The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Fished in one of the WU lakes near Ukiah. Got some decent bass and crappie but nothing bragging size. Went off the property on Friday morning for a couple of hours to chase deer.

Found this one in his bed and made a successful stalk. It was at 133 yards on a steep downhill slope resting in his bed. Got it in the upper neck to minimize meat damage. For those of you who abhor blood sports, oh well. I like my venison in many different ways. Shot it with my .300 WSM with a Barnes Triple X 168 grain bullet pushed by 66.5 grains of W760 (for the reloaders here). That's the equivelent of a #10 Copper John for the fly fishing only folks.

He had a 3X3 rack 20.5" wide and 13.5" high. His best measurement, much like fish, was his weight. On a digital scale he went 158 pounds, which is enormous for a coastal blacktail. He had been living high on the hog on alfalfa and grapes and was unbelieveably fat. He will be great eating.