180class
Well-Known Member
Well, I put together my first successful muzzle loader hunt last night. I got out to my spot around 11:30. My plan was just to slowly walk from ridge top to ridge top and overlook the big valley that runs through the entire property. I was sure I would be able to spot something moving in the snow. I entered the timber at an area full of cedar and locust trees. This place was tore up! They are hammering the locust pods right now! Almost immediately I spotted a doe feeding in front of me. I kept watching her and eventually made out the entire group. There were about 9 of them. Most were does and fawns. One small buck and one buck that I couldn’t get a good look at. He kept back away from the group and all I could see was from his shoulders down. He had a huge body but I never could get a look at his head gear. I could have shot one of the doe at 100yds, but decided to try and stalk closer to get a look at that buck. I belly crawled through a foot of snow for about 50 yards and then they finally busted me. It’s hard to sneak through a bright white timber when it’s dead silent out. Every little sound put them on alert. They didn’t spook bad, they just slowly bounded off. I watched them drop into the valley and start making their way to the South. I figured that I could bust butt back up to the top and all the way around to the far South side of the property, to cut them off. So that’s what I did. I finally got back there and set up on a point overlooking the valley.
I sat there for about 2 hours and nothing showed. I figured they either made it through before I got there, or they were just held up in between and didn’t go too far. So finally I decided with all the sign I had seen in around those locust and cedar trees, that more deer would eventually show up there to start feeding again. I walked all the way back around and set up in the terrace out in the picked corn field. It was COLD!
It was exactly 150 yds from the fence line. At about 4:30 I spotted movement back in the timber a ways. I think it was the same group from that morning. They took their time coming in. They all stayed about 200 yds away from me inside the timber. I looked them over good with my binos and they were all does and fawns. The two bucks were nowhere to be found. Finally at about 5:00 one of them got brave and made it’s way closer to the field edge where they had been feeding. I ranged him at 165 yards, laid the crosshairs right on the top of his back and squeezed the trigger. I couldn’t see anything from all the smoke. I made my way up to where I thought he was standing and found 2 small drops of blood. I followed his tracks into the timber about 30 yards and there he was.
I said at the start of muzzy season that I wasn't going to be picky for my first muzzy deer. It turned out to be a just a button buck. But, it was a memorable hunt that I won't soon forget, and to me that's all that matters! This little guy made me every bit as happy as any of the big bucks I've ever shot.
I sat there for about 2 hours and nothing showed. I figured they either made it through before I got there, or they were just held up in between and didn’t go too far. So finally I decided with all the sign I had seen in around those locust and cedar trees, that more deer would eventually show up there to start feeding again. I walked all the way back around and set up in the terrace out in the picked corn field. It was COLD!
It was exactly 150 yds from the fence line. At about 4:30 I spotted movement back in the timber a ways. I think it was the same group from that morning. They took their time coming in. They all stayed about 200 yds away from me inside the timber. I looked them over good with my binos and they were all does and fawns. The two bucks were nowhere to be found. Finally at about 5:00 one of them got brave and made it’s way closer to the field edge where they had been feeding. I ranged him at 165 yards, laid the crosshairs right on the top of his back and squeezed the trigger. I couldn’t see anything from all the smoke. I made my way up to where I thought he was standing and found 2 small drops of blood. I followed his tracks into the timber about 30 yards and there he was.
I said at the start of muzzy season that I wasn't going to be picky for my first muzzy deer. It turned out to be a just a button buck. But, it was a memorable hunt that I won't soon forget, and to me that's all that matters! This little guy made me every bit as happy as any of the big bucks I've ever shot.
