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Congratulations! Well "Joe" I can see your enthusiasm and passion for deer hunting in you posted pictures. I (as well as many others in the forums) are lucky to share that passion. I'll hunt hard in the rain one day and see nothing. That night I'll swear I will not go back out in the rain for the rest of the season. Two days later I back out in the rain because I just can't get enough! It's an addiction and I love it! I'd say more, but I got to get out to the woods because I have an either sex bow tag that's burning a hole in pocket. >Frank

I've been reading up on ML scopes. The nikon omega seems ok, but Leupold makes a new ML scope that may be better? The new ultimate slam. The advertisements indicate it's accuate regardless of the load used. It runs about the same price as the Omega. http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/scopes/shotgunmuzzleloader-scopes/ultimateslam/

Idaho also allows baiting. Watch out for black flies in Canada.

At first glance the head makes that deer look like a cow elk. Congrats.

Congratulations with the 2 for 1. That happened to a guy several years ago. He shot a mature doe and took out the 1/2 year old behind it as well. He had a either sex and doe tag. Had to use the either sex tag on the 1/2 year old which I was glad to see he didn't mind doing.

I'm having trouble figuring out the age of the deer with the pics. One deer over three years? Is the bottom picture the first sheds? How old was he when you got the first sheds (3 1/2)?

Congrats on your yote! That seems a bit high, but maybe not? Main thing is that you're happy with the finished product.

Congrats! He has some tall G-3's. 130

First and most importantly I like to see respect for the animals hunted show through in the hunt. I like the stuff leading up to the hunt (prep work). I like to see the excitement and shaking experienced by the hunter (just don't over do it). I like seeing the involvement of kids. Showing goofing off at camp or jokes is ok for extras, but not during the hunts.

Must have taken forever to get them arranged that way.

glad to hear your hard work paid off.

Maybe in IL Hemorrhagic Disease "black tongue" problem from last year is really showing in the numbers this year? I also wonder if coyotes and the ice storm played a part? If the numbers are low, unfortunately I'll bet we'll be seeing more restrictions on the bow season. Currently there is no limit on doe tags.

Not sure, but I think with all the extras I might go as high as $600.00. Everything is down with the economy being in a slump.

This was my first time seeing a camospace site. Yours looks great Ken. I hope I signed it correctly? >Frank

Your land / your call. Are there not regs on hunting a certain number of yards from a dwelling where you are from? Certainly the distance would be sufficient enough to keep them off your driveway?

Hunt food plots or bean/corn fileds. Stay back about 20-50 yards in the thickest timber/cover or low spot around. The big bucks will likely not enter until dark, but they might skirt the edges just before. That's how I arrowed an 11-pointer on the last day (Jan 17) of last season.

Congrats in keeping that freezer full. Don't give up on that buck yet. It ain't over till it's over.

Well the IL second season is over and now I'm getting the bow back out to fill my either sext tag. I hunted hard Saturday and since few deer were being seen and movement was little to none I did some walking and tried to catch a doe bedded down. At 1030 I jumped 1 and it stopped at 50 yards broadside trying to figure out what I was behind the brush. I took a little time making sure it wasn't a button buck, but after she moved her head I knew she wasn't. I aimed and fired a gimme shot. To my surprise the deer ran off seemingly untouched. That's because she was untouched. I completely botched the shot. While I looked for blood a second doe jumped and took off. After a miss like that I decided against a running shot. Anyway, I'm thinking about a shotgun scope for next year.

As long as the wound doesn't get infected I'd say he'll make it. The cold temps will help.

Same here. I have another mount that turns left that I want on an opposite wall.

If he didn't have 12 points I'd say 1.5 years old. With 12 points I'd go with 2.5 years. Likely a B&C in 1-2 years

I've got the Rem. 1100 youth. It's a great turkey and small game gun, but would need a rifled barrel for deer which runs over 200.00 new. The kick is a little much for my 7 year old daughter. Probably another year or two and she'll be using it. I went with a Remington Genesis ML for her for next years deer season. They are on sale at Cabela's bargain cave currently for 144.99 (less kick than a shotgun and cheaper than a rifled barrel). BTW... Not sure if you saw my nice 8-pointer I posted in the deer hunting forum, but I shot it from the stand I bought from you last summer.

Thanks for the info everyone. I've got a lot to learn about muzzeloaders before next season, but I'm glad to know my money was well spent. I think I'll go with a 85 grain load for my daughter as suggested by wtnhunt.

In IL it is not legal to shoot an all white deer. However, i'm not sure if the brown patch on the top of the head would be enough to rule out all white? Congratulations to your daughter and to you for sticking up for her when others were giving her a hard time. You have a great story and something to remember for ever. Given the harvest was legal I don't think you'll have any negative comments from the RT forum folks. I get a little angry with the idea of someone giving your daughter a hard time or needing you to "qualify" your harvest.

For IL. I called a guy offering a hunter safety course and he said he would allow my 7 year old daughter to attend. She's registered for next Friday and Saturday. We are both very excited about it. I had been told by another guy that kids had to be 8 years old to register for his course. The IDNR doesn't mention the age in the regulation book. Glad I called around. One born after Jan 1st 1980 has to take the safety education course to get a hunting license and subsuquent deer permit. There is a new non-renewable license called an apprentice license that specifies the hunter (ages 10-16) must hunt with a licensed and responsible hunter. No hunter safety course is needed. However, the youth has to be 10 to get it. I'm planning to take my daughter next year for the youth season so it doesn't help us. Overall IL has a restrictive firearm season, but the generous bow season makes up for it. The restricitve firearm season is one reason credited towards the number of trophy deer in IL. Legal Firearms Shotguns, loaded with slugs only, of not larger than 10 nor smaller than 20 gauge, not capable of firing more than 3 consecutive slugs; or Single or double barreled muzzleloading rifles of at least .45 caliber shooting a single projectile through a barrel of at least sixteen inches in length; or Centerfire revolvers or centerfire single-shot handguns of .30 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches. Seasons: Firearm Deer (Handgun, Muzzleloader,& Shotgun) Nov. 21-23; Dec. 4-7, 2008 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset One deer per firearm permit Deer (Muzzleloading rifles only) Dec. 12-14, 2008 (also allowed Dec. 4-7) One deer per muzzleloading rifle permit Special CWD Deer Season Jan. 16-18, 2009 One deer per valid deer permit Late-Winter Antlerless Deer (Handgun, Muzzleloader, & Shotgun) Jan. 16-18, 2009 One antlerless deer per permit Deer (Archery in counties with a firearm season and west of Rt. 47 in Kane Co Oct. 1 - Nov. 20, Nov. 24 - Dec. 3, Dec. 8, 2008 - Jan. 15, 2009 One deer per archery permit Deer (Archery in Cook, DuPage, Kane east of Route 47 and Lake counties) Oct. 1, 2008 - Jan. 15, 2009 Youth Firearm Deer Season Oct. 11-12, 2008 One deer