Muzzleloadernut

I hunted 2 different woods this morning and evening. I saw a spike buck early this morning and that was it. As I was heading home I drove past the spot I sat on Monday and Tuesday and spotted a huge buck following a doe heading down the fence row towards the woodlot where my blind is located. I will be heading back to the blind in the morning. I had spotted this buck about a month ago and he is nice. I managed to get a pic of him from the road the 1st time I spotted him. It's not the best pic but you can tell he is a shooter.[ATTACH=CONFIG]11229[/ATTACH]

Went out this morning and no luck, I didn't see anything but trees. Taking the afternoon off and will try another woods in the morning right behind my house. Been an unusually slow week of hunting. I normally at least see alot of doe. Not much shooting either, I only heard three shots yesterday in the distance and only one this morning.

Went out next to my house and spotted the 3 resident doe's that visit the field every evening. No bucks. Trying the woodlot across the road tomorrow. Been glassing a really nice 8 pointer there for a few weeks. Rain has stopped here and winds are picking up, hopefully tomorrow is a better day. Anthony

I sat in the blind yesterday from 1hr before sunrise to dark and didn't see any deer. This morning the wind had changed 180deg and I had a deer blowing about 80yds away just before daylight straight downwind. The deer blew for 5 minutes before finally leaving, it alerted everything in the vicinity of my presence and I didn't see anything the rest of the morning. Getting some lunch and coffee and heading out to another spot for the afternoon. Looks like the rain is over in my area. Later!! Anthony

Tomorrow is the opening of the Ohio gun season. I have the week off of work for hunting and will be out all week. Looks like we will have rain for the 1st 2 days here in the southern part of the state. I will be sitting nice and cozy in my blind. They just picked the last corn field adjacent to the woodlot I will be hunting yesterday. I was sweating it if the corn was going to be standing. Should put the deer in the woodlot. Later!! Anthony

I don't know the actual numbers of deer I have had a look at here in southern Ohio over the past few years but here is my observation. I see (5-6) 1-1/2 yr old bucks to every 2.5yr old or older. I just moved to a new hunting location this season and I am only gun hunting and the season opens the week after Thanksgiving. I have only seen 2 buck there. A 2-1/2 yr old high tight rack and a 4-5yr old with a heavy wide spread(22-24") during my scouting and driving by the location. The older buck has my full attention. There are way too many young bucks being shot in my area. I had a talk with the Ohio DNR Deer Herd manager last week and he tells me just the opposite that there are more older bucks being taken each year and fewer 1-1/2 yr old bucks. I must live in the odd 1% of Ohio then. I usually see 10 different 1-1/2 yr old bucks around my house each season and maybe 2 older bucks at the most. If the 1-1/2 yr olds aren't getting harvested where are they going? We are getting way too many deer here in Ohio and there are not enough hunters doing the right things to manage the herd properly. Let the young bucks walk!!! If it is not a trophy shoot a doe for the meat. BTW: I passed up several 1-1/2 yr old bucks last year and put 2 doe in the freezer. I have not shot a buck for the past 2 season's. The last one was a broken up 9 point 21" spread estimated at 5.5yrs old. If it's not going on the wall it walks!! Just my opinion and I am sure there will be a few who disagree. Sorry about venting :wacko: Later!! Anthony

In my old smooth bore 870 I used to shoot Remington Rifled Slugs. These had less drop than the Winchester or Brenneke. I would buy a box of each and see which shoots best in your gun. I was able to take deer out to 100yds. Without a rifled barrel do not even attempt to shoot a sabot slug. Good Luck!! Anthony

By the look of his body I would say 2-1/2 yrs old. I would guess the score at 125". He has nice brow tines but not much mass or width. I would give him another year and he should blow up to a 140/150 class. He looks to have very good potential.

I am also guessing low 150's. I hope I get a chance to lay the tapes to him. He was a 1/2 mile from the woodlot I will be hunting during gun season in 4 weeks. The entire area is farm land with scattered woodlots. I hope he comes strolling thru my woodlot during that week.:whip:

Nice Buck Congrats!!! Anthony

Hi Guys, Driving home past my hunting spot I spotted 2 bucks and a doe in the bean field. The mature buck was 50yds from the doe and between her and a young 6 point. I could tell the mature buck was nice so I went home(approx 2 miles) and grabbed my camera and went back. The buck was still standing guard over the bedded doe. I took several pics and this is the best one. I blew the pic up and cropped it. I cannot be sure of how many points but he appears to have a 20-22" insdie spread. He is definetly on my hit list. Take a look at the pics and see what you think he may score. Later!! Anthony

Hi Guys, After years of hunting with my muzzleloader during the Ohio gun season I switched back to using my Marlin 512 Slugmaster. I topped it with a Nikon scope and shooting Hornady SST slugs. I am getting 2" groups at 100yds and I took a doe at 135yds last year. She only went about 10yds after the shot. I hear these guns are fairly rare as they were only produced from 1994 to 1999. Anyone else out there hunting with one? Later!! Anthony

Thanks for the tips, I will check his site out. Anthony

To me a shooter is a mature buck at least 4+. I have 6 mounts ranging from 120" to 145". I have decided I will not shoot another buck for a mount unless he is over 145". I will however shoot a management buck (8 points of less that is 4+) to get him out of the herd and stop breeding doe's. Now if I have a 160"+ 3yr old walk past it would be mighty hard not to take that deer. Too many other hunters around my area and odds are he would not live another year.

I am now down to choosing between the .44mag and the .45-70 due to the availability of ammo. The .45-70 may be a better long range cartridge. I also have the ability to handload my own ammo. Is there not anyone else out here hunting with a T/C pistol? Anthony

Hi Guys, I know everyone has heard the horror stories before. A local guy went missing last Friday evening on a hunting trip. His wife called the police late Friday evening stating he never came home. Early Saturday morning a search party found him at the base of his tree. He was not wearing a safety harness and fell to his death from his stand. It is not worth risking your life and your families future. Keep It Safe!! Anthony

Hi Guys, I am seriously considering buying a T/C Encore Pistol for deer hunting next year. I have killed deer with bow,shotgun and rifle. I want to try a new challenge. Here is Ohio we are limited to a .357 or larger round with a straight walled cartridge. No necked down rifle cartridges. I plan on buying a 15" barrel and fit it with a 2x7 scope. My question is which caliber would you recommend between these. .44Mag, 45-70 GVT, 460 S&W, 500 S&W. I will mostly be hunting open timber and field edges. I would like the capability to shoot 100+yds. I also plan on buying a .22 barrel so I can practice all sumer shooting the frame without burning up high$$ ammo. Thanks!! Anthony