And it's that knowledge and attention to detail that is the challenge and sense of accomplishment...to master what our forefathers did as second nature like you said.

I've hunted all my life with everything, including good deer with a scoped inline but it was no different than a Marlin .30-30, a Remington .30-06, etc.

Deer with a flintlock and patched round ball are a totally different, and a uniquely satisfying feeling...lay the rifle back down and see smoke curling up out of the vent, an 8 pointer laying in the leaves 50yds away, and the feeling hits you that "this is how the settlers did it"...a connection to the past like nothing else...the first buck with a flintlock was all it took...all my centerfires just lay oiled in their cases now...might as well start selling them