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CapPopper

40 Cal.
Joined
Jan 5, 2017
Messages
554
Reaction score
339
This evening was the last day of our regular gun season. After hunting every day of season dawn till dusk I had seen two deer whole hunting and both were already dead. That's a week and two days of dawn till dusk without seeing a single live deer. However our DNR assures us the deer population is higher than ever... (I don't buy it) but this evening in the last hour of the last day I finally had a couple in range (a very close 90 yards....)

I went to a spot I hadn't hunted yet this year since I didn't want to disturb others and they finally were not there. After confirming I had the whole wood to myself I managed to get a little hot so I took a break to cool off on a log by the road. The squirrels have been really active this year and they were everywhere. Which is fine they are quite entertaining.

Sat for about 30 then decided to slowly walk up the road since I know the deer travel the valley off to the left of the path quite often when it's early or late (about 4:30 at this point) and, just as suspected there were several deer walking down the small ridge in the middle. I snuck over to a small tree overlooking the valley for a rest as I watched the first two deer pass in between the trees on the way down without stopping. As the third came down I waited till there was an opening and whistled. Go figure it ignored me.... So on the next opening I whistled loud and long which proves successful in stopping them.

At 90 my front site covers a lot of deer but this is a shot I've made several times before. I placed the front site on the shoulder and squeezed. Ignition was immediate even though the rifle has been loaded nearly 3 weeks. All three deer take off running but I could tell mine wasn't moving right and then started to stumble as the smoke cleared. It fell and never tried to regain its footing.
IMG_20211219_163155_863.jpg

As I approached the deer I noticed a small rack was upon his head. I believed it to be a doe. At that range I couldn't see the antlers but that hardly matters. This is the hardest I've ever hunted to take just a single animal. A deer around that age should be delicious and will keep my venison craving daughter satisfied.

load was 85grs goex ffg under a 360gr leem Improved minie lubed with beeswax and olive oil. Was using 100 grs of Pyrodex originally but the rifle shoots just as well with the lighter load and I just don't like Pyrodex. I'll avoid it whenever possible. Quite pleased with myself I was starting to doubt I'd get an opportunity at meat this year. Usually in years past I'm trying not to tag out at this point..... Wonder where all the deer have gone.... Now onto primitive season after the new year :thumb: merry not quite Christmas everyone!
 
CapPopper, you should be pleased with yourself...that's a lot of stick-to-it-ness! Congratulations on the last day buck. Our muzzleloader season ended today too. Came close to collecting a doe but never felt comfortable with the opportunity.

If you don't mind saying, I'm wondering which state your buck called home.

Best regards, Skychief.
 
CapPopper, you should be pleased with yourself...that's a lot of stick-to-it-ness! Congratulations on the last day buck. Our muzzleloader season ended today too. Came close to collecting a doe but never felt comfortable with the opportunity.

If you don't mind saying, I'm wondering which state your buck called home.

Best regards, Skychief.

Not sure if he was a native (I didn't ask) but he was in south central Ohio when I shot him.:thumb:
 
Congratulations and good write up. I saw a number of deer this year, thankfully tagging out within 15 minutes of legal light on Ohio's Opening Day with the 45/70. That was a first to be successful so quick. Not many gunshots sounding off this year, and I did spend quite a bit of time out and about, too. Was hoping to fill an anterless tag this past Saturday but all I saw were young bucks, much like the one you shot. Looking forward to the designated Mzlder season come January. Hope to experience the white cloud of BP smoke to briefly obscure the game after making a good shot. That is always rewarding.
 
Congratulations and good write up. I saw a number of deer this year, thankfully tagging out within 15 minutes of legal light on Ohio's Opening Day with the 45/70. That was a first to be successful so quick. Not many gunshots sounding off this year, and I did spend quite a bit of time out and about, too. Was hoping to fill an anterless tag this past Saturday but all I saw were young bucks, much like the one you shot. Looking forward to the designated Mzlder season come January. Hope to experience the white cloud of BP smoke to briefly obscure the game after making a good shot. That is always rewarding.

It sure is I could've carried any number of other rifles or pistols this year ( have like 5 options) but anymore I have trouble hunting with anything that doesn't make a cloud of smoke.... Hoping my kibler kit ships soon and I may have a chance to get it put together before muzzleloader. Luckily I prefer plain "working" guns lol I hate taking a truly beautiful firearm in the woods..... I won't skimp on the finish at all but I'm not going to carve a work of art and then drag it through a sea of briars lol
 
Good deal, only took me four days in un-mentionable season but finally paid off with a nice 8 point, Sometimes these type of hunts are the best memory builders. Have not been able too get out for our late muzzle loader season been too busy helping the wife with getting ready for christmas (she has a nasty cold) but just about finished that, after christmas me and the .62 are going too the woods.
 
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