The deer have been rather tentative in their movements the past couple of days, probably due to a great deal of wind. We have been seeing a few, but nothing that would afford us a shot. Yesterday, the wind moderated a bit and I gave Remnar the use of the blind at Midway and I went out to the tower at Hollywood for an afternoon sit.

SuperCore, as usual, was at Jagendehutte. We all went out in the 3 O’Clock hour. SuperCore later reported to me that he had a do come streaking out from behind Broken Corners and run straight at his blind before veering off into the cedars on the opposite side. She was moving too fast for a shot. What is funny is that I had the exact same thing happen to me a short while later. Jagendehutte and Hollywood are only a few hundred yards apart on opposite sides of Hootin’ Holler. It is quite likely it was the same doe that came bounding out of the woods and ran directly at me before veering off into the opposing treeline. That was in the first hour of our sits, so it all seems to jive.

It was just after 1700 as the sun was beginning to set that the next doe emerged from the Hootin’ Holler treeline and began her walk into the pasture. This time I had the rifle ready. This was the inaugural trip for my new TC Compass. I had 139 grain Hornadys loaded over Varget. Range was 120 yards. The doe lifted her head and took another step. The bullet found both lungs and took off the top of the heart. She fell back into the treeline with only her tail twitching.

SuperCore offered to come out with the truck. We got her loaded and then Supercore dropped us off at the meatpole before going blackout to Midway to retrieve Remnar, who had seen nothing. By the time they got back, I had the doe already under process. We got her to Lenoxburg by 1830, which must have been some kind of camp record.

On the Thompson Center Compass

I really could not have asked for anything better for the task than my new Thompson Center Compass in 7mm-08.  Granted, it is a not an $800 rifle, and it shows. However all the important things get covered and covered well.    The stock was fairly short, which made it easier to mount with all my layers on.  It came up– right there, right now. I didn’t have to work at finding the deer in the sight picture.  It is not a blued finish. It sports a Tupperware stock, but it did the job and did it well.   I would easily compare it to the Ruger Americans and Mossberg Patriots I have shot.  I really liked the 3-position  WIN Model 70 style of safety and the detachable magazine was solidly built, easy to load and it locked positively into the receiver without any fuss.

On the 7mm-08 as a Deer Cartridge

It is not wise for a fellow, who wants his opinions on guns to be respected, to go all gushy over a first try with a cartridge.  What I can tell you is that I am very positively disposed  to 7mm-08.  The results would have been quite acceptable for one of my 30-06’s.  It knocked that doe flat, and it did so with maybe only 2/3’s the recoil.  This was a shot at 120 yards, so I was not asking a lot.  However, I got a good entrance and exit hole taking out ribs going both ways.  The lungs and heart were all well involved, but not pulped.    When I go looking for a deer cartridge, I’m looking for one that will do all this to a whitetail without a lot of recoil and without the need for fancy bullets.  This was all accomplished with a plain Hornady 139 grain Interlock.  Yes, I’m sold. Yes, I would recommend it.  Yes, I think this would make an acceptable deer rifle for #1 Granddaughter when she comes of age. 

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