Posted By: ShootemupTex
First Kill! Thank you Aldeer - 12/06/22 12:51 PM
I got my first at about 80 yards yesterday with my T/C Hawken Muzzle Loader, open sights at about 80 yards. Doe #1 (from my previous post) showed up like clock work. She gave me a good broadside so I didn't wait for the rest of the does. I spent all day Sunday at the range with the smokepole. I got it zeroed at 50, 100 was another story. One click was 6 inches high, one click down was 4 inches low. I forgot to adjust and I caught her in the spine right above the shoulder. She dropped instantly, but was parlyzed and not dying. After watching her for about five minutes or so, I knew what needed to be done and reloaded the Hawken. She was looking at me and confused as to why she couldn't get away. I wanted to end it quickly so I took a head shot, not realizing how small the brains are on a deer from about 10 yards. It did not dispatch the deer like I hoped, so I pulled out my side arm, tried again with slighlty better results. I put the last 9mm in the boiler room like I should have done in the first place and that ended things. I found where it hit the bottom of her heart during cleaning. I gave her a few minutes while I hauled gear back to car.
I had about 200 yards to drag her across a green field to get her home. That was a lot tougher that I thought. I weighed her at home about got about 80 pounds. I tried just pulling her by the legs and finally tied some paracord around her legs and dragged. I was grueling and the toughest workout I've had in a long time. I cannot imagine pulling a buck out of bottom right now.
I started to try and gut her there at the car. I was so out of breath and overheated, it made more sense to just throw her in the drunk and get her home (about 20 minutes) and do the deed there. Once I got her on the back porch, I did an OK job gutting her. Started at the bottom and did not puncture anything. Once I got through the muscle the guts just wanted to come out. Skinning was a little hard, I know I could do better, but I managed to get both hind quarters, backstraps, and one shoulder. The shoulders just didn't have a lot of meat or it seemed not to seperate fom the hide. I am not sure, but I was so exhausted it didn't seem worth the effort.
I got her from hoof to cooler in a little under 2.5 hours. It was warm about 65 degrees. I am hoping for not spoilage. Is there anything to look for?
I hope the picture comes through. I appreciate all the help, advice and even admonishment this forum has given me over the last year +. I look forward to any tips to make the next one go smoother.
[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/nf8w72exyern1md/20221205_165252.jpg?dl=0 [/img]
I had about 200 yards to drag her across a green field to get her home. That was a lot tougher that I thought. I weighed her at home about got about 80 pounds. I tried just pulling her by the legs and finally tied some paracord around her legs and dragged. I was grueling and the toughest workout I've had in a long time. I cannot imagine pulling a buck out of bottom right now.
I started to try and gut her there at the car. I was so out of breath and overheated, it made more sense to just throw her in the drunk and get her home (about 20 minutes) and do the deed there. Once I got her on the back porch, I did an OK job gutting her. Started at the bottom and did not puncture anything. Once I got through the muscle the guts just wanted to come out. Skinning was a little hard, I know I could do better, but I managed to get both hind quarters, backstraps, and one shoulder. The shoulders just didn't have a lot of meat or it seemed not to seperate fom the hide. I am not sure, but I was so exhausted it didn't seem worth the effort.
I got her from hoof to cooler in a little under 2.5 hours. It was warm about 65 degrees. I am hoping for not spoilage. Is there anything to look for?
I hope the picture comes through. I appreciate all the help, advice and even admonishment this forum has given me over the last year +. I look forward to any tips to make the next one go smoother.
[img]https:/