Member Matt Rosamilia sent this note along with the picture and I thought I would share it with the rest of the members and visitors here at Handgun Hunter Magazine. Matt's experience on his first handgun deer is much like the passion the rest of us experience who enjoy this sport so much.

I've always been drawn to shooting and hunting with a handgun. I always carry one with me when hunting and hiking and enjoying the great outdoors. However, I never had a good shot and when I did, I always seem to grab the rifle instead due to the fact of the distance being excessive or adrenalin rush of the deer running. I WILL NOT risk injury of the deer. Anyhow, last year I had a 1,100 Lb. train wheel fall on my foot at work and I am a hunting fanatic so, when using a cane to walk with, I found that carrying a rifle while using a cane is an awful setup so, I put the Freedom Arms 454 Casull with a Leupold 2.5-8X EER and SSK T'SOB mount in a shoulder holster on. I took this doe I know it's not a 8 or 10 point wallhanger but this doe got me so fired-up about the sport that I'll probably never reach for my rifle again!! She was full tilt running right at me and stopped about 30-40 yards broadside. A perfect setup! I squeezed one shot and when the recoil caused the gun to raise in the air, so did she. She went straight up in the air and landed on her back and never even twitched. I never seen impact like this before!! I used a Hornady 300 grain XTP close to max load at about 1700 fps. It did not do excessive damage to the meat, just about a half inch hole going in and busting both shoulders and exited with about an inch hole. Anyhow, your websight or "online magazine" got me fired up and educated enough to start hunting primarily with a revolver. Thank you for making this available and please keep it up and the next time I write, I'll send a picture of a true trophy because now I'm hooked!!

Matt Rosamilia

I have a saying, "The easiest way to kill a deer with a handgun is to leave your rifle at home." I told Matt, even a doe taken with a handgun can be a trophy, especially if it's your first handgunned deer. Matt is proud of his first deer with a handgun and should be; the challenge of handgun hunting is addictive. I'm sure Matt will be showing us some fine handgun kills in the future.

Congratulations Matt!

Gary