Virginia Muzzleloader deer

[excess650]

Luck was with me this season despite the moonlit nights and dry leaves. I saw more bucks than does, but they all seemed a bit scarce. I consulted the solunar tables prior to heading out on the 13th, and it appeared that sometime between 11:00 and 13:30 should be good, so I dressed light and started out around 09:30. I made my way through the mountain laurel thicket that I normally hunt, through the pines, and up onto a finger ridge of bigger timber. I sat on a blowdown poplar log facing west, and the wind seemed to be from the east, so blowing uphill. The ravens were talking, the sun shining, and just a lovely morning. It wasn't long and a couple of spikes were chasing a couple of does through the pines. After a couple of laps the does headed north and things calmed down. I noticed that there were white oaks among the chestnut and red oaks, so seemed like a good place to wait, and particularly since the live bait had just headed north. After about an hour the log I was straddling had gotten uncomfortable, but I saw a head appear from the hollow to the west. Seeing decent antlers, I cocked the hammer and waited as he quartered towards me from above. As he passed below, I raised the rifle and fired. He trotted about 10 yards at the shot and then stopped and looked around. He took a few more steps downhill before dropping to his knees and laying down. At that point I did reload, but he as done by the time I walked the short distance to him.

Everything appeared in proper proportion as he approached, so I was shocked to see how large and heavy he truly was. 19-7/8" inside spread, lots of mass, and 46"+ chest girth. According to the charts, he was 285#+ live weight, and I had no idea that a mountain deer (no farmland nearby) could get that heavy. I'm sure he was old, and likely on the downhill slide, but didn't think to pull a tooth to have him aged.

edit: .605" PRB over 100gr Goex fffg.

 

[George]

Congratulations, nice deer and kit.

Spence

 

[kurts]

Nice deer, how the heck did you get it out, that's a lot to drag.

 

[excess650]

Nice deer, how the heck did you get it out, that's a lot to drag.

I had one antler in each and straddled his nose as I drug him through dry leaves. Luckily, it was downhill about halfway, a bit of flat, and just a slight grade uphill.

 

[hanshi]

That is a magnificent buck. And that fine jaeger rifle is super nice. I have yet to even get a shot at any deer so I'll be shooting anything I see.

 

[excess650]

another photo

 

[excess650]

That is a magnificent buck. And that fine jaeger rifle is super nice. I have yet to even get a shot at any deer so I'll be shooting anything I see.

Thank you. The rifle was made for hunting, so short in barrel and large in caliber. 28-1/2" Colerain .62, Chambers early Germanic lock, White Lightnin' liner.

Good luck on your hunting!

 

[smo]

Good Buck and nice rifle gun. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[wattlebuster]

Nice buck an sharp rifle :thumbsup: Who made it please if ya dont mind. Something that purty deserves tribute :thumbsup:

 

[Spikebuck]

Sounds like a great hunt. Congratulations!

 

[jethro224]

That's a dandy buck. :thumbsup:

 

[Patocazador]

That's a good one for sure. Congratulations to you.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Very nice buck and gun. Thanks for sharing your hunt. Dan.

 

[dhaverstick]

What a fine trophy! Thanks for sharing the story.

Darren

 

[sidelock]

Congrats. Nice buck. Looks almost exactly like my first BP taken deer in early 1970's with my kit build TC .50 cap buster on Little North Mountain in VA.

 

[will5a1]

Well done, thanks for sharing your hunt.

 

[mr.flintlock]

That is a nice deer! Thanks for sharing your story. I like the large bore rifles. I mostly hunt with .54 and .58 but have been thinking bout building a .62.

 

[hanshi]

another photo

I like that he's holding his demise. I have one STILL holding my rifle all these many years



She posed with this smoothbore.


A buck like that one you dropped don't come along every day, that's for sure. They don't grow on trees. I'm impressed!

 

[Huntin_Dawg1215]

Very nice deer, and a very nice rifle. What county in Virgina did that one come from.

 

[excess650]

Very nice deer, and a very nice rifle. What county in Virgina did that one come from.

Patrick County, between Stuart, Va and Mount Airy, NC.