NH Hunting

[Mike in tx]

Just heard from Clayton; claims he is in a blind, it is 31 degrees. I assume that he is freezing his bibee off. LOL Good luck Clayton.

[versifier]

I'm skipping m/l this year, hunting partner has to work until his vacation starts when firearms opens up next week.

[Hellrazor]

He is in his "blind" aka in the bedroom, curtains closed and under the covers sleeping...

[BBerguson]

And it's NOT 31 degrees...

BB

[Clayt]

I'm happy to report that I took an 80lb (that's FAT in NH, normally they go about 60lbs) button buck at 4:15PM on the last day of the 3 day antlerless M-loader season. Weather was poor for the first 2 days and only saw 1 other deer.

My wife is still working on her second season of getting her 1st deer ever. She's been out 5 times and will try again on Friday, as it's the last day of antlerless firearms season in our hunting area.

None of my hunting group has seen a adult antlered buck since the M-L/firearms season has started Nov 1. The guys who bow hunt had seen 2 different 8points back in mid October.

Deer sightings have been odd this year, seemingly they have stopped moving as much lately.

[BBerguson]

Congratulations! M-loader as in inline or flintlock?

BB

[Clayt]

Thanks. It's a TC Omega inline. Not particularly thrilled with it, but it works. I use 777 pellets and 250gr TC easy glide sabots.

This was only the 2nd deer I have ever taken with a ML. I got one last year that was standing in just about the same spot as this one!

[BBerguson]

Tell us about the shot and the performance of the bullet.

BB

[Clayt]

Last year I aimed for the doe's shoulder and it exited behind the opposite shoulder through the lung. My intention was to drop it where it stood. It ran ~60 yards anyway. I wasn't too happy with that as it seemed the bullet didn't do as much as expected, but I was standing over a very dead deer so how unhappy should I be? I was unrealistically expecting modern rifle performance and didn't get it.

This year was a careful no meat waste shot. I knew it was a small deer and I wanted it for the table. It was facing me at an angle. (my favorite firearms position) I hit it high enough in the chest to just miss the heart. (intentional as that is the 1st thing eaten) The bullet pretty much disconnected the heart and exited through the opposite lung. Bullet did not ruin any meat! Judging from the exit hole it expand a bit.