ChristopherO
01-11-2017, 04:56 PM
Muzzleloader deer season opened cold and quiet. Frozen toes notwithstanding I stayed the course in pursuit of filling my last tag. I've nearly always used cast boolits out of my muzzleloaders. T/C Maxi Hunters of my making always served me well. Even gave my Knight inline and sabots to my brother years ago as I rather use the side hammers and open sights, at least as long as my eyes will allow. This year I wanted a second try with a 50 caliber patched round ball. Only used this combo once 3 seasons ago with aplomb on a large doe 30 steps away. Was that a fluke or? The rifle is the Blue Ridge long rifle sold by Cabelas inherited nearly 20 years ago from a long lost friend. He cast the round balls I would be using, as well.
Quietly stepping to the edge of a sizable field revealed 3 does grazing at least 150 yard out. I am good with this rifle to 100 yards on milk jugs off hand but this was just too far. Then, one of the does started angling toward another group of does far to my right. Her path was leading her closer by the step. Something about that other group of deer further down the field just made her want to check them out. On she went. I decided if she stepped into 100 yards I'd shoot. She did, and then I did.
The thump was nearly as loud as the gunshot. I could instantly see why as her left front leg was flopping loosely as she ran off toward the woods. Darn, I'm not that confident of the round ball making it into the chest cavity after breaking a leg on a 100 or so yard shot. Not a drop of blood on the snow to follow, either.
I search long and hard. On the grid search following the ridge lines looking down in to the creek bed I started crossing the hilltop to look into the drainage ditch on the other side. Stopping to pray that my Father in heaven (not my earthly Dad) would show me where she was I happened to look to my left and there, to my utter amazement she lay on the top of the ridge. I would have never believed she would have run uphill after a hit like this but was pleased as can be to have recovered her.
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt167/WoodenBows/Various%20Muzzleloading%20Pictures/2017%20PRB%20Doe%20with%20Blue%20Ridge%2050%20Cal_ zpsgeoicifs.jpg (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/WoodenBows/media/Various%20Muzzleloading%20Pictures/2017%20PRB%20Doe%20with%20Blue%20Ridge%2050%20Cal_ zpsgeoicifs.jpg.html)
The ball did indeed shatter the foreleg just above the knee. From there it veered back into the chest cavity. The heart showed no trauma nor did the lungs have any gaping holes, but the lungs did appear to be blood shot, which led to her demise. The ball was nowhere to be found in the chest cavity. I wouldn't want to chance that shot with a round ball again but thankfully it did it's job well enough. Jerky is on the menu again!
Quietly stepping to the edge of a sizable field revealed 3 does grazing at least 150 yard out. I am good with this rifle to 100 yards on milk jugs off hand but this was just too far. Then, one of the does started angling toward another group of does far to my right. Her path was leading her closer by the step. Something about that other group of deer further down the field just made her want to check them out. On she went. I decided if she stepped into 100 yards I'd shoot. She did, and then I did.
The thump was nearly as loud as the gunshot. I could instantly see why as her left front leg was flopping loosely as she ran off toward the woods. Darn, I'm not that confident of the round ball making it into the chest cavity after breaking a leg on a 100 or so yard shot. Not a drop of blood on the snow to follow, either.
I search long and hard. On the grid search following the ridge lines looking down in to the creek bed I started crossing the hilltop to look into the drainage ditch on the other side. Stopping to pray that my Father in heaven (not my earthly Dad) would show me where she was I happened to look to my left and there, to my utter amazement she lay on the top of the ridge. I would have never believed she would have run uphill after a hit like this but was pleased as can be to have recovered her.
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt167/WoodenBows/Various%20Muzzleloading%20Pictures/2017%20PRB%20Doe%20with%20Blue%20Ridge%2050%20Cal_ zpsgeoicifs.jpg (http://s608.photobucket.com/user/WoodenBows/media/Various%20Muzzleloading%20Pictures/2017%20PRB%20Doe%20with%20Blue%20Ridge%2050%20Cal_ zpsgeoicifs.jpg.html)
The ball did indeed shatter the foreleg just above the knee. From there it veered back into the chest cavity. The heart showed no trauma nor did the lungs have any gaping holes, but the lungs did appear to be blood shot, which led to her demise. The ball was nowhere to be found in the chest cavity. I wouldn't want to chance that shot with a round ball again but thankfully it did it's job well enough. Jerky is on the menu again!