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Muzzleloader Bucks

 

This year my oldest son and I had muzzleloader deer tags. While I had been muzzleloader hunting once before, this would be Dallas’ first time. But unfortunately I would spend the first three days hunting alone since Dallas’ work schedule didn’t allow time off during the week. 

I arrived a day early to do some additional scouting and saw a few bucks. Similar to my previous scouting expeditions, the biggest buck I spotted was a small 4 point. While I had high hopes of coming across of a big mature mule deer, I had already decided that I would shoot the first 4 point possible.

muzzleloader deer hunt, with grouse  muzzleloader deer hunt, mallard ducks

                  Got after the grouse mid-day                                                 Also got after the ducks

At first light I was looking over the low-land sagebrush which held very few cedar trees. Coyotes were yapping and howling in the distance, but all else was still. Then as if out of thin air, a deer appeared right in the middle of the sagebrush ahead, a doe. I continued to glass and suddenly spotted three more deer, a doe, a 3 point and an average 4 point…I made my move. But similar to the next several stalks, I never got close enough for a shot.

It wasn’t until last light on day two that I had a 4 point coming across a high country sidehill towards me. Instantly I knew that I would try for this buck. I quickly slipped a primer/cap into place and waited. At 75 yards the buck momentarily paused…a puff of smoke filled the air…I had my buck!

 

muzzleloader hunting deer, four point buck
                              Luckily an easy drag down to the road

 

The next day I continued scouting the high country and found a unique buck that had crazy eye guards. My hope was that we could find him again once Dallas arrived. Around midnight Dallas showed up, we discussed the buck and looked at the pictures that I was lucky enough to have snapped. Unlike myself, Dallas wasn’t as interested in the buck since he had his sights on something bigger but I still held high hopes that we’d find the buck and he’d change his mind.

muzzleloader deer buck, crazy eye guards  muzzleloader deer hunt, pine nuts

       Check out the crazy eye guards                               Serendipitous discovery, enjoying pine nut treat

 

The following day we hunted hard and covered a lot of ground without seeing much. Then it happened, we came across the buck with crazy eye guards. The deer stood in a dense pine thicket 50 yards away but had us pegged. Dallas looked over the buck long and hard through his binos until finally deciding he’d shoot. However, the buck and his 4 point companion had a different idea and bounded off but not before Dallas cracked off a head shot. At first it appeared as if the buck was down, but moments later we saw both bucks moving away though the pines. Dallas took off after them as I stood and watched, but mostly heard the spectacle unfold. Eventually enough time had passed where I felt comfortable enough to go investigate the event.

 

iwenthunting i went hunting muzzleloader deer hunt, crazy eye guards
                Look closely, first shot actually blew of longest eye guard, no wonder first shot looked like a hit

 

When I came upon the scene, Dallas was staring forward motionless. I noticed a 4 point buck standing forward of his position at 50 yards but looking opposite Dallas’ direction. I figured he had fired a shot and now couldn’t reload without being seen. Cautiously I circled around to his position and approached undetected. Fortunately it turned out that the crazy eye guard buck was down and the companion 4 point was fixated upon the expired buck!