My brother and I took our flintlocks out on Saturday for the first time this season. We went up to the State Game Lands where we normally hunt. We could hear a 'gang' driving somewhere but weren't sure exactly where they were so we decided to go partway up the mountain and sneak along like we had planned. I ended up going the whole way to the top. I was warmed up from the climb so I took a shirt off, had a drink of water and started off. I took about 10 quick steps on rocks and suddenly saw 2 white tails running away. I was surprised to see something so soon and disappointed that I hadn't seen them soon enough. Then I saw another deer just standing there at about 50 yards. It's head was partially blocked so I glassed it to check for small antlers(protected in Pa.) It looked bald so I decided to shoot. Just then it flagged its' tail and turned to leave. I shot as it was quartered away and hit high. It dropped immediately with a broken spine so I approached it carefully and finished it with a head shot. I have a .54 Pennsylvania Mtn. Rifle from Cabin Creek that I got a couple years ago. Even though this is my third flintlock deer, it's my first with a round ball and long rifle.
Another interesting fact is that I had passed up a doe in rifle season that was standing less than 10 yards away and several others that were in range of my .270. Some of my hunting buddies are in to bucks only hunting and I didn't want to take a doe early in the season while I was with them. I missed a buck on the first Saturday of rifle so it looked like I would go without a deer this year. Now I got one with a flintlock in less than an hour of hunting. It looks like I'll have to leave the centerfires at home because it's the flinter that brought home the venison.
Mtn. Rifle
Another interesting fact is that I had passed up a doe in rifle season that was standing less than 10 yards away and several others that were in range of my .270. Some of my hunting buddies are in to bucks only hunting and I didn't want to take a doe early in the season while I was with them. I missed a buck on the first Saturday of rifle so it looked like I would go without a deer this year. Now I got one with a flintlock in less than an hour of hunting. It looks like I'll have to leave the centerfires at home because it's the flinter that brought home the venison.
Mtn. Rifle
