I made it out Saturday for the last day of the antlerless only muzzy season in MD. My plan was to sit about 30yds down the hill from a powerline clear cut and if I didn't see anything at first light I would ease up and see if anything was in the power cut. I sat up against a rotted stump waiting for light. I had only sat down for a minute when I hear deer coming down the hill from the power cut. They knew something wasn't right and spooked. I had a little one that I could barely see run by me at about 4 yds. A few minutes later I saw the outline of a deer up the hill over about 45 yds. I then waited for enough light for a shot. Not much later I heard another deer coming down the hill and look over and there was a huge spike coming right at me. He stops at about 5 yds, gives me a look over and continues on not spooked at all. I then refocus on the other deer. I now had enough light so I turned and crouched down waiting for a shot. I had to wait a good 10 minutes to get one. She finally turned broadside at about 45 yds. I took aim and took my time and squeezed off a perfect shot, bang flop. 100gr of BH209 and a 200gr Shockwave did the job. Shot was just above the heart taking both lungs. I am impressed with this gun and load. First deer of the year and first muzzy kill. No pics as I forgot my camera.

Congratulations!!!!
Sound like a good hunt!

Congrats on your first Muzzy kill
Cool aint it?
I like the 200 grn Shockwave
I used it last year on a doe,same result,boom flop
I used 90 grn BH and the SW 200 + W 209 out of my Encore

Congratulations on the deer. I want to add... you did everything right. You knew your load, your ranges, and was willing to wait for just that perfect shot. The result was of course a bang flop.

Many hunters have to remind themselves of the importance of one shot, one kill. Its funny, even center fire hunters make a fatal mistake and take shots they are not ready for. It results in a wounded deer, a nasty tracking job sometimes, and feeding coyotes.

Thanks guys. Yeah, it was tough waiting for that good shot. She was quartering awy hard at one point and I was tempted, but I told myself that I need to wait. She was calm and only 45 yds away, so I would get a better shot.

Congratulations on your deer. You picked my favorite spot to aim for, as long as you hit them there with a good bullet and a decent load you won't be worrying about a blood trail. Lee

Congrats on the deer.

congrats i have area just like yours a want to hunt. Well three in fact. two sit on ahill a full 40 yard wide powerline cut down to sides of a big hill perfect clearshot for 400 yards each side. The deer walk the clearing up to the field on top. keep thinking about it reading your post congrats.

Naw - he didn't Cayugad. He forgot the CAMERA!

Good report Marshall, and congratulations.

Congratulations on a successful hunt with a muzzeloader. Hunting with a muzzeloader can be habit forming.