Muzzleloader Buck

[MrGiggles]

Been a tough season. Saw a whole lot of young bucks but nothing really worth shooting throughout archery and firearms. I share this property with 4 out of state hunters, they were here for 3 weeks straight and seemingly ran every deer off the place. 

Shot at a doe on the last day of antlerless and missed. Not a confidence booster.

Decided to give the property a break after firearms for a few weeks, only checking cameras periodically. They started hitting the food plot and showing up in daylight a week after Thanksgiving. 

I did an observation sit on 12/26, did not have any deer in range, but watched the plot in the distance and counted 9 deer that afternoon, with 3 nice bucks. There was probably more that I couldn't see. 

On 12/28, the wind had shifted, allowing to me to slip in tight to the plot. I was in the tree at 2:30, by 3PM four does and fawns had come out for some salad. A short while later, a train of 7 does and fawns popped out of the woods, with this guy in tow. 

Unfortunately there was a tree in the way that prevented a shot at the point. While watching and waiting, I noticed that buck had his head up high, watching something in the timber. Shortly after, every deer in the plot bolted. No blowing, just gone. After that a coyote trotted across the field in that direction.

I sat tight, hoping they would come back. Surely enough, the does and minis started slipping back in. The big boy must have slipped around the plot in the timber, he made a quiet entrance and just kind of showed up, to my dismay, right behind that stupid tree again.

At this point it was getting after 4PM, I was weighing my options, watching that buck. He slowly crept toward a small opening in the tree limbs. Facing me at first, then broadside. 130 yards. My gun is zeroed at 100, so I aimed just a touch high, and pulled the trigger. Heard the smack of the bullet impact, but could not see his reaction in the cloud of smoke and brush, just the general direction they went. 

I called for help, attempted to reload, dropped the only bullet I had because I was shaking so badly, and climbed down after about 15 minutes. 

We looked briefly, at this point the sun had set and daylight was fading quickly. One dime sized drop of blood at the impact site, that was it. Decided to back out and come back in the morning, rather than push in and risk bumping him into the next county. 

It was a rough night of second guessing. Started looking right at daylight, found him only 80 yards away, dead as a stone. Perfect shot, I'm sure he was dead before I climbed out of the tree. Still no blood trail. 

I checked my cameras again, there are several other nice bucks frequenting the plot. I still have an unfilled archery tag, might give it a go again here in a few days once things settle down.

I have never been much of a late season hunter, but when you have a good food source, it can be the best time of year. These deer have been on a schedule, showing up well before dusk.

 

 

[BilletHead]

10 minutes ago, MrGiggles said:

Been a tough season. Saw a whole lot of young bucks but nothing really worth shooting throughout archery and firearms. I share this property with 4 out of state hunters, they were here for 3 weeks straight and seemingly ran every deer off the place. 

Shot at a doe on the last day of antlerless and missed. Not a confidence booster.

Decided to give the property a break after firearms for a few weeks, only checking cameras periodically. They started hitting the food plot and showing up in daylight a week after Thanksgiving. 

I did an observation sit on 12/26, did not have any deer in range, but watched the plot in the distance and counted 9 deer that afternoon, with 3 nice bucks. There was probably more that I couldn't see. 

On 12/28, the wind had shifted, allowing to me to slip in tight to the plot. I was in the tree at 2:30, by 3PM four does and fawns had come out for some salad. A short while later, a train of 7 does and fawns popped out of the woods, with this guy in tow. 

Unfortunately there was a tree in the way that prevented a shot at the point. While watching and waiting, I noticed that buck had his head up high, watching something in the timber. Shortly after, every deer in the plot bolted. No blowing, just gone. After that a coyote trotted across the field in that direction.

I sat tight, hoping they would come back. Surely enough, the does and minis started slipping back in. The big boy must have slipped around the plot in the timber, he made a quiet entrance and just kind of showed up, to my dismay, right behind that stupid tree again.

