When we left NM, he was #3 in this year's New Mexico Big Bucks contest, behind a 238" muley and a 119" Coues. I don't expect to remain there, though, as we saw a lot of big bucks. A mild winter last year, good water and feed all contributed to a good year for deer there.
No - regular rifle. A 300 Win mag Tikka shooting a 150 gr Hornady Interbond. (I could not get the .257 Wthby to perform reliably enough so I stuck with old faithful.)
You guys may get tired of seeing these pictures, but since this is the best buck I've ever shot, after a bunch of years hunting, I'm proud of it. 177 7/8" These are the pictures from my friend's cell phone, since my camera batteries were dead...