I hunt with mine almost exclusivly (unless a heavy downpour then I take a flinter) and to date my harvest with it has been; 4 deer, 1 turkey, 4 coyotes, 5 porcupines, 4 wild dogs, several bunnies, several squirrels, at least 8 ducks, 7 geese, and 6 grouse. I both still hunt and stalk with it and leave the match burning all the time. I have found that the smell of the match doesn't scare the critters much and in some cases even seems to attract them. I have also played around a bit with scented matchcord (mix some clove oil or anise oil in my matchsoak) but it seems unnessacry. The biggest thing is to take it easy and tend your match to make sure it desn't go out. I have written a few pieces on hunting with a matchlock, most recently in the July issue of "Guns" Magazine July 2004 issue. There is evn a group of us in the Great Lakes that are reenacting/trekking as 17th century New France personas. I am headed out tomorrow afternoon for another turkey (Fall season in MI) and deer season is jus around the corner.
Nick Barber
