LAST EDITED ON Nov-21-05 AT 08:55PM (MST)[p]Thanks for the comments.
Here is a picture of his skull, which shows off his bases real well.
His bases were 6" and 6-1/4", 8" around the burrs. Rack outside spread 26-1/4". Two points are pretty weak, but everything else holds good mass and length. OK he's not a giant deer, but biggest one I've seen in a long time.
I was hunting a water hole, been seeing lots of small-medium bucks, but interestingly that morning none of the other bucks showed up, maybe they got there ass whupped the night before. I had not seen a deer for over an hour, my ass was sore and my feet were cold, I was forcing myself to stay put, I hate sitting. Got a glimpse of him coming down the hillside and I new he was a shooter, even though I never got a great look with the binocs. He went behind some trees at 50-60 yards, I raised my gun and cocked the hammer. I really didn't mean to **** the hammer just yet, and he held up for 2-3 minutes. Was real worried he heard the lock. Man the adrenaline was pumping. Finally he started walking again and I had a good view of lower half of his body, 45-50 yds. Put the bead in the boiler room, BOOM. He ran and jumped the fence 10 yds in front of him like nothing happened, I was slightly concerned, then he started stumbling and I knew I had him, piled up about 40 yds.
Man that was FUN! Hadn't been that excited in a while. Also never shot a buck in the rut (mostly September hunts in NM), his neck was huge.
Anyway, hardware details; 50 cal TC Renegade with replacement Green Mountain Carbine barrel, peep sight, 90 grains pyrodex, 370 grain maxiball. I've been using the gun for ~20 years and taken a lot of game with it, so might as well keep using it.
Good hunt'n to all,
JR