It had been awhile since I had killed a decent buck and I was determined to get one this year. However, I wasn't putting in the time, I knew I needed to to get a good deer--a third of archery season nearly gone and I had hunted only twice. On opening day of Primitive Arms Season here in Oklahoma, I spent all day in my new ground blind location. It had been raining off and on all day (good thing I was in the tent blind). I had seen 10 does and two bucks (non-shooters) and time was running out. I was beginning to gather things up in the blind when I scanned the area again, and caught a glimpse of this one coming. He was taking his time and I was running out of time (daylight time) and he wasn't in range. I had been practicing quite a bit with my muzzle loader and I had determined that I wouldn't shoot at anything past 150 yards. I turned my scope down to 3x for better visibility and he finally came into comfortable range for my Traditions in-line 45 caliber. Using a broom stick I had left in the blind as a rest, I made the shot. Of course the smoke just boiled and I couldn't see a thing. When the smoke finally cleared, all I could see was the tall grass where he had been standing. I felt like it was a good shot, but you never know for sure until you see them on the ground. I dug my gutting knife and flashlight (it was getting dark quick) out of my backpack. It wasn't until I got about half way to him that I saw the tip of his antlers and then the white of his belly. I had stepped it off as I went--123 yard--and he had fallen where he stood. He field dressed 146 lbs (the third largest I have ever killed) and his rack was the second best I'd ever taken.

Nice deer and good body size.

Congratulations ona fine Trophy Buck!

Great deer Red. Congrats

Way to go Red!!!

You didn't give up and hunted til the end!!!

Great story...
Great buck...
Great pics...

Congratulations sir

Geez Red with a great deer like that, you'd think that you'd be smiling.

Yowsa,thats a dandy.Congrats!!!

Great job, did you get a complete pass through on him? What weight and projectile did you use?

Nice buck, Red!! Lots of character on that deer!

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
Great deer Red. Congrats

+1

Congrats. Great deer. Hope I'm as lucky this season.

Good deer and proof staying until the last minute pays off.

Perry

Nice buck. I filled my ML buck tag yesterday but he is not nearly as nice as yours.

My muzzle loading setup is really the bargain basement kind. It consists of a Traditions .45 caliber in-line that I bought about three years ago through The Sportsman's Guide. I have it fitted with a cheap Bushnell 3x9 scope. Although it is inexpensive, it does shoot a number of projectiles well. I have been using a 10mm 200 grain Hornady XTP bullet with a sabot. This was being pushed by 120 grains of American Pioneer Powder.

I had been practicing shots out to 150 yards and felt that, given the right shot, I could take one at that distance. This deer came into range agonizingly slow--I was running out of daylight. I would have shot him sooner except he was facing towards me most of the time.

The bullet did not do a complete pass-through. He was quartering away from me at 123 steps and I hit him in the shoulder.The bullet smashed through shoulder bone, hit the backbone and lodged just beneath the skin in his neck. He fell in his tracks.

Concerning the American Pioneer Powder: This was the first year I used it. Some guys at one of the shooting supply stores swear by it--primarily for its cleanliness. I was out of Tripple Seven and decided to give it a try. It shoots OK in my gun, but it takes 120 grains (volume) to get the same trajectory that 90 grains of Triple Seven would give me. It is very clean shooting.

Thanks for all your kind comments.

I sure hope you have a brisket mount made for the wall.....it's a nice one!

Thanks for the share, that's a great buck, and another testament to persistence. It is good to know you putting in the time to know your rifle well paid off at crunch time, and gets you bonus points IMO.

Congrats!

Red:

Congrats! Good shooting.