sbhooper
Well-known member
I have not had much opportunity to drag out the old muzzle loader this year between other hunts and being sick. I decided to go to a favorite ground set near my house last night just to at least say that I made an effort to fill a doe tag.
The temperature was great and I was having a good evening listening to hundreds of geese flying. I suddenly remembered that I had not turned off my phone. I reached for my phone and heard a snort behind me. Three does had come up another trail and were only a short distance away. They disappeared quickly!
I laughed at my normal luck and continued trying to stay awake while watching the path ahead of me. As the sunset approached, I saw a nice two-year-old buck cross on the trail. That got me to paying attention a bit better, as I knew that it was "deer time" and that trail rarely failed to produce for me.
Not five minutes after the buck had passed, I saw this large doe walk into the open. She turned and started walking away, not providing a shot. I made a little noise and she turned slightly, giving me a heavy quartering-away shot. I held my scope where I thought was the best angle and took the 65-yard shot. Through the smoke, I could see her jump into the woods. It was a stumbling crash that followed a mere 30 yards away.
The .50-caliber Maxiball entered at the back of the rib cage on the left side and exited in front of the right shoulder, missing all of the good meat in the process. The meat is going to a friend of mine that has a lot of mouths to feed.
I have had a great hunting season this year, with a good antelope buck, an elk, a handful of geese and 24 deer-including the locked-up pair that I posted earlier. I have had the opportunity to share lots of meat with different people and give lots of jerky as gifts.
I still have four permits to fill and am still looking forward to more good times before all is over for the season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody.
