together by taking international flights from Australia and back home to US, etc... So last year I wanted to end it with what I love to do most in my life....no points for guesses...spend time in nature and be close to it and also take a LEGAL axis deer( Friends in India and other places know it as Chital Deer) as, I was out of my venison and I did not want to be on only duck and goose diet for long.
Before you folks take a swing at me for taking down an endangered deer in India, let me give you a quick history lesson. The axis deer were brought to the US in the 1930's to save it from extinction and give it a chance to live so that we and our children's children can see them and enjoy them. But they grew very rapidly and are more in numbers in US than in India now. Thus we can hunt them in the open lands of Texas, Florida and Hawaii. BTW, its the same story with the black bucks.
Even though I saw really big trophies with anthers tipping over 27 inches in the field, I chose to take a nice young buck which will taste great in my dinner and BBQ plates rather than look nice on the wall. It weighed about 174 pounds on the scale.So here I am with my pictures. I hope you all enjoy it.
For the record, I shot it at about 263 yards with my Tikka T3 Lite in .243win(This is my favorite among the family, love its accuracy and handling) I used Hornady BTSP in 100 grains, it won't let you down.

Lastly, for those who are offended by my hunting pictures, there is a button on your top left corner of the screen which says back and looks like this < please hit it without wasting a second and I promise you won't be offended at all. No, seriously if you are offended please do not see the post as the subject itself says hunting, just like you do not watch any inappropriate material at your job( you know what I am talking about ). Peace.

[Baljit]

Very nice picture indeed 357 , i like all the trophys on the wall , love it keep it up,
here this is for you


Baljit

[prashantsingh]

Nice snaps and write up 357 S&W.
The Cheetal is the most common deer species in India . But you are right. Deforestation and loss of habitat is taking a toll on their numbers here.
You've got some fantastic trophies and your office is full of them.
Do the (so called) animal lovers not get offended once they enter your office. It's a growing breed even in the U.S., I am told.
The interesting difference I have observed in the Cheetal and BlackBucks in the U.S. and Argentina is the size of the antlers. They just don't grow as big as they do in India. Infact the shape of the antlers in the blackbuck is also a little different. Broader at the base and smaller in size with the rings closer to each other when compared to the ones found in India.e.g. a 61 SCI Blackbuck is considered a decent trophy in Argentina. I took a number of snaps in Argentina and am planning to study and compare them with some old trophies in India to look for differences.I will then be writing an article for a wildlife magazine.

[davidj7]

i liked the dog the most

nice pictures .

[Vikram]

Very nice write-up and pictures to go with it, .357S&W. I like the way you selected your quarry.Thanks for sharing.BTW, the trophy room, is it yours or does it belong to the hunting ranch/estate that you hunted on?

Best-
Vikram

[captrakshitsharma]

love ur black buck trophy makes me nostalgic of an old trophy we had which has weathered away

[357 S&W]

Very nice picture indeed 357 , i like all the trophys on the wall , love it keep it up,
here this is for you


Baljit

Thank You

Nice snaps and write up 357 S&W.
The Cheetal is the most common deer species in India . But you are right. Deforestation and loss of habitat is taking a toll on their numbers here.
You've got some fantastic trophies and your office is full of them.
Do the (so called) animal lovers not get offended once they enter your office. It's a growing breed even in the U.S., I am told.
The interesting difference I have observed in the Cheetal and BlackBucks in the U.S. and Argentina is the size of the antlers. They just don't grow as big as they do in India. Infact the shape of the antlers in the blackbuck is also a little different. Broader at the base and smaller in size with the rings closer to each other when compared to the ones found in India.e.g. a 61 SCI Blackbuck is considered a decent trophy in Argentina. I took a number of snaps in Argentina and am planning to study and compare them with some old trophies in India to look for differences.I will then be writing an article for a wildlife magazine.

Thank You, You are right, The ones in India have longer anthers since the gene-pool here is limited these guys cannot do much here, where as in India they have an ocean of gene-pool and I think that makes a lot of difference; please do share with me the proposed study.

love ur black buck trophy makes me nostalgic of an old trophy we had which is weathered away

Thank you, captrakshitsharma.



Thank you so much my friends for your comments. I wanted to clarify here, the office is not mine its the ranch's office where I hunted( I guess I have to be more specific for next time).

Just got my wisdom tooth plucked last evening, I was in real pain(Dr.Prashant can relate this) but after reading all your comments I feel a lot better. Thank you for making my day.

[kragiesardar]

Hey 357,
Very nice trophies. Also the discussion about the difference in trophy size on the Blackbucks in the Americas versus India is something I had not heard of before.
Now that you have no "wisdom" teeth, you have an excuse to go hunting every day. Or is it the other way around?
KS

[prashantsingh]

[quote="357 S&W]
Just got my wisdom tooth plucked last evening, I was in real pain but after reading all your comments I feel a lot better. Thank you for making my day.
[/quote]

There is a joke which goes like this.
There are three tortures in the world.
1. Mental
2.Physical
and when it isa combination of 1 and 2 it is (3) Dental.

Apart from the Gene pool,I have a feeling the difference in shape and size could well be a result of adaptation to a very different habitat. Probably a combination of both. A topic which needs a more detailed study.One that goes beyond my abilities.

[captrakshitsharma]

Thinking of paying The Doc (Dr. Prashant) a visit and get my self tortured.. But Doc sahab what we all are eagerly awaiting are ur last excursion's pics...

[shooter]

good ones s&W.
What ranch did yiu go to?
can you give us the details?

If personal, please pm me.

[brihacharan]

Hi 357 S&W,

> Great write up and pics! Enjoyed reading & ogling!
> Your words below brought some nostalgic memories - great shot bro!
"I shot it at about 263 yards with my Tikka T3 Lite in .243win(This is my favorite among the family, love its accuracy and handling) I used Hornady BTSP in 100 grains, it won't let you down".
> Used to own a winchester 30.06 sporterized version of model 1917 + a 4x weaver scope - my favourite ammo was the silver tipped 150gr - never failed me, even at 250yds.
Cheers
Brihacharan

[dr.jayakumar]

where was this?.are spotted deers seen in other countries?

[357 S&W]

Hey 357,
Very nice trophies. Also the discussion about the difference in trophy size on the Blackbucks in the Americas versus India is something I had not heard of before.
Now that you have no "wisdom" teeth, you have an excuse to go hunting every day. Or is it the other way around?
KS

Hi 357 S&W,

> Great write up and pics! Enjoyed reading & ogling!
> Your words below brought some nostalgic memories - great shot bro!
"I shot it at about 263 yards with my Tikka T3 Lite in .243win(This is my favorite among the family, love its accuracy and handling) I used Hornady BTSP in 100 grains, it won't let you down".
> Used to own a winchester 30.06 sporterized version of model 1917 + a 4x weaver scope - my favourite ammo was the silver tipped 150gr - never failed me, even at 250yds.
Cheers



Brihacharan, Win 30.06 sporterized version sounds cool and yes their ammo in sliver tip is great.

where was this?.are spotted deers seen in other countries?

dr.jayakumar, please read my post thoroughly, It was in Texas here in the US. I have provided some history on it. Yes, the spotted deers can me found in a lot of other countries and can also be hunted, legally.

[farhan.lateefi]

Hi,

nice pics mate. thanks for sharing.

regards
FL