Never shot a deer w/a handgun, but came real close one time.
It was a very windy morning, early in our 6-8 week deer season. I was overlooking a brushy draw which the deer used regularly when I spotted a buck in the heaviest part of the brush and decided to see if I could stalk it. Figured the wind was right and would cover any noise I might make and, what the heck, didn't have anything better to do.
Eased down into the draw and managed to get pretty darn close without being busted. Eased rifle up, got a better look at him and decided he was a young deer w/a small, but promising rack but the thought entered my mind that I might take him w/the .357 Ruger thumb buster. I was behind a large, thick bush and the deer was slowly heading in my direction when he disappeared in the thick brush. Had the pistol out, rotated cylinder to clear the snake shot in first two chambers, cocked the hammer and had gun at the ready when the buck suddenly re-appeared. He was less than 15' away, on the opposite side of the bush! He knew something wasn't right and was stretching his neck to look directly at me over the bush! I lowered the muzzle of the pistol, aimed between his eyes, then remembered what a nice young buck he was and that I did have the whole season in front of me. Smiled and said bang as I lowered the hammer and had a good laugh watchin him quickly melt into the brush. That satisfied my desire to hunt deer with a handgun.
Not the same buck, but very similar pose
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