Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Rumor has it... Joel????? - with pics

Deitz Dittrich

By Deitz Dittrich
in MN Deer Hunting-Bear-Elk-Moose

 Share

Recommended Posts

Deitz Dittrich Grand Master

Deitz Dittrich

Posted
Posted

I hear from a birdie.. that our own Joel Nelson may have shot a decent deer?... I want a story and pictures!!!!! You know how rumors fly but I heard 50 some points... and 500 pounds.. LOL.. ok maybe like 10 points.. but worth in the 140 range?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HateHumminbird Mentor

HateHumminbird

Posted
Posted

Not a rumor! I don't know if he'll go 140", but it's a great buck nonetheless, and I couldn't care less what he scores.

Yesterday was a day of days, and I was lucky enough to harvest a great animal on our own land. So much of the story points back to right place/right time and luck, with only a small part won to preparation.

Rewind to Saturday morning, when a great buck is roaming our river bottoms at first light, about 200 yards away. 5 minutes later, he kicks up 4 does, and by sheer luck, they skirted my range and when in-range, were only behind trees and brush. I knew he wasn't far behind, but I'm much more of a meat hunter than trophy hunter. If I'd had a good shot at any of the 4 does, I would've taken it. The buck kept on them behind thick brush, and chased two right under my cousin, and then did what big bucks do.....thread the needle. Somehow, this deer got inside of 25 yards of my cousin, in the only area he could've without being shot, and slipped to the CRP north of our river bottom. Did I mention this process took about an hour to unfold?

Fast forward to Sunday morning. We only have one deer, the least amount ever going into a Sun. morning, and are looking for some does. We decide before heading out that we'd try to drive this chunk at about 10AM. It's a good thing my brothers were a little pokey getting out of their stands.

10:05 I hear what I later found out to be a splash in the river, then some major stick breakage going on directly downwind of me. Within seconds, a big frame appears out of the brush, set to trot within 20 yards of my tree down a great trail that I have several shooting lanes brushed out. I knew he was good, but had the gun up and safety off, scope trained on the opening he was about to trot into. At about 35 yards, the deer hit the brakes, stopped on a dime, and looked right up at me. I hadn't moved or made a sound. He must've winded me, but how he went from trotting with his nose down to instant stop and looking right up at me, I'll never know.

It was now or never, I moved the gun up a bit, picked the tiniest and only hole in the brush I had, and made that shotgun bark. He was hit hard, and running past me now. I had already made the decision upon seeing how good a deer he was, to stop shooting for only two reasons: him falling, or me running out of shells.

2nd shot was a dud! Click! Either the action hadn't fully closed after the 2nd shot, or it was a true dud. I rounded a new one in, lined up another hole in the brush, and squeezed off another round as he ran through. Hit him again! Deer is getting wobbly now, but again, I'm excited, and am not about to let him get away, 50 yds. through the brush I shoot once more. I can tell he's about to go down, but am not convinced. The deer tips over, then gets back up on one foot, then goes down again, then lifts his head 4-5 more times, and it's over.

A drive is in progress to the best of my knowledge, so I ride out the violent shakes and rush of adrenaline without being able to get down from the stand and check him out. 30 minutes later, the push is on, and two does again, thread the needle between the other stander and myself. Upon crossing the river, my uncle falls in, a deer breaks, they shoot, just a fiasco.....I couldn't wait.

We all get to the deer at the same time and admire him. He's been seen many times in our valley, with quite a few folks after him. After going north on Saturday, I'm guessing he was simply on his way back to the does he was after on our land the previous day. One or more of them must've been in heat.

Here's some pics of him this summer:

Scan10002.JPG

Scan10001.JPG

Scan10003.JPG

Scan10004.JPG

Here's after the shot:

bigbuck1.jpg

bigbuck2.jpg

bigbuck3.jpg

In the last photo you can see the small hole in his left main beam. Must've hit a sticker from a hawthorne or plumb tree during velvet, as it's still inside the antler.

Body size was smaller, but I'm quite happy. Still have a doe tag or two to fill, I'll be out the next week or so.

