Muzzle Loader Season...

[HD]

So? How many of you folks are going out?
What kind of muzzy do ya shoot?
What shoots best out of your gun? (powder, primer,loads)

I bought a 50 cal. CVA magnum a couple years ago and got it tuned in with triple7 powder and primers. I shoot the CVA sabots, cause they perform better for my gun.

I plan on going out a few times, with little intent on shooting anything. I harvest a buck with my bow and the kids filled the freezer rifle hunting. So, I am just going out .....to go out...

What are your plans?

[corny13]

Muzzy season opens Friday at noon here in ND.  Ill be out, I have two Muzzy's one a Old T/C traditional  Hawken using pyrodex, #11 caps, I usually shoot a round ball with.  I also have a T/C Encore I use sabots, pellets, shotgun primers.  I use this gun if Im out walking instead of sitting.  Both 50 cal, both have shot about a dozen deer with. Snowing hard right now should be a great weekend for hunting!!

[deadeye]

I just buought my muzzle loader license today so I guess I'm commited to going out at least once.  I won the muzzle loader at a MDHA banquet a couple years ago.  I use pellet power and some sabots.  I shot a few rounds this fall so I guess I'm ready. 

[HD]

What brand is it DE?

It took me several trail and error sessions with mine to find the right combination that worked
Different sabots, different powders and primers.

Corny, I got an old traditional as well...love the gun! 

[HUNTER2]

I have the Thompson Omega. I use the Pyrodex power and the Power belt 195 gr bullets.

[deadeye]

Mine is a Knight .50 cal.  It uses the no 11 percussion caps.  I use two blocks of triple seven powder and a sabot slug.  It hits a gallon jug at 50 yards.  (maybe I should say, I can hit a gallon jug at 50 yards).  I only hunted a few times with it.  Never shot a deer.  Not that I didn't try.....   The first year I used it I completely missed one at 50 yards or so.  Then had a miss fire (cap only) at a doe standing 15 yards away.  She just shook it off, snorted a little, hopped out to 30 yards and resumed feeding.   For various reasons, I didn't muzzle load hunt for the past two years.   

[Stensethfan]

I have not decided yet if I am going to buy a tag and hunt.  I shot my buck during gun season and could shoot a doe next to fill out this year, but I am limited to hunting my 2nd and 3rd options on land that I have permission for.  One is 2 hours away in Hinckley and the other is 20 minutes from me, but I hardly ever see deer there.  Guess I need to make the decision sometime between today and tomorrow.  I do have all next week off????

I shoot an Omega .50 caliber, 2 pellets and 200 grain shock wave.  Have shot a couple deer with this combo and it seems to be very accurate and deadly.  I like the simplicity of the set up.

[Huntsman]

Mine is a Thompson SS Omega 50 cal. I use 100 gr. American Pioneer loose powder and a .295 gr Power Belt. This combination has been awesome for me. The groups are amazing out to 150 yards. I wish it was daybreak on opener already!!

[jigglestick]

me and andrew just bought our licenses this evening.
haven't missed a season for quite some time now so what the hey.

one more deer in the freezer would be nice for sausage and you can never have enough back straps.

[deadeye]

Boy, I'm really making this a lazy muzzle loader hunt.  I plan to sleep in, wait until it gets warmer out and maybe get out hunting by noon.  Man this is the life. 

[JECAMERON]

Boy, I'm really making this a lazy muzzle loader hunt.  I plan to sleep in, wait until it gets warmer out and maybe get out hunting by noon.  Man this is the life. 

You live a life I can only dream of... 

[HUNTER2]

Rise and shine sleepy heads. It's time to head to the stand.

[deadeye]

Too dark, too cold, deer aren't moving, snow too crunchy....  I have more.  Feet up, hot coffee in hand, reading the paper.  Now that's how to start a hunt. 

