Virginia Muzzle Loader Buck - my best yet.
 

After 10 years of asking, my wife finally agreed to join me in the stand for a hunt. She had a good time sitting with me watching the sun come up, but she was fidgeting and wiggling so much we didn't see any deer. Bummer of a way to end your first hunt.

I went back out that afternoon, but it didn't seem like much was moving. I saw 2 does moving fast about a hundred yards up the trail, then nothing for 2 hours. I did hear a doe bleating, so I started hitting the bleat call myself. Light was running out, and I was about to call it a night. When I stood up to climb down, I saw BONE. This big buck came out directly in front of my stand, about 75 yards away. He was sniffing the ground. Looking for a doe. Last legal shooting light was fast approaching, so I found his front shoulder in the scope and squeezed one off.

He ran hurt straight towards me and then into some very thick cover. I didn't have time to do a long track then, and I wasn't sure how far he had run. I had to go teach a class, so I decided to back out and give him time. I called a buddy to help me track him after my class and we went back out. We couldn't find any blood, but we kept looking through the thick cover and I walked right up on the buck. He only made it 20 yards, perfect double lung shot and he never stood a chance against the 50 cal thompson center.

He is my best buck yet, glad I stayed in the woods and hunted hard.

Nice buck! Congrats! Gotta love dem T/C's

Beautiful buck man, congratz

Your mileage may vary but my wife is the reason that I drag myself out of bed to sit in the cold, several hours of peace and quiet. If I was walking my wife into the woods I would have a shovel and some lye not a muzzle loader and black powder.:wave:

Congratulations on a nice buck.

nice man.... I hope my T/C gets to take one like that on opening day tomarrow here in Indiana.

Flyinlowe that is a bummer. I am one of the lucky ones, I married my best friend that happens to be a few miles out of my league as a bonus. She is truly an amazing woman, even if she can't sit still in the tree stand!

Have gotten her interested in the shooting sports, but not yet hooked on hunting. Need to try again so she can feel the excitement of seeing deer.

Still, everyone loves a bit of peace and quiet, right?

Justin, congrats. on the 8pt. He's a nice one. Also, way to go on finding a good woman! In my quest I have found that even though big bucks are hard to come by, a good woman is even harder!

That's a good looking deer. I'm slowly getting my kids hooked on hunting. Wife has always been supportive but no way she could sit in the cold....and the kids would have to be starving before she would shoot an animal.

Congrats, hes a great looking buck..

Like you I been asking the wife to go.. Got her a bow a yr ago she loves to shoot and "might" go hunting next yr. Right now I get the whole, its cold, early, would rather sleep in responses.

Congrats!! Way bigger than my VA buck this year.

BTW, it's a requirement that you post your load (bullet/powder weight). :barmy:

Nice Buck!
I can't wait for Massachusetts Muzzle loader.

http://huntingmassachusetts.blogspot.com

Spectacular:happy0001:

250 grain shockwave bullet pushed by 150 grains of pyrodex powder was the load. Did the trick, but not a very good blood trail.

Very nice, The rack looks very symmetrical, (is that spelled correct?)
I enjoy the black powder shoot also. Doc

Nice looking 8 pt. Very symmetrical and mature enough to be a keeper. I have a few questions, I'm in Hanover, VA...where was the deer harvested? Have you just recently seen a fair sign that the rut is picking up? Did you have any scent out or did you just use the bleat to get him within range?

I have my share of time in stand this year, since October 1 for archery season. Every year I have busted a nice buck on opener of muzzleloader season but I haven't had this bad of a season in 4 years! Last eve I had a bruiser snort wheeze at my location after having a thinks bomb out and a few cadences with my rack, but he stayed out of distance, which gave me the thought of him being a wise, mature buck that wasn't playing my game. Haven't seen the does like past years either.

Did your buck smell like he was in full rut? I'm not sure what's up this year because I'm seeing scrapes and rubs, a few bucks (2 shooters) but none are acting like the rut is on. Its been on and off from a few comments from buddy hunters with a handful of shooters taken in archery, but not alot this muzzleloader season...yet. With the new moon week free next, Wednesday to Friday is supposed to be hot.

I'm spending the mornings this week in stand and maybe an afternoon hunt or two due to business obligations, but i was wondering where in VA, and how was the smell? Thanks in advance...badly searching for the areas rut report.

I work in Rockville, and only seen little chase. I live in King and Queen. Saw a buck saturday morning nose to the ground, but when I bleated at him he didn't pay me any attention. Shot a 9pointer last saturday and he was hot and bothered for a doe. I was calling at a doe when he came charging in. I surprised him though. This has been a tough season with the hurricane damage and temp changes.

I am in Loudoun county, and it seems like the rut is on here. He is actually a 9 point, and not quite symmetrical. Great height on the rack and about 18 inches of spread.

I did not use any scent, but I have seen a lot of bucks. I passed up a smaller 8 point on opening day and saw probably 7-8 other bucks, most of them pretty small.

This guy did smell strong like a rutting buck. I am going to be in the woods again this week a couple times hunting with my dad. Good luck to you!

Congrats! Nice deer!

nice buck !!!

I actually live in Rockville not far from oilville but my 200 acre lease is in Montpelier off Taylor's Creek rd. I'm disappointed this year, to say the least! I've had a dozen sits with the muzzleloader and either bumped deer going in before dark, not scented though. I have seen some shooters but @ long distance. Usually this time of year I would have my freezer full and some nice headgear to add to the collection. Between the wind since Saturday, which I believe kept the big buck I had a snort/wheeze contest out of sight, and the fluctuating temps...I have an idea that the next 2 weeks will bring change, especially the gazillion hounds that will be running on Saturday! My lease borders 2 hunt club, but all they do is run the deer to my piece that gives them sanctuary (uncut high grass, saplings, and a few food plots). I'm hunting the solar calendar that rates next week from Wednesday - Friday as 5 star dates with the new moon. I will definitely be in stand all this week (morning till just after noon) due to work, but I'm interested to see how the second estrus cycle will be this winter.

Well, off to climb a tree! Good Luck guys/gals and keep the reports coming. Its always good to know what is happening around ya!

Awesome....

Well.... I dropped a 9pt with the Omega at 5:10pm opening day!

Congrats Buckhunter. We went back out tonight and my hunting buddy got an 8pt from the same stand. I guess it is hot right now.

Great looking Buck and a great job hanging in there for those last few minutes. I wish I had a dime for every time I gave in to my wearyness and got careless at the last few minutes of light. I finally got to fire my TC Triumph and take a Doe Saturday afternoon,the big girl went down quick with no chance of getting out of sight.