At this point it was getting after 4PM, I was weighing my options, watching that buck. He slowly crept toward a small opening in the tree limbs. Facing me at first, then broadside. 130 yards. My gun is zeroed at 100, so I aimed just a touch high, and pulled the trigger. Heard the smack of the bullet impact, but could not see his reaction in the cloud of smoke and brush, just the general direction they went. 

I called for help, attempted to reload, dropped the only bullet I had because I was shaking so badly, and climbed down after about 15 minutes. 

We looked briefly, at this point the sun had set and daylight was fading quickly. One dime sized drop of blood at the impact site, that was it. Decided to back out and come back in the morning, rather than push in and risk bumping him into the next county. 

It was a rough night of second guessing. Started looking right at daylight, found him only 80 yards away, dead as a stone. Perfect shot, I'm sure he was dead before I climbed out of the tree. Still no blood trail. 

I checked my cameras again, there are several other nice bucks frequenting the plot. I still have an unfilled archery tag, might give it a go again here in a few days once things settle down.

I have never been much of a late season hunter, but when you have a good food source, it can be the best time of year. These deer have been on a schedule, showing up well before dusk.

 

 

           Well done Austin! Very nice buck and thanks for sharing.. 

   I have been out twice with the air rifle. Seeing deer but am not pushing the issue.. With 5 archery deer in the freezer we really do not have room for another. 

   BilletHead

[oneshot]

Congrats on the Deer. Looks like 140 inch which is nice.

Use Speed Loaders for follow up shots.

Most time .54Cal. With PB put them down on the spot. I’m tied to the ground anymore.

oneshot

[MrGiggles]

On 12/30/2020 at 1:12 PM, oneshot said:

Congrats on the Deer. Looks like 140 inch which is nice.

Use Speed Loaders for follow up shots.

Most time .54Cal. With PB put them down on the spot. I’m tied to the ground anymore.

oneshot

What is PB? 

I was using Hornady hollow point sabots and Pyrodex pellets. Can't really complain, aside from the lack of blood, but I think that was more because of the roughly level shot angle. I was only 12ft up, and he was on an incline. The exit was only about an inch lower than the entrance.

Dropped the cape and skull off last week at Possum Hollow in Weaubleau. May be a year or so until I get it back. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

That’s a nice one @MrGiggles!!

[oneshot]

47 minutes ago, MrGiggles said:

What is PB? 

I was using Hornady hollow point sabots and Pyrodex pellets. Can't really complain, aside from the lack of blood, but I think that was more because of the roughly level shot angle. I was only 12ft up, and he was on an incline. The exit was only about an inch lower than the entrance.

Dropped the cape and skull off last week at Possum Hollow in Weaubleau. May be a year or so until I get it back. 

PB Patch and Ball.

Inline I use mostly Cheap Shot Sabots. Usually puts them down in their tracks.

But killed a 450 Hog with 180gr. XTP at 80 yards.

Took a Rack that I got on Management Hunt to have it measured I knew it would just barely make book. But guy measuring said High Fence kills don’t count. I took my Rack from him never to have another measured again.

oneshot

[Dutch]

1 hour ago, oneshot said:

PB Patch and Ball.

Inline I use mostly Cheap Shot Sabots. Usually puts them down in their tracks.

But killed a 450 Hog with 180gr. XTP at 80 yards.

Took a Rack that I got on Management Hunt to have it measured I knew it would just barely make book. But guy measuring said High Fence kills don’t count. I took my Rack from him never to have another measured again.

oneshot

What is a high fence kill?  Did you shoot it while it was climbing a fence?🤪

[fshndoug]

Fenced game farm is my guess?

[oneshot]

18 hours ago, Dutch said:

What is a high fence kill?  Did you shoot it while it was climbing a fence?🤪

He didn’t understand a Management Hunt isn’t High Fence it is like any other hunting just so many days in that area.

Get right to it I rather buy Tags and hunt regular Public Lands. Can camp hunt when I want.

I have hunted High Fenced but it was something to do during the off season. Spend bunch of money for others to cater to you.

oneshot