My First Muzzleloader Kill

[Joe Hulburt]

For some reason I got inspired to take up shooting a muzzleloader this year. It was a lot of fun learning something new and getting it dialed in! Gun is a CVA Optima shooting 247 grain Copper Thor Hollow Points with 120 grains of Pyrodex Select....it shoots very well.

I had 10 points here in Oregon and decided to cash them in on a mule deer hunt. It's only a 7 day season after the rifle hunt and pre rut so I was a little skeptical if it was a good idea. People told me if we got some good early snow it would be a fun hunt......we had blue sky and upper 70's every day and it was tough to locate any bucks. I finally found this guy and was able to hit him right in the throat patch on a dead on 70 yard shot.

I'll be looking for some more optimal muzzleloader hunts in other states for sure since Oregon has very few of them and they take a lot of points.

 

[Hobbs]

Way to go!! Nice Buck too!

 

[JohnCushman]

Congrats!

 

[LCH]

Fine blacktail! Congrats!

 

[greatwhitebuffalo]

Nice deer. Must be rewarding. I've had awful luck with blackpowder, but hoping for a reversal this year.

 

[Tiredofthebickering]

Nice buck and great first muzzleloader kill!

 

[duckhunt]

Good job

 

[fishing4sanity]

Congratulations! I've applied for muzzy tags, but I've never drawn yet so my very limited muzzle loader experience is at the range.

 

[Little Big Man MT Chris]

Way to go Joe ! Cool buck , nice n wide.... congrats

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Very nice. Iowa has a "late season muzzleloader". I think that most draw with zero points. Late December, $$$$, you must find some land to hunt on (I don't think that would be a big issue since all the other seasons are closed). Nebraska also has some muzzleloader seasons that can be drawn (late season??).

good luck to all
the dog

 

[Crumb]

Congrats on a great first buck with a smoke pole!!

 

[Joe Hulburt]

Thanks guys!

 

[Dan O]

Nice buck, congrats on your first muzzle loader deer.

Dan

 

[bowhuntmontana]

Pretty sweet buck, and sounds like you have enjoyed getting into the muzzleloader. I am thinking hard about only putting in for muzzleloader next year. Great time of year here in Utah to be in the woods, and not too many other people around either.

 

[rtraverdavis]

It’s not exactly been hunting weather around here lately—especially where I’m assuming you were at. Congratulations! That’s a cool deer.

 

[publichunter1]

Congrats on a nice buck!

 

[Joe Hulburt]

It’s not exactly been hunting weather around here lately—especially where I’m assuming you were at. Congratulations! That’s a cool deer.

Just the luck of the draw on the weather with it being only a 7 day hunt. If it was a year with some better weather it would have changed things a lot I am sure. The unit isn't as good as it has been though by all accounts which is depressing because it was one of the best.

 

[Addicting]

Congrats!

 

[Mudranger1]

Congrats!

 

[fulldraw]

Congrats on a nice buck. I bought the same CVA muzzle loader a few years ago and have shot a few deer with it. My only complaint about shooting muzzle loaders is cleaning them.