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October 17, 2011, 10:13 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: July 25, 2000
Location: Central TX
Posts: 1,503
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First Whitetail with a Muzzleloader
I've been hunting for many years, but just this last year got hooked on black powder. I've been shooting cap and ball revolvers and flintlocks for several months, and also bought a 209x50 barrel for my T/C Encore rifle. I'm still breaking in the flintlocks and have yet to determine optimal loads for them. But the Encore seems to really like a saboted .44 caliber 240 grain XTP over 100 grains of GOEX FFg.
PA's early antlerless muzzleloader season started Saturday. I was out on a friend's farm but didn't see anything all day. It was windy, and not even the squirrels were very active. I saw some sign, including a couple of fresh rubs (noted for the regular season), but nary a deer. Saw a couple of hunters on the adjacent property late in the day, but I gave up before the end of shooting hours and packed it in. I took today (Monday) off from work to get out again. I was on stand by 6:45 a.m., a good 45 minutes before legal shooting hours. Weather was calm and dry with temps in the upper 40s, predicted to get up into the low 60s. After about 10 minutes, I heard something working it's way through the woods in front of me, coming down a ridge line from left to right. About 7:10, a solitary deer emerged from the thick woods into the more open woods around my stand. Still too dark to tell if doe or buck, but it worked its way to within about 10 yards of my stand, at which point I could tell it had no antlers. Still 20 minutes until legal shooting hours. During that time I watched that critter wander all over my field of fire, browsing, nosing about, and doing what deer do when they are oblivious to human presence. About 7:25, close to legal hours but not quite, I took advantage of the deer having moved about 40 yards away and standing behind a tree to cock my Encore. Her head came up immediately as she tried to identify the source of that unnatural sound. She didn't, and continued to browse around. I checked my watch several minutes later and good to go. By then she was about 50 yards out, quartered toward me. The crosshairs rested on her right front shoulder, and the 240 grain XTP went through the shoulder and both lungs. Never experienced the cloud of black powder smoke blocking my vision before; as it cleared, I saw that the doe was already down, about five yards from where she had been standing. Not the largest doe I've ever shot--in fact, she was pretty small. But first ever with a muzzle loader, and one for the freezer in mid October ... I'm more than satisfied. Still have my PA buck tag and multiple tags for NY, so hoping this one is the first of several this year. And since I still have time today, I'm headed to the range to keep working on one of my flintlocks. Gotta be ready for primitive muzzleloader season in December!
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October 17, 2011, 11:41 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: April 6, 2010
Location: Virginia
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Way to go! I shot my first deer with a black powder last season and fell in love with it.
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October 17, 2011, 01:11 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: August 12, 2009
Location: Athens, Georgia
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Congrats!
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October 17, 2011, 02:50 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: July 25, 2000
Location: Central TX
Posts: 1,503
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Thanks! I think I'm hooked, too. I think maybe I'll take the Encore to NY instead of my shotgun this year.
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Cogito, ergo armatus sum. |
October 17, 2011, 02:59 PM | #5 |
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Nice! Make sure you stop in for pizza while you're up here!
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October 18, 2011, 07:27 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: July 25, 2000
Location: Central TX
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Planning on it, schedule permitting. Regards!
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Cogito, ergo armatus sum. |
October 19, 2011, 09:23 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: October 17, 2011
Posts: 60
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pictures please
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October 19, 2011, 09:52 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 25, 2000
Location: Central TX
Posts: 1,503
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Quote:
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Cogito, ergo armatus sum. |
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October 19, 2011, 10:25 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: February 16, 2011
Posts: 471
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Always a rush when the smoke clears!! Congrats!
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October 20, 2011, 08:35 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: April 25, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,309
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Muzzle loader or one of thos stainless steel, plastic stocked inline monstrosities?
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October 20, 2011, 12:36 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
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Any first time is special. Congratulations!
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October 20, 2011, 05:45 PM | #12 | |
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Join Date: July 25, 2000
Location: Central TX
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Quote:
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Cogito, ergo armatus sum. |
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October 20, 2011, 07:33 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: June 13, 2000
Location: Mountains
Posts: 1,385
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Congrats on your first deer with the muzzleloader. I used the 240 GR. XTP's for years and never lost a deer while using them. When they hit meat it is all over, except for the dragging and skinning.
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October 28, 2011, 03:56 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 23, 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 185
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Congrats.
The wife and son both got nice deer with the "monstrosity" muzzle loaders last year. I love the Power Belts, couldn't get the Hornady to pattern for crud in their Optima's. May the remainder of the season be as fruitful for you. |
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