Youth Firearm Season is Tomorrow!!!

[luieb45]

I just started shooting traditional muzzleloaders this year to be able to deer hunt with one in the upcoming season. Well, tomorrow is the Illinois youth firearm season which means you can hunt with a modern shotgun or a muzzleloader. In the years past I was succesful with a shotgun and I hope the success continues this weekend. I was hunting with my bow last weekend and didn't even see a deer and I hope that changes. I'd like to thank everyone on the forum in giving me tips on how to shoot better.

 

[rabjr]

Good luck with your traditional muzzleloader, shoot straight and have fun! :thumbsup:

 

[jethro224]

Good luck Luie! :hatsoff:

 

[bdhutier]

GL Man!!

 

[chance]

Good Luck!!

 

[luieb45]

Well, the deer were moving today because we got our first cold snap. I wish I was posting right now that I got a deer and made a quick clean shot. Well, I didn't. In my stand two young fawns. One was a doe and one was a button buck. They were messing around in the brush and the button buck came out and turned broadside at 30 yards. I aimed and boom! The deer started to stagger but stood there and didn't act that hurt. He kept standing there and wasn't going to run. So I got out a speed loader and poured my powder in. Then I put the ball in and capped the gun. They were still there. I aimed again, and pop. The cap only went off and they didn't even react. Then I fired about 4 caps without them leaving. Finally I decided I would just go back to the truck and pull the ball and load again then try. But I never got the ball pulled and now I'll have to probably take it to a gun smith. My dad was bowhunting not that far away and he got a button buck. He came with me to look for sign that my deer had been hit. We walked back into the woods and they were 20 yards from where I shot. The one I shot was on the ground but well alive still. The other one was standing. We were 15 yards and they didn't spook. I saw a spot of raised fur on the deer I shot at high and towards the back of the rib cage. I obviously didn't hardly get into the deer it probably just broke a rib. So I got a tree branch and I was going to try to finish him off if he couldn't get up. We didn't have any weapons with us. The deer got up and started walking away and I was going to try to stay with the deer and be within 50 yards while my dad got his bow from the truck. But then he ran across the beans. He'll probably survive that wound though. So tomorrow I will try again. My muzzleloader isn't working so I'll probably have to use my pump action 12 gauge wingmaster tomorrow. I so wish I would have got that deer.

 

[jethro224]

Luie,

Pull the nipple out and sprinkle a couple grains of powder under it and make sure the nipple is clear. Then put it back and shoot the load out.
Clean the gun and start over. And get some real blackpowder. :wink:

Better luck next time.

 

[sachem longrifle]

Our youth season in Wisconsin was today.

The trouble is I don't have anymore youths. They all done growd up :grin:

 

[luieb45]

Luie,

Pull the nipple out and sprinkle a couple grains of powder under it and make sure the nipple is clear. Then put it back and shoot the load out.
Clean the gun and start over. And get some real blackpowder. :wink:

Better luck next time.

When we turned my dad's deer into the locker the guy that runs it used to shoot traditional muzzleloaders for competition and said he recommended what you just said. We tried that and it wouldn't budge. I will have to take it to a gunsmith. Thing is I don't think there are any that will work with muzzleloaders around here. Is there a way I can totally remove the barrel so I can push it out? Or is that just on thompson centers?

 

[rabjr]

Luie,

Pull the nipple out and sprinkle a couple grains of powder under it and make sure the nipple is clear. Then put it back and shoot the load out.
Clean the gun and start over. And get some real blackpowder. :wink:

Better luck next time.

When we turned my dad's deer into the locker the guy that runs it used to shoot traditional muzzleloaders for competition and said he recommended what you just said. We tried that and it wouldn't budge. I will have to take it to a gunsmith. Thing is I don't think there are any that will work with muzzleloaders around here. Is there a way I can totally remove the barrel so I can push it out? Or is that just on thompson centers?

No, take it to a gunsmith and tell him the problem. I have a wood vice, after soaking my gun in the solvent I use, I clamp it down and I have yet to see a ball I couldn't use the screw attachment made to pull balls, has to be screwed in tight, and pull it out. A good gunsmith should be able to do this or whatever it takes to get the ball out.

 

[jethro224]

Yep, you should be able to pull the ball. A steel range rod makes this MUCH easier. If you don't have one I would recommend buying one. Track of the Wolf sells them for $30-$35.

You can also push the ball out with grease from a grease gun. Use a grease fitting with the same thread as your nipple. Messy but effective.

OR you can blow the ball out with one of those little CO2 discharger things.

OR, quickest and easiest, you can use a rubber tipped air gun with a regular air compressor to blow the ball out. Hold the rubber tip blowgun against the nipple hole with the nipple removed and hit the air. Be sure the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction as the ball will fly out with some force.

Good luck.

ps. If you can't get it out and can't find a gunsmith to do it for you, that offer is still good for you and your dad to drive over here and do some shootin'. I'll get the ball out for ya and show you the difference powder can make. :thumbsup:

 

[luieb45]

We're going to try to take out a part on the ignition to put more powder in and shoot it out. The guy at the locker said if that doesn't work he wants me to bring it to him and he'll work on it. He said 3f black powder will do a little better he said. Otherwise we'll take it to a traditions dealer and send it in and they will take apart the barrel and get it out. The problem isn't the range rod. The screw is slipping because the ball may have a hole in it now. We need a bigger screw than they make in any ball puller. It kinda sucks because I went hunting this morning and a bigger doe and her fawns came in at even closer at about 17 yards. I let her have it with my 12 gauge pump. I am still happy that I got a deer. I just wish it was with my smokepole.

 

[jethro224]

You can cut the head off of a wood screw and thread the shank to fit your rod. Might be able to get a better bite in the stripped hole.
Sounds like maybe you better get some experienced help before you make it any worse...

Grats on the doe. :thumbsup:

 

[luieb45]

Dropped it off to a guy my dad went to school with and works on guns part time. He used to do work with muzzleloaders but doesn't get the oppurtunity often anymore. He says he's got a better ball extracter.

 

[jethro224]

Cool. :thumbsup:

Do you still get to hunt the regular season too? And the ML season? Maybe you can smoke one then.

 

[luieb45]

I'll probably hunt the regular season with my shotgun because I just got a new scope for it this year and we sometimes do deer drives. That would be kinda hard with a ml. But I will hunt the ml season with it hopefully if it gets fixed.

 

[RC]

. That would be kinda hard with a ml.

:hmm: think of the challenge of it...........jus imagine the looks you'd get....then imagine the looks you'd get when yer successful....I promise ya, it'll make ya a better hunter, a better sportsman, an give you a feeling you won't believe, an could never explain......


jus a thought :wink: ...Congrats on the doe :thumbsup: ,,,and good luck on the hunt! :hatsoff:

 

[luieb45]

I don't think people in my family that hunt with us would like it if I was one of the blockers in the deer drive because there is a good chance I will miss a running deer and that would mean their effort are wasted. Also we normally bounce around from one property to another all over the county and I don't think they'd appreciate me having to clean it all those times.

 

[RC]

oh.......don't understand the cleaning every time?...m/l gun is usually considered legally unloaded with the cap off it...as fer missing with a ml.. that's your call..you'd know best there.

the idea was jus a thought...

 

[ryanhogg]

Good try. thats terriable about the deer. no offence but you have to muster it buddy. take your knife and slice the throat if you have to.
good try though and i wish you luck