black powder – Page 3 – Plains Hunter

September 30, 2009September 30, 2009

Fall Deer Camp 2009

Well, the opening of muzzleloading deer season didn’t turn out as I had hoped. The weather hadn’t been as cooperative as I had wanted, which kept the farmers out of their corn fields. Which in turn, kept the deer in the corn fields. So, unfortunately for me (but not for the deer), I didn’t see any through the last few days of the hunt.

I was a bit apprehensive on the first day since none of the corn fields were being worked on when I got there. But that first morning, I saw 5 mule deer does running about 200 yards out from where I was sitting. They never did come into my area that day, but I had hopes for the remaining 4 days.

The second day was different though. I had a doe come running by me right after sunset. She was about 40-50 yards out. I decided to let her go since I still had 3 days left. Bad decision. She was the last deer I saw during the day for the rest of the week.

I sat on a different stand the next day, came up empty. Went back to my original stand on the 4^th day. Nothing. I saw more deer at night driving back to camp then I did during the day. It was certainly disappointing. But hey, that’s why it’s called hunting and not getting, right?

I would love to go back this weekend, as I’ve heard that a few farmers are cutting the corn. Not sure if I have the time or not. Most likely, I’ll be back out there in December during rifle season, braving the cold again. Believe me, I’d rather fight the mosquitoes than the frigid cold temperatures like last year.

There’s always next time. Keep your powder dry.

September 20, 2009October 21, 2009

Tools of My Trade, part 1

Since I’m due to leave in a couple of days for the beginning deer season, felt like I’d write a short article on the guns I use for deer hunting. I’m not a very experienced deer hunter, this is only my third season out. I did go out with a few friends several years back, but don’t really count it since I was borrowing a rifle and didn’t even take a shot.

One of the things I like about the group of guys I hunt with is that they like and enjoy shooting historic firearms. Most of them hunt traditional black powder or cowboy era rifles, but they also collect antique guns. Keith got me hooked on British firearms, so 3 years ago I picked up an old WWII era Enfield (303 British) made by Savage for the lend lease program during the war.

I shot my first deer with it 3 seasons ago during the winter rifle season. It was a doe, but I’m more of a meat hunter anyway. I scared a group of does out of some brush walking back to my vehicle for lunch and one of stopped and gave me a 30 yard side shot. Season over.

It’s a great gun to shoot, a little heavy, but there’s no kick to it and it holds a great pattern at 100 yards. I’d love to find a place to do some 200+ yard shots to see how I do, but haven’t found a place to do that yet.

I recently picked up an Ardesa Spain, Hawken Woodsman in 50 caliber for an amazing price (too good to pass up). I’ve been shooting it steady for the past couple of months and am taking it out for muzzleloading season this year. I can hold a 6 inch group at 100 yards with it fairly consistently. I was never real taken with the Hawken style rifle until I picked this on up. It’s shorter than the traditional Hawken style, so it swings well and has a good feel to it.

I plan to make some changes to it after the season when I have some more time, didn’t want to try to get that done before the season. I’m going to put more traditional sites on it, let the brass tarnish a bit and refinish the stock to look original. But I’ll do that after the season is over.

My last rifle is a Civil War era musket reproduction that I picked up last summer. I really wanted to use this rifle, but I’ve had difficulty getting it sited in at 100 yards. I like the looks of the muskets of that era. This one is closer to a Springfield rather than the Enfield. But it’s still fun to shoot. It’s in 58 caliber.

As you can see, I don’t really have any of the modern rifles that most use when hunting. I’m more drawn to historic firearms. There’s just something about shooting a gun that has some history behind it. I have it as a goal to someday have all my hunting rifles be British firearms. I really love the British military rifles and would love to add a Baker flintlock, an Enfield musket and a Martini Henry to my collection. Someday. Hopefully.

So those are my tools. I’m hoping Keith will give a write up on some of his. He’s a lot more knowledgeable about the history of some of these than I am and he has some great firearms and stories about them.

So what are some of you taking out into the field? Tell us about them.

September 16, 2009September 16, 2009

August 2009 Deer Scouting Trip In South Western Kansas

We recently did our last scouting trip before muzzleloading deer season starts up next week. We went to a new piece of ground that we haven’t hunted before and has just become available. From the road, you can’t help but think that nothing can be out there, it’s way too flat! But we’ve always seen deer and this time wasn’t different.

We were watching a water hole about 30 yards in front of us, sitting in waist high grass and weeds when a small 6 point and a little larger 10 point whitetail came in. The 10 point’s rack was beautiful and very symmetrical. I apologize for the poor photos, I only had the use of an old camera that weekend.

We watched them drink and graze for nearly 30 minutes before the two got in behind us where the grass was much lower. It didn’t take them long to figure out we shouldn’t be there and they ran off over the hill.

Look through the weeds to see Mr. 10 point.

It was pretty exciting and I hope Mr. 10 shows up next week, although, one never knows. I haven’t watched this ground enough to know the habits of the deer that come out here

There is a large gulley to the north of the water hole that the deer seem to use quite frequently. We’ve seen trails and bedding areas back in there, so I’ll definitely be watching those areas as well.

So, wish us luck next week.