Thanks. i went last weekend and walked by the river. i did not go on the atv side. we jmped a group of 8 or 9  but it was too thick to get a clear shot. lots of signs. i will be going back.

congrats on them piggies

I will be using a rifle on public land. The terrain is hilly & densley wooded,  I can't see taking a shot over 50 yards, 25-30 would be more realistic.

David H:

My friend's place is right on US87 west of downtown Brady.  He's shot several axis deer on his property as well as white tails and I rarely visit him during deer season without leaving with a cooler full of venison.

He has a commercial grade meat grinder and vacuum sealer.  When I shoot one on his property, the meat is butchered into steaks, roasts, sausage and ground meat all vacuum packed and labeled inside a cooler.  He has a feeder set up about 100 yards from his porch and we sit in the kitchen, drink coffee and glass the feeder from his kitchen window.  When a suitable contender presents itself, it's a matter of getting out the kitchen door quietlyr, making a sneak a few feet from the porch so the "boom" doesn't disturb his wife, putting the cross hairs on the vitals and squeezing the trigger.  What a way to hunt deer!  Then, the work begins... LOL.

i had to pas on a nice 8 pt last weekend because i dident think i could i could make a good shot he was well with in my range but just couldent bring my self to risk makeing a bad shot on him 

Lever Action .30-30 with Hornady's LeverEvolution Ammunition in 160 grain projetile.  When zeroed at 200 yards, the projectile is 3 inches high at 100 yards and drops 12.1 inches at 300 yards.  At 300 yards, the projectile still has 1699 ft/lbs or energy and is traveling 1025 fps.  Bullet shot from a 24" test barrel.  When bullet is fired from a 20" lever carbine, expect a 25 fps decline in velocity for every inch shorter than 24" (1599 fps from my 20" barrel).

I have a Weatherby Synthetic Vanguard in .30-06 and used it one time to kill a deer.  Too much meat ruined and won't do that again.

For shots out to 300 yards, it's my trusted Glenfield Lever Action .30-30 for shooting deer, elk and moose - 330 yard bull moose drops from LeverEvolution with .30-30 160 grain bullet.