Hey guys, I just wanted to tell you all thank you for the advice you all shared and that your input definitely contributed to these first two muzzleloader kills of mine.
I made some changes to my set up and my TC Omega is an absolute tackdriver now. I was using 150 grains of Pyrodex and that was causing me all kinds of accuracy troubles. Somebody suggested that I give Blackhorn 209 a try and I did. I bought a container of it and I got a powder measure and I started experimenting with different charges until I found that exactly 100 grains with a 250 gr Shockwave with the regular black sabot is the load for my gun. It will now hold a 1.5" group at 100 yards. I have as much confidence in it as any of my centerfire rifles.
Anyway, now the hunting part...
I was set up on the ground on the edge of a field that some does have been running through lately. The does came out on schedule at about 7:30 last Thursday morning. I let them feed a while and they moved on. About 15 minutes after they cleared out this guy came busting out from the other side of the field - nose to the ground and elbows arched. He was on a beeline straight for a scrape that was about 20 yards to my left. I saw him coming and my heart started thumping. He got to about 60 yards and I set the hammer. He must have heard the hammer click, cause he stopped and looked up. Then I sent 250 grains of love his way and connected right in the base of his neck! He dropped on the spot and was stone dead before he hit the ground. He is my first muzzleloader buck and I am absolutely tickled with him. He may not be a monster by some of yall's standards, but this is the biggest buck that has ever been killed on our property
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The following Sunday I was sitting out in the same field and no deer were moving. The temp had risen and I guess they were just laying low. I looked out and I saw this yote nosing along the field edge and he was making his way toward one of the doe bedding areas. He came a few more steps and I made a little sqeak noise and he looked up. I shot him ay 110 yards, which I thought was pretty good for my second hunting shot with my ML. Just like the buck, this coyote dropped in his tracks.
Overall, I love muzzleloading and I couldn't be happier with how my ML season turned out.
Thanks again guys...sorry about the HUGE picture size