The situation: First year hunting on my new woodlot. I was hopeful looking at all the tracks and remainings but didn't expect so much!
The hunt: I'll spare you the buck that didn't come to my call and rattling and stood 15 minutes until the neighbor came and shot it.
I was hidden in the power line the first morning. 15 minutes before sunrise 2 large cows came in the power line to flee the neighbor's shot at their buck. Coming from 500m I had time to range landmarks, lay my rifle on the big rock hiding me and adjust my Aimpoint brightness. They came to 170m before turning uphill toward the forest. I stopped them with a bark and pulled the shot in half a second. Killed on the spot it rolled on it's back and stopped moving in 2 seconds.
The shot: I didn't get time to prepare my rifle so I grabbed the one I prepared for my girlfriend. .308win 16" barrel with an Aimpoint Micro, light and handy. Zeroed at 100m with 180gr SP.
At 170m I overcompensated and aimed 10" over the heart. Actual drop was closer to 4". Bullet entered behind a shoulder and exited in front of the opposite shoulder. Heart looked nice but must have stopped from the shockwave since it died so quick. Proud of my shot considering I had no magnification and pulled it so quickly.
The work: My partner working that day, I mostly gutted it alone before he could get replaced and meet me. I was lucky to drive the trailer just below the cow, pulling downhill went well.
When all was done, we hung the cleaned quarters in the butcher cold room 4 days later and it weighted 510lbs! With skin, head and guts it must have been a 900lbs cow!