After taking an 8-point buck this season, Ray Swingle displays on a life effectively lived
Ray Swingle with the 8-point buck he tagged in early December. Courtesy Ray Swingle
On the ripe age of 100, Ray Swingle continues to be slaying whitetails. On Dec. 5, whereas searching out of an outdated field blind on his farm in Pennsylvania, Swingle shot an 8-point buck from 75 yards away. By Swingle’s estimation, it’s one of many 100-plus deer he’s killed throughout his lengthy life within the outdoor.
Swingle was searching together with his grandson-in-law, Mike Mancuso, when he harvested the buck. He shot it with the identical trusty Winchester Mannequin 70 Featherweight he’s used for years. The rifle is chambered in .30-06, and he solely shoots ammo he handloads himself.
“I’ve shot nearly every thing with that rifle and caliber,” Swingle tells Out of doors Life. “I nonetheless do, as a result of if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it.”
He’s carried that rifle throughout North America, chasing elk in Colorado and big-bodied whitetails within the Midwest. He’s additionally hunted moose in Newfoundland, caribou in Quebec, Dall sheep within the Yukon, and mountain goats in British Columbia. Earlier this yr, he and Mancuso went on a deer searching journey in Missouri for the tenth yr in a row. However even for a well-traveled sportsman like Swingle, it’s exhausting to beat searching near house.
“Most of my deer have been on or close to the place I’ve owned and labored as a dairy farmer,” says Swingle, whose farm is in Union Dale not removed from the place he grew up.
Though he’s needed to change to a crossbow not too long ago because of shoulder troubles, Swingle was a devoted bowhunter for many years. He’s twice pulled off the “triple crown” of Pennsylvania bowhunting—killing a deer, a bear, and a wild turkey with a bow all in the identical yr.
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“When Ray was bowhunting, he took a deer yearly with a bow for 30 years,” says Mancuso, who lives on the identical farm as Ray however in a special home. “This yr he solely noticed small bucks whereas searching [with his crossbow], so he didn’t get one till rifle season opened.”
Swingle was pleased with the 8-point buck he harvested final week. However he says his proudest searching achievement was the doe he shot in Pennsylvania in 1938.
“That was my first deer, which I legally shot at age 15 with a single shot .22 rifle,” Swingle recollects. “Again then it was lawful to hunt with a .22, and that doe actually acquired my love for searching going.”
Swingle quickly realized the .22 wasn’t sufficient gun for deer. The next yr, he purchased himself a .30-30 Winchester and a field of shells for $30.
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The hunter celebrated his 100th birthday in October. As of late, Swingle normally hunts alone in deer stands that be builds himself, however Mancuso says he considers himself fortunate anytime Swingle asks him or his 21-year-old son to come back alongside.
“Ray can be after turkeys this spring once more together with his crossbow,” says Mancuso. “He’s superb. He works on the farm each day, and hunts at any time when the season is open for no matter recreation is on the market.”