Double Play

[Tony Logan]

Did a little shooting this weekend. This was the best day, coyote and 7 pt. I also got a button buck and a 6 pt. The gun is my TVM 58 Early Virginia caliber with 44 inch Colerain barrel. I found out that 58 with 90 FFF goex is definitely not over kill, I shot a button buck thru both shoulders and it ran off in a ravine and traveled about 100 yds total. it bled well but ran farther than I would have thought it could. The next day I bottom of the spine shot/ pass thru the top of the opposite shoulder a 6pt and had to cut its throat with my patch knife. The deer in the picture I actually shot at twice, I shot the 7 pt on Saturday afternoon right at dusk chasing two does. I was very disappointed because it was only about 30 yds away and i barely grazed the chest leaving cut hair all over the ground. I simply did not pick a spot, he was such a large target and so close. "Aim small, miss small" never entered my mind. I was barely blowing my grunt call and the deer were looking for me moving all around my tree. He came back on Monday mornign about 7 am, 45 minutes after i shot the coyote and I got a second chance on him 10 yds from the same spot I shot him on Saturday evening. I really took a close aim on him this time. He was quartered towards me and I went thru the top of the lungs. nice exit hole but I did not find any blood, only hair at the impact area. I thought I heard him hit the ground about 100 yds from where I shot him. I was right. I found him but never picked up the blood trail. I know patched round balls dont work like conicals like the lyman great plains bullets. I have only been big game hunting with patched round balls for about 3 years now. I have taken 6 deer, a black bear and 2 coyotes now. I am learning to really bare down and make the shot count, then dont give up looking for them if you think you hit them, you probably did.

 

[Kapow]

Sounds like you are having a BLAST! Nice rifle. When I hunt with a muzzleloader I always think of them as a precision system to deliver one well aimed projectile into the vitals, ie I get that modern magnumitus mentality out of my head that it can do anything from all ranges and there is a quick follow up shot ready to go.

I believe it is the attitude that you hunt with when hunting with blackpowder or bow that makes you a better hunter than the centrefire crowd. Proof is on the ground and in your photos. Well done.

 

[brew]

Wow what a great season you are having. I recently received my 54 cal Lancaster and will be hunting with it all rifle season which starts this weekend. I can't wait to see what it will do with a patched round ball. I had trouble a couple years back with my 50 cal not going all the way through which is why I upgraded to 54 .
I ll keep you posted on my progress.
Congrats on such a great season.

 

[roundball]

Now that's gettin' it done, congratulations !!

 

[agill]

Congratulations! Great advice too. :hatsoff:

 

[PJC]

Three deer and a coyote is a great weekend.
I generally go for double lung shots.
Just habit from bow hunting.
I find they will go about the same distance.

Taking a deer with a flintlock is just about the ultimate satisfaction a hunter can experience.

Although Turkey and squirrel are real close.

I guess any day in the woods with a flintlock is a good day.

PJC

 

[dbutch]

T.O. Don't feel bad ..its called flock shooting ..with a little target panic mixed in! :grin:
Gotta love an action packed hunt. :thumbsup:
It happens when you least expect it. :shocked2:
Good job on the rebound!
You must have been a busy boy. 3 deer to process.
Congrats and thanks for the tip! :thumbsup:
Atta-Boy!

 

[Spikebuck]

:thumbsup: Sounds like quite a hunt! Congratulations.

Sometimes it's hard in the heat of the excitement, but I just take a deep breath and force myself to focus and make that first shot count.

 

[excess650]

Three deer and a coyote is a great weekend. For sure!
I generally go for double lung shots.
Just habit from bow hunting.
I find they will go about the same distance. I've never bow hunted, but do recommend the double lung shot (large target) or heart shot/low lung to ensure a good blood trail. The only buck I took with my .58 was double lunged and went about 35 yards before he stopped and fell over.

Taking a deer with a flintlock is just about the ultimate satisfaction a hunter can experience. I agree!

Although Turkey and squirrel are real close. I took a longbeard in 2011 with my .58. It was satisfying, but not the same as taking a rack buck, IMO. I choose to NOT hunt squirrel since I don't eat them. A coyote with a flintlock would be OUTSTANDING.

I guess any day in the woods with a flintlock is a good day. Oh yea! I'm taking my .45 flinter this weekend for turkey in Pa. This will also be preseason scouting for Pa deer where I hunt. If the weather cooperates, I'll carry the flintlock in rifle season, but that doesn't come in until Monday after Thanksgiving.


PJC

 

[Britsmoothy]

Stunning report..thankyou :hatsoff:

Brits

 

[Patocazador]

It sounds like it was a truly fantastic weekend.

 

[wattlebuster]

Good shootin Tony :thumbsup:

 

[Bob J]

Way to go, T.O.! Nice buck, and good going on the coyote, too :thumbsup:

 

[Tony Logan]

A turkey would have made a complete TN Combo (buck, gobbler,coyote). Too bad cant shoot them with a rifle here. I just finished grinding up the last of the deer meat. I put the best deer hide in the freezer and the coyote for later projects. I saved some of the lower leg bones for knife handles and other things. A flintlock animal is very special to me. I showed the deer to a young kid (23) who was hunting the same property with his scoped inline. He said I wouldn't have wasted my powder on the coyote or carried it out if I did, and I saw that deer yesterday but passed on it because the points were too short and it was too far down the hill to drag it up. I tried to educate him on real black powder hunting and how the coyote was now a trophy to be respected and well, I was so excited to roll the buck over and see the fresh grazed mark from my miss the two days before I almost cried. I had been sitting in the tree for 2 days regretting not taking a careful aim on the deer but thankful still he wasnt mortally wounded.

 

[jethro224]

:thumbsup: Good huntin'.

 

[Spikebuck]

I tried to educate him on real black powder hunting and how the coyote was now a trophy to be respected and well, I was so excited to roll the buck over and see the fresh grazed mark from my miss the two days before I almost cried.

T.O. You are a true sportsman! :thumbsup:

One doesn't have to carry a traditional bow or firearm to see it the way you explained, but I always notice that it's quite common for the traditional crowd to feel and see it that way...not as common with the modern crowd.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Happy for you T.O.! Your respect for the game is something to admire. Good looking rifle. Dan.

 

[wry]

Great job and beautiful 'smoke pole'! With that massive wound, can't imagine there wasn't more blood!

 

[smo]

Congrats T O I'm seeing several bucks here but haven't fired a shot yet.