First smoothbore buck

[S.Kenton]

Sounds like a GREAT hunt! NICE RACK as well, would make a GREAT shoulder mount!

 

[fyrfyter43]

Thanks, guys!

Swampy, yes, I do love smoothies! Perfect for the places I hunt. NJ has a lot of thick cover...I usually can't even see a deer much more than 50 yards away. And I can always load with shot for birds/rabbits/squirrels. Makes for a great all-around gun.

 

[fyrfyter43]

By the way, did you have an exit wound?

When I first found him, I didn't think I had an exit wound. There wasn't a single drop of blood on the off-side. When we field-dressed him, we found it - low and right behind the leg. I can only hunt this spot safely from a tree stand, and the deer was downhill from me, so the ball exited pretty low.

The exit wound was smaller than I expected. And since it was right behind the leg, I guess it was pretty well closed while he was running. At least that explains why I didn't have much of a trail.

 

[fyrfyter43]

Sounds like a GREAT hunt! NICE RACK as well, would make a GREAT shoulder mount!

I was originally going to do a skull mount, but when I showed my wife a picture of one, she said "where's the hair?" It turns out she's not a big fan of skull mounts.

So now I have an appointment with a taxidermist tomorrow. Since I had the butcher just save the head for me, I'll have to buy a cape if I end up doing a shoulder mount.

 

[hanshi]

That's a very good buck, congratulations. Those TVM smoothbores are nice.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Congratulations!! Love those brow tines! Kinda rare around here.
I'm like Bill, when are you eastern boys gonna invite us out whitetail huntin'?

 

[fyrfyter43]

You guys are welcome anytime. Believe it or not, we have a pretty good season in NW NJ. ML starts the Monday after Thanksgiving, and runs through the middle of February with a few days off. Unlimited does, 1 buck with the separate tag and 2 bucks during the regular firearms season.

 

[stone knife]

That sure is a dandy buck, congratulations on a fine animal.

 

[smo]

Congrats :thumbsup: Nice Buck :thumbsup:

 

[agill]

Congratulations! :thumbsup:

 

[MSW]

at looking buck! congratulations!

 

[smoothshooter]

Last Monday was our muzzleloader opener. We get 2 days to shoot a buck before it switches to antlerless for 3 more days. Then the orange army invades the woods the following week. In order to shoot a buck during those first 2 days, we need to purchase a separate buck tag. I usually don't bother with it, but something told me to get one this year.

I was in a small woodlot I recently got permission to hunt. I first hunted it last year, with my son killing his first deer there. I had my TVM fowling piece, loaded with 70 grains of FFg Swiss and a bare .600 ball with tow wadding. This would be my first hunt with this gun.

About an hour after first light, I heard a faint crunch behind me. Thinking it was another squirrel, I turned to watch it. To my surprise, it was a nice buck. I had never seen a deer coming from this direction.

I wasn't able to get my gun up for a shot without him seeing me, so I sat tight for about 10 minutes until he had made his way past me. He went past no more than 10 yards from me. I was finally able to get my gun up when he went behind some brush about 35 yards out. When I shot, I saw him give a hard mule kick and take off. He stopped after going about 50 yards and looked back at me.

After he continued on, I quietly reloaded. Before I was done reloading, 2 small bucks came from the same direction as the first. I watched as they passed by within 15 yards of my position. Once they were out of sight, I finished loading. I then waited about 20 minutes before taking up the trail. I also called my father to help with field dressing and dragging, as I had had abdominal surgery about 6 weeks earlier, and didn't want to risk hurting myself.

I followed a light blood trail to where the deer had looked back at me. There was so little blood that I began to question my shot. The deer had been quartering hard away from me, so I had aimed at the last rib for a shot that would take out both lungs. After pausing for a minute, I continued following the trail. Fortunately, my doubts were soon eased, as I found the buck less than 20 yards from where he had paused. When my father and I field dressed the buck, we found that the shot had been perfect, taking out both lungs and the top of the heart.

This was my first smoothbore buck, and by far the best buck I've ever killed. In fact, it's only the 2nd buck I've shot that still had both antlers.

I have to admit I am surprised that deer went that far after being hit with a ball that size.
Did it make an exit wound?

 

[smoothshooter]

Last Monday was our muzzleloader opener. We get 2 days to shoot a buck before it switches to antlerless for 3 more days. Then the orange army invades the woods the following week. In order to shoot a buck during those first 2 days, we need to purchase a separate buck tag. I usually don't bother with it, but something told me to get one this year.

I was in a small woodlot I recently got permission to hunt. I first hunted it last year, with my son killing his first deer there. I had my TVM fowling piece, loaded with 70 grains of FFg Swiss and a bare .600 ball with tow wadding. This would be my first hunt with this gun.

About an hour after first light, I heard a faint crunch behind me. Thinking it was another squirrel, I turned to watch it. To my surprise, it was a nice buck. I had never seen a deer coming from this direction.

I wasn't able to get my gun up for a shot without him seeing me, so I sat tight for about 10 minutes until he had made his way past me. He went past no more than 10 yards from me. I was finally able to get my gun up when he went behind some brush about 35 yards out. When I shot, I saw him give a hard mule kick and take off. He stopped after going about 50 yards and looked back at me.

After he continued on, I quietly reloaded. Before I was done reloading, 2 small bucks came from the same direction as the first. I watched as they passed by within 15 yards of my position. Once they were out of sight, I finished loading. I then waited about 20 minutes before taking up the trail. I also called my father to help with field dressing and dragging, as I had had abdominal surgery about 6 weeks earlier, and didn't want to risk hurting myself.

I followed a light blood trail to where the deer had looked back at me. There was so little blood that I began to question my shot. The deer had been quartering hard away from me, so I had aimed at the last rib for a shot that would take out both lungs. After pausing for a minute, I continued following the trail. Fortunately, my doubts were soon eased, as I found the buck less than 20 yards from where he had paused. When my father and I field dressed the buck, we found that the shot had been perfect, taking out both lungs and the top of the heart.

This was my first smoothbore buck, and by far the best buck I've ever killed. In fact, it's only the 2nd buck I've shot that still had both antlers.

I am not seeing any pictures of your deer or gun.

 

[Christophero]

"
I am not seeing any pictures of your deer or gun."

That's because this is an eleven year old post. Still fun to read, though.