[HUNTER2]

What a beutiful mourning it was. Had a 4 and 8 point fight in front of me at about 50 or 60 yards. Didn't have the range finder with. They came at each other and started rubing each other bodies at first. Then they would fight a little. Then they would eat a little. Then they would fight a little. On and on. First time I have had a couple fighting in front of me. Wish they were bigger. Also had about 5 or 6 does in front of me. Waiting for the big guy.

[HD]

I didn't see any deer this morning...tweety birds, squirrels and pheasants.

[HUNTER2]

Same group of deer tonight. A 4 point sparing with the 8 point and 6 does and fawns. The 8 point didn't get any bigger. Maybe next year for him.

[deadeye]

Well, we made it up to our land by 10:30 this morning.  On the way to a neighbor, we saw a couple deer in a swamp.  Further down the trail, we saw four deer cross our path.  I parked the wheeler to see where they went.  They crossed another swamp but while circling in the woods we saw another two deer.  After a long visit with the neightbors I figured it's time to ge hunting.  I saw one deer on my way to the stand.  Lots to see and do on the way to the stand.  I finally got there around 2:45.  Two does and a fawn came by a little after 4:00.  Seeing no bucks, I shot one of the does.  This was my first muzzle loader deer. 

[HUNTER2]

Slow this mourning, 1 doe

[HD]

I was lazy this morning...I slept in.

Figured I'd try DE's method of hunting today. 

[HD]

Welp, that didn't work...I didn't see any deer.

[HUNTER2]

First kill with the smoke pole

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[HD]

  poor puppy dog.... 

[MTCOMMER]

Nice!  Did if just walk by when you were on the stand, or were you stalking it or something?  Looks like a pretty big one....

[HUNTER2]

There was about 15 min left and he came right at me. I waited tell about 25 yards and dropped him in his tracks. You can't see it in the picture but there is a hole on top of his neck about the size of a softball. 295 grain bullet does wonders. It was a big male.

[deadeye]

Went out again around noon today.  I saw 5 deer.  No bucks so I didn't shoot any.  Spent about 4 hours walking and looking at stuff.  It's interesting to see where deer are traveling.  Great day in the woods. 

[corny13]

I had a great muzzelloader opener here in ND.  Friday pm opener went out had two 4x4 bucks fighting in front of the stand both appeared to be 2 1/2 year old bucks, would have been a easy shot, but passed on them.  Quite a few does also.  Today one of the 4x4's came in chasing a doe again with a second pass on him.  I did finally shoot a small buck that didnt have a horn on one side just a little button.  He was a cull, decieded he would be better made into steaks and deer bacon than left to get bigger.  Now can get back to bow hunting till the ice is thick enough..
Here is pic of my view from my smokepole box..
 

Here is the little buck...

[MN-BOY-ALWAYS]

I went out opening weekend and saw two little does but they were about 250yds out so they got to walk.

I shoot a .54 cal Cabela's Traditional Hawken Percussion I can hold about 2” group at 100 yards, sometimes better.

Hornady .530 Lead Balls

Pre lubbed patches.

120 grains Pyrodex

#11 CCI Primer Cap

[deadeye]

I can't find the bucks, but the does are still around.  My son and I went out around noon.  We saw six does/fawns but no bucks.  I did some walking hoping to run into a big one but only saw tracks. 

[Auggie]

     Opener with the smokepole!!! Been a busy season in the shop and I snuck out for a morning hunt. By the time I returned about 11 AM I had 5 more to cape out besides my own. I shoot a TC Omega with American Pioneer Powder (Shockey Gold) and 250 gr. shockwaves. I tried several and this was the best combo in my gun.
      After passing some smaller bucks earlier in the season, I decided to take this guy when I seen him at about 60yds. No monster, but not bambi either. Nice symetrical 10 with a 16" spread. He tapes out about 117" and change.

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[Stensethfan]

Nicely done!!  I just need a doe to come buy in shooting range Saturday!  Then I can start focusing on Ice fishing and shed hunting!