Almost forgot, when processing him, we recovered a bullet that was lodged into bone. I'm shooting the Hornady SST's, so the red center you see isn't blood, it's the red polymer tip of th slug that's been pushed back into the main body of the bullet.

bullet.JPG

Joel

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Deitz Dittrich Grand Master

Deitz Dittrich

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thats what I am talking about... Rock on brother!!!

love that last pict!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HateHumminbird Mentor

HateHumminbird

Posted
Posted

Thanks Steve, could've really used your photography skills! Brother needs to take a class or something.

grin.gif

Joel

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jltimm Experienced

jltimm

Posted
Posted

Great story as well as the buck! I've got a nine pointer with the same type of hole in the bottom left side of the rack as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stratosman Veteran

Stratosman

Posted
Posted

Nice deer Joel!!!!! Clear some wall space.

Talk about a true homebody too! Congratulations.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tunrevir Grand Master

tunrevir

Posted
Posted

Nice job man! Great story with the pics from beginning to end! I'd clean up that slug and counter sink it into the base of the plaque if you do a neck mount. Great job! I love this time of year!

Tunrevir~

Link to comment
Share on other sites
96trigger Grand Master

96trigger

Posted
Posted

Great buck, thanks for the pic of the SST, I'm trying to decide between the Partition Golds or SSTs, they're both wicked. Congrats.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gissert Grand Master

Gissert

Posted
Posted

Very cool Joel. The camera thing can be really addicting.

I shot a decent 10 last year, and when I walked up on him, I thought to my self, "I know you!" I probably had 20-30 snaps of him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fishermn Experienced

fishermn

Posted
Posted

Awesome deer Joel! Very cool to have all those live shots of him as well! I'd say he's got to be darn close to 140 if not a little more...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
HateHumminbird Mentor

HateHumminbird

Posted
Posted

The slug you see in the picture was recovered from the body. It broke a rib and hit the hip-bone and bounced around in there a few times. The first shot went through the top of the left front shoulder blade, and exited out below the right front armpit. THAT is the slug I'd like to see. I looked all over for it. Soft soils don't make it easy. I really wanted to see how well that mushroomed out.

Yep, those are the 300gr Hornady 2 3/4" SST's. I used the partition golds for 3 years, and to be honest, they patterned better in my shotgun than did the Hornady's, but only by a little bit. My open complaint with Winchester is the way they switch their product line. Whether it be turkey or deer ammunition, they come out with something every year that's different, and seem to discontinue their old stuff. That means continually re-sighting in, and what do you do when you have 1 1/2 boxes of the old, and 2 of the new when on the stand?

The Hornady's are a much better value IMO, and I haven't had any problems with them. This is my 3rd deer with them, and I like everything about them so far. Massive wound channels for such a tiny slug (they're really small but HEAVY!). Both other deer were does on pass-thru lung shots, one dropped, and the other ran about 40 yards dead.

The best part is that they're essentially the same Hornady SST bullet that they've perfected in their rifle ammunition for years, just scaled up a bit for the 12/20ga. It's the flattest trajectory I've seen out there, maybe surpassed now with the XPS, but if zeroed at 100yds, they're only 6.7" low at 200. It's to the point where the ballistics/gun/ammunition are no longer the limiting factor for long shots with shotguns, it's the hunter's ability as a marksman. That I suppose could always be called into question though smile.gif.

Joel

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bassNspear Grand Master

bassNspear

Posted
Posted

not buck joel. Its a great time out there to know that you have been watching that deer all summer long, and to be able to get that shot is awesome.

Congradulations man. Ill see if I can beat it the thrid weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
st.croixfishin Enthusiast

st.croixfishin

Posted
Posted

Nice Buck! SE MN rocks! Gotta love those bluffs and valleys. I'll be trying my luck down there starting the 17th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      2024Mn fishing opener......

      By smurfy · Posted

      is 3 weeks away............who's going and where???? i skip the first week and i'll head up to the cabin the 2nd week.  ussually fish smaller lakes. 
    • jparrucci
      water levels

      By jparrucci · Posted

      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      water levels

      By mbeyer · Posted

      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      Ice-Out 2024

      By SkunkedAgain · Posted

      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      Ice-Out 2024

      By mbeyer · Posted

      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      Ice-Out 2024

      By CigarGuy · Posted

      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      Ice-Out 2024

      By Brianf. · Posted

      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      Ice-Out 2024

      By CigarGuy · Posted

      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      Sturgeon Fishing is Hot

      By LakeofthewoodsMN · Posted

      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept