John Gibbs 

Jason Loblein

After quite a few days in the woods this season without seeing any deer at all I was excited to get back out there this morning to take advantage of the fresh snowfall. It paid off with my seeing 3 early with this beautiful 7 pointer being the third. My Marlin 1895GBL 45-70 loaded with Buffalo Barnes 45-70 magnum 300 grain hollow points dropped him immediately with one shot at roughly 40 yards. Coupled with the excellent bear from my September hunt this has turned out to be a really great hunting season!

Jeff Cash

Staff Pick

Gregory Berry

Senneterre Outfitters

On opening day of 2019 open firearms season for Maine residents only I got to my rock protruding from the ground at a base of a tree, the same spot I've hunted whitetail for the last 42 years. At legal hunting I loaded up five rounds of Buffalo Barnes 300 grain HP ammo into my Marlin 1895 GBL 45-70. Although it was legal hunting the thick forest and overcast sky kept it too dark to responsibly take a shot for another 15 minutes or so. During that time I heard a number of cracks and crunches. About 20 minutes after legal hunting I heard another crunch in front of me and watched this 7 point buck walk out from behind some trees only 10 yards away moving to my right. While my mounted Vortex scope was not needed at that close range I watched this buck closely confirming both the antlers I had seen right away and the broadside shot placement I wanted just behind the right shoulder trying to preserve the heart, my favorite part of the deer. The magnum loaded Barnes bullet expanded quickly through the lungs angling slightly forward on the opposite side breaking the left leg cleanly as it exited. The blood loss was immediate and substantial and the ethical kill was quick. 

I was honored to accept this incredible gift from the deer spirit so quickly in my season this year but grateful for another successful hunt in the Maine woods!

Thanks for for story Jeff. Sounds like that 45-70 hit them like a 2x4 

Taken with Marlin 45-70 and Hornady 325 grn LeverEvolution ammo just after 5 pm.

After a three year dry spell I took out my new CVA Scout V2 45-70 rifle loaded with Hornady 325 grain LeverEvolution ammunition.  I watched a couple small does that morning letting them pass although I had an any-deer permit.  This doe walked out a little later in the morning and was noticeably larger.  She walked around in front of me for close to 15 minutes before I decided to take her.  She was angled slightly away from me so the shot placement is a little further back from her left shoulder than I usually aim for but it came out through the opposite shoulder doing the job.  This was my first whitetail that ever ran after being shot with the a 45-70 though she only ran about 75 yards or so with a good blood trail.  As a result I decided to no longer use the LeverEvolution ammo on whitetail in my 45-70 rifles opting instead for Buffalo Barnes 300 grain HP magnum ammo.

My father's favorite hunting rifle was always his Savage 99 chambered in .308 Win.  Before the 2013 whitetail season I acquired my own Savage 99 chambered in .308.  I hoped to get out and use the same model rifle my Dad had hunted with most of his adult life taking deer, bear and moose with.  I was fortunate enough while hunting the same spot I have hunted for the last forty plus years to have this great buck walk out and offer itself to me that year.  He ran about 75 yards or so before dropping but I followed the blood trail right to him.  

I called my Dad to tell him of the success using that classic rifle and by the time I had finished field dressing my buck my Dad came walking into view out there in the back woods.  He came right out to give me a hand and with the difficult terrain and the size of this deer I was glad of it.  We had a heck of a time with all the blow downs and rough landscape.  The greatest part of that day was the fact that I was able to share that experience with him.  That was the last year my Dad was able to join me out there during a hunting season.  I'm glad that last time together that I was using the same model rifle that meant so much to him after a lifetime of big game hunting in Maine.  It sure meant a lot to me and is something I will never forget.

Jeff Cash on Gametiks

Jeff Cash — deer harvest

On opening day of 2019 open firearms season for Maine residents only I got to my rock protruding from the ground at a base of a tree, the s…

After quite a few days in the woods this season without seeing any deer at all I was excited to get back out there this morning to take adv…

Jeff Cash — bear harvest

After a three year dry spell I took out my new CVA Scout V2 45-70 rifle loaded with Hornady 325 grain LeverEvolution ammunition. I watched…

My father's favorite hunting rifle was always his Savage 99 chambered in .308 Win. Before the 2013 whitetail season I acquired my own Savag…

Jeff Cash — Hunter profile | GAMETIKS

Jeff Cash on Gametiks

Jeff Cash — deer harvest

Jeff Cash — deer harvest

Jeff Cash — bear harvest

Jeff Cash — deer harvest

Jeff Cash — deer harvest