<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> That's right, I'm 100% <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>
LOL, now hold on a minute. Let me first say I'm no wizard with it either, or at leasts I don't know if I am.....
I shot my first and only doe with my muzzleloader yesterday for PA's closing day of muzzleloader/late archery. I purchased this .50 cal Hawken 2 years ago and never fired a shot. Several weeks ago I sighted it in for the first time and after "zeroing" it, I shot many many shots to 1) practice, 2) get comfortable and 3) build confidence in where my maximum yardage should be. I guess I treated it as I would a new archer and a bow. I got to know my gun and what it and I could do.
Now for the fun part...lol....yesterday I met my hunting partner at a local resturaunt for breakfast...not too early mind you because brrrrr was it cold out. After breakfast we headed into the woods. He carried his shotgun for some late grouse action because he filled his tags previously and hoped to push some deer around while I still hunted several hundred yards away. We were not in the woods long when I spotted movement coming my way. Ah, yes a nice doe, I could tell it wasn't this years fawn so I pulled the hammer back, set the trigger and waited for the doe to close the distance. At about 50 yards I had to bleat several times to get her to stop. I centered the iron sights and sqqquuuueezzzeed. FFFSSSSSTTTT TTT BOOM and the smoke rolled as I saw her turn and bound out of sight...
I actually started laughing out loud at the joy of the moment that just passed. Up to that point I've only ever hunted with my bow this late season. I pondered on the doe coming through the woods and how beautiful she looked against the snow. It mattered not that I thought I missed my first opportunity because for me it is the hunt and not the kill that keeps my blood boiling, my adrenaline running and my love for the woods and the outdoors each year. I stood waiting for my Motorola radio to sing with my buddies voice saying.....WELL? But the woods stayed silent.
I slowly made my way down to where the doe stood knowing the disappointment of fresh escape tracks would reveal that I missed my quarry and as I approached the site, aaahhh wwwhhaatt's this? I see hair, but where's the blood? I spotted where the ball entered the snow behind the doe. I thought, no, I grazed her back and felt pitty for the doe and anger towards me. I then realized I needed to analize this more because this isn't a razor sharp broadhead or a shocking high power rifle. A round ball can act simply like a puncture. I studied the hair and determined it wasn't back hair and wasn't belly hair for obvious reason so I treked on. Yes....there it is, blood here, blood there at each of her bounds so I back off to give her time.
Once Doug (HenYelp on this site) caught up to me, he said he didn't hear me shoot and we took up the track. I laughed at him cause he's color blind to blood but was elated he could see and track the blood in snow. About 80 yards from where I left the track to wait for him, we spotted her laying about 50 yards out watching us. As we sat down to devise a plan for a second shot and analize the situation I could see blood coming out of her nose. I said she's hit very hard. At that she was up and running. We continued the trail knowing and found her laying about 80 yards down over the ridge.
Now PA/ Bowyer is one for one with his muzzleloader and I pick on Doug(HenYelp) that I am 100% and I've never missed with my muzzleloader....<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
I'm surprised how different the hole is. I missed ribs on both sides and I double lunged this doe. I placed the shot right behind the shoulder and it exited centered on the lung area on the opposite side. With a broadhead, I would have seen this deer go down. With a rifle, I'm sure I'd seen some type of hit but with the muzzleloader, she never acted hit and it was perfect. The hole was a perfect puncture type wound and it reinforces that woodsmanship is just as important in hunting as marksmanship. Perhaps more.
Thanks for bearing with my long story. I'm just so happy...<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>
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Rob</font id=red>