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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 looking out of an previous 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 outside.

Swingle was looking 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 virtually the whole lot with that rifle and caliber,” Swingle tells Outside 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 12 months, he and Mancuso went on a deer looking journey in Missouri for the tenth 12 months in a row. However even for a well-traveled sportsman like Swingle, it’s exhausting to beat looking near dwelling.

“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 just lately resulting from 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 12 months.

A classic picture of Ray Swingle with a wild turkey; Swingle with a black bear he harvested extra just lately. Courtesy Ray Swingle

“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 unique home. “This 12 months he solely noticed small bucks whereas looking [with his crossbow], so he didn’t get one till rifle season opened.”

Swingle was proud of the 8-point buck he harvested final week. However he says his proudest looking 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 remembers. “Again then it was lawful to hunt with a .22, and that doe actually acquired my love for looking going.”

Swingle quickly realized the .22 wasn’t sufficient gun for deer. The next 12 months, 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 will likely 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 each time the season is open for no matter sport is accessible.”