First deer with muzzleloader!

[Puff]

Shot my first deer with muzzleloader today! Shot with a Lyman .54cal roundball at 70 yards. I hit the deer in the spine complete pass thru.. The deer was taken off his feet as if was hit by a Mac truck. However it did not die until I shot it in the head with a .22 mag. Either way I was surprised the knock down power of roundball with 90gr of pyrodex.

 

[Voyageur]

Outstanding Puff! Anyone's first game animal taken with a muzzle loader is a reason to celebrate. (Perhaps you'll even switch to blackpowder

)

I always carry a cap & ball or flintlock pistol to finish off game...that way I feel like every aspect was covered and it was a cheap finishing shot. Twice, through various circumstance, I used the cap & ball to take the deer and was quite surprised at it's abilities.

Perhaps you can give a little more detailed sketch of the hunt and, if possible, throw in an image or two. (Not having a web site I'm willing to use, I can only do attachments and it hinders me. Perhaps sometime in the future this forum can arrange to let us post attachments.) But I'd like to hear (and see) a little more about your hunt.

Congratulations on your deer.

Voyageur

PS-I'm med. ret. LE myself.

 

[Bald Baron]

Congratulation....what kind of rack did he have?

 

[roundball]

Outstanding Puff...I know you're on cloud 9 !!

 

[musketman]

Wow, your first deer with a smoke pole...

Once it gets to be your 20th. deer with a muzzleloader, it's still a rush.

You're hooked now...

 

[Puff]

It was a doe. I haven't hunted with a gun in close to 16 years. I usually hunt with a longbow. I can say that has all changed. I'll hunt with the smokepole during regular and muzzleloader seasons in the future.

 

[roundball]

That's the same reaction I had...all of a sudden the other forms of firearms hunting just don't seem to hold the appeal.

And when you learn through the percussion stuff and possibly expand into flintlocks, you'll get another huge rush...so I think you can look forward to a few years of very rewarding times in this hobby/sport.

(with that high shot hitting the spine, in all probability he became paralyzed due to the impact to the spinal column, but his heart and lungs were still working fine)

 

[No Powder]

Congratulations I always take a doe unless I have a chance for a trophy buck. A good medium size doe is great eating. They don't have the scent glands a buck does to worry about. Also in our state we are having a problem with overpopulation and takeiing a doe helps that problem. You done good.

 

[JeffD]

Good job Puff! I got my first ML deer this Fall - a doe - and it was a rush! I'm sure you'll continue to have a great time shooting and hunting with your rifle.

 

A hearty congratulations Puff!!! I still very well remember my first deer with a muzzleloader and no doubt you'll always remember this one. I too hunt with a longbow but I gotta confess that there is more black powder in my blood than broadheads and string wax. There is simply something about taking game the old way. As musketman said, the 20th will be just as thrilling as the 1st.

roundball is correct about the spine shot. I've killed a couple deer I hit high like that. I also do as Voyageur does and carry a matching flint or percussion pistol for that coup de grace'. Fortunately I've never had to use it but it goes along just in case.

Again, congratulations!!! Well done!

Vic

 

[tg]

Congrats on a job well done and a good choice in the tools use to do it,one word of warning though..there is no cure for this addiction.

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Great Puff - I can smell the chops frying from here.Rosky

 

[Rocky Johnson]

oops typeing not my strong suit. Rocky