fly

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

Thanks for sharing that great story Jason. There's something about hunting and harvesting a deer in the snow that makes it very surreal. Probably because it's not real common to have snow during the deer season in IL. Good luck to you and your daughter.

Just bought one for the family (for Christmas so it is still in the box). It came with 2 Cabela's hunting games. I think my kids will like those. Currently they take turns being the deer and hunter. Once one of them makes an "ethical shot" the other falls dead. It's very entertaining to watch (6 and 7 years old). They get all dressed up in camo and everything.

Good luck to all in the IL second season. I'm going to try to fill my doe tag Saturday (that's the only day I have to hunt). I know from experience the number of deer I have seen this year has been lower than previous years. I only saw one deer during the first shotgun season. Lucky for me he was a shooter and I made the shot count. Remember it only takes a few seconds to change a terrible season into your best.

I have now heard varying opinions so I'd like to hear from those of you who can speak from experience. Do muzzeloaders kick more than a 20 g shotgun with a deer slug? I was under the impression that they have less. This was a big reason I bought one. I'd like to introduce my daughter to deer hunting next year. Thanks, Frank

My thoughts exactly.

Sorry to hear that John. I wonder what the other 399 have to say about the land? Public land can produce, but I have found that you have to go to areas where other hunters will not in order to get big deer.

Very funny! I got dibs on the red present in the front.

Nothing beats a good deer camp!

I'm headed back to clinical this week as well. Only 2 weeks left though before Christmas break! My students cared for a patient a couple weeks ago that fell out of his tree stand and when he landed a branch impailed him right through the upper thigh. Ouch! He wasn't wearing a safety harness so I educated the student on them and then she educated the patient. Good luck finishing out the semester

Good luck! Looking foward to seeing another big buck!

I sure would have guessed older. Congratulations!

Welcome to the RT forums!

Yea I think it's time to concentrate on hunting where the food is. Going out in the AM, low of 22 degrees Brrrrrr!!!!

Hunting in the rain paid off for you! Congratulations

Congratulations! That's a great first bow buck!

This issue came up earlier this fall when the new hunting videos came out. It bothers me to see a hunter allow an animal to die slowly instead of finishing it off (given there is that opportunity). I too have made spine shots. Some intentional (straight down shots) and some not. The 8-pointer I harvested a couple weeks ago was spine shot. The shot was a little high and the buck dropped in his tracks. He didn't move. I thought he was dead and started to get down from my stand when he got up with his front legs and started to move slowly away. I could have sat there and waited for him to die, but instead immediately placed another slug in his vitals to end his suffering. The celebration shouldn't start until the deer is found and no longer alive (IMO).

Mine should be done by Christmas.

For me: It all starts with deer hunting and Christmas music. I made a rule a couple years ago that no Christmas music is played until the first deer is harvested or Thanksgiving (whichever comes first). I also love seeing the small town main street decorations and of course snow.

I too have had bad luck with Rocky. Lacrosse (Aplha Burley)and Cabelas work well for me as well.

Since my kids are little I put up (what I consider) a lot of lights. I'll post a picture later in the week. I usually get them up the week before Thanksgiving. We'll get our tree Tuesday. I'm a bit sad because the tree farm we go to every year (cut your own) is going out of business after this season. They provide hot chocolate (for the kids of course ~ see OTPG below) and horse drawn carriage rides. The economic problems are being seen everywhere.

Gotta love those dark horned Canadian deer! Congratulations!

Awesome buck!