Success with 20ga flintlock

[Swamp Buck]

I hunted three of the last few days of the regular firearm deer season and the first two days of the muzzleloader season without seeing any deer. This past Thursday (12/09/10) the wind was finally correct again for my stand location.

I headed out and got settled in for the evening hunt. Just before 5:00pm a 6-point buck appeared from seemingly out of thin air in front of me. The distance was only 20 yards.

I was hunting with an Early Pennsylvania 20 gauge flintlock fowler that I had built last spring. I raised the gun, carefully aimed and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. I suddenly realized to my horror that I had forgotted to take the frizzen stall off the gun.

The deer was now nervously looking right at me. In a near panic, I cocked the gun again and slipped the frizzen stall off. Fortunately the deer was still standing there looking at me. I again carefully aimed and pulled the trigger. The gun went off like it should and the deer took off heading westbound from my stand.

After reloading I went and checked for sign. The tracks and blood were easy to follow in the snow. The deer went about 50-60 yards before dropping.

What a fantastic end to my 2010 deer season. And now I know for sure that the frizzen stall works like it should.

 

[chance]

Great job where are the pics?

 

[KHickam]

Congratulations :thumbsup:

Need pics though :wink:

 

[agill]

Great story! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

Congratulations...a memorable hunt for sure!
:thumbsup:


(did the same thing myself in 2005...forgot to slip off the hammer stall / dull thud...but like you, luckily was still able to get the buck)

 

[ny griz]

:thumbsup: Congrats,way to go.Griz

 

[Dave K]

Great, with you a gun you built. I have noticed also how them deer to just appear out of no where. I wonder if it is my snoring that brings them in?

 

[rabjr]

Congrats! :thumbsup:

 

[hoochiepapa]

hotoSmile:
Good huntin' stories always need pics.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Pleased for you Sir :hatsoff: Who needs a rifle :thumbsup:

Brits.

 

[Skychief]

Between your and 16gauge's accounts, it seems the Michigan whitetails are pretty forgiving allowing second "shots"! :haha:

Way to go Swamp Buck!!! :thumbsup:

 

[Skychief]

BTW, a friend of mine took his first 20 gauge smoothbore flintlock buck this year. I don't think he will be looking back now!

Congrats again! :hatsoff:

 

[Bill Hall]

Great! And with a smoothbore! the bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward. Congratulations.

Yes, we do love to see dead animals with big holes in them. Heck, if all you got is a wrapped up steak, post a pic of that :rotf: . Bill

 

[Swamp Buck]

I think those two deer we got might have been the only two that were "forgiving". I've never had a deer give me a second chance like that before.

When the flint fell on the frizzen stall and made that dull "thump" sound, it seems like the world stood still for a moment. The clicking sounds made when cocking it again seemed so much louder than usual it sounded like I was cracking dry sticks in the deer blind.

At least everything worked out in the end.

 

[Flint311]

It is nice to know the frizzen stall works, but why THEN(!). Good job on the "recovery" and it definitely made a lasting memory.

 

[Skychief]

I think those two deer we got might have been the only two that were "forgiving". I've never had a deer give me a second chance like that before.

When the flint fell on the frizzen stall and made that dull "thump" sound, it seems like the world stood still for a moment. The clicking sounds made when cocking it again seemed so much louder than usual it sounded like I was cracking dry sticks in the deer blind.

At least everything worked out in the end.

:applause: :thumbsup: :wink:

 

[rkmeyer]

I'll bet that's something you will not soon forget! :surrender:
Great story, it only makes you human. :hatsoff:
Dusty :wink:

 

[jethro224]

Grats! :hatsoff:

 

[hawk]

good stuff :thumbsup: