I GOT A BUCK!!! This is only my second buck, took my first last year with a bow, and now this guy w/ a ML.

I got lucky enough to be drawn for a special hunt on the Pymatuning Reservoir in a propagation area. My uncleand I took our muzzleloaders in on Thursday (12/22). Before daylight I had seen 25 deer cross the field. Then right after daylight, a single doe came out 40 yds infront of me. I had heard of a lot of big bucks roaming, so I was holding off for a buck in the morning. Five minutes later, a doe came by, followed by a buck. Since I only had one buck to my name, I decided he was good enough, and I prepared for the shot.

I thought I might have flinched a little at the shot, but was still pretty sure I hit him. Sure enough there was blood, so I began to track. About 60 yds in I jumped him from a bed. He was heading for a road 200 yds away, so I continued on and figured I'd stop at the road. 50 yds from the road, I saw him again. He spotted me, but was hurting too bad to move. He was facing straight away so I had no shot. Instead of moving in on him, and stress him out, I decided to just wait for him to pass by himself. 3 min later he laid his head down for the last time.

Due to the Q.A. angle, the .50 cal 350 gr Maxi-Hunter passed through the guts, took out one lung and the liver.

This was my first ML buck, and second overall with the flinter.