Black Powder Buck BY: M.D. Mynhier Today, at lunchtime, my thoughts went to the time of year and that muzzle loading season up in Kentucky is this weekend and that threw my thoughts to memories of past hunts and to one hunt in particular. On the hunt with me were three of my sons, Kris, John-Logan and Seth. We were hunting the hilly area around Possum Ridge in Morgan County. We were atop of a high ridge where a power line ran the length of the center of the ridge. It was a perfect place to ambush a buck because the view both directions allowed covering a long stretch of mostly open land and most of it only had a slight roll to it and unless the deer crossed in the perfect places, they would be exposed as they crossed. The tree line on both sides of the power line was thick underbrush and briars near the edges with big timber behind the brushy edges. Kris and I decided to set Joh-Logan up where he could cover a large area of the power line. We used a pop-up blind setting it close to the brush and tree line on the east side. He had an open view to all sides and the only place he could have a problem was to his back where the thicket blocked him from seeing deep into the bigger timber. Once he had him set-up, we headed off in different directions, Seth with me and Kris on his own. We had planned to meet at midday at John-Logan’s blind. Seth and I were hunting an area we called the House Seat. At some point in history there had been a cabin there but all that remained was a well and the foundation stones still sitting in their original rectangle and a few pods of Easter Lilies that had long since lost their yellow bloom. I placed Seth in a good location before moving to where I would spent the morning. I was pleased with our setup. Depending on the movement of the deer, one or both of us should have a great opportunity to score. Seth could see close to a hundred yards before the thick mountain laurel that grew on the edge of the steep slope that fell into a deep hollow blocked any view before the ridge fell off. I was a few hundred yards down a long ridge watching a low swag between two rises. It was where a deep trail crossed and any deer coming across would be in trouble. Kris had gone close to a mile down the power line and crossed a high rise and walked down far enough that he could cover the low open country between the two rises. All four of us had a great chance of getting a good shot and I was pleased with our setup. I felt we had the escape routes in every direction covered to where if a buck came through, one of us should see it. John-Logan was sixteen and Seth three years younger but both knew gun safety and had their hunter safety course cards and Kris and I trusted them completely. The morning was perfect not much breeze and it was cool so deer should move until late in the morning. Around ten O’clock, I heard branches braking as a deer crunched through the thickest brush but I never could pick it out in the thick stuff. I knew exactly where it was but it was just deep enough inside the thicket that I couldn’t see it. I knew it was heading toward Seth and I was hoping to hear the echo from his shot as it rolled through the steep hollows. I sat wishing and hoping it would turn and come up to where he would have a shot. Nothing happened. Two hours later, I walked to where Seth was. He tossed his hand up when he saw me and I waved back. When I made it to where he was, he whispered that a good buck had been in the laurel but all he could see of it was its head and antlers. We talked in a whisper for a few moments and Seth showed me by pointing where he last saw it. My first thought was that it was headed to John-Logan. Seth and I waited for the shot. We knew it was going to cross exactly where John-Logan was setting in the blind. It was the only place it could go in that direction. We waited and waited. After more than enough time for it go have walked by him, we decided that it may have bedded in the thicket before crossing. We decided to walk slowly along and try to push it out without spooking it into a dead-out run. When we made to where we could see the open swath of the power line, we knew it was no use. The deer had given us the slip. So, we headed to the blind to see if John-Logan had seen anything. When we popped into the open, I expected to see him looking through the little window but there was nothing. We walked up to the blind and peeked inside. There he was, sound asleep. It was not long until Kris showed up. By then John-Logan was wide awake and we all had a good laugh. One thing about John-Logan, he has never had a problem laughing at himself. We hunted until dark and noting moved. We headed out with the plan of doing the same thing the following day. We set-up the same way the following morning with everyone in place before first light. I think we all advised John-Logan to keep his eyes open as long as he could stand to before we headed to our spots. It was barely light enough to see the front sight when the frosty morning air was shattered by a boom. I knew it had to be John-Logan that had fired. The sun took its time peeping over the eastern most ridge as I waited to see any movement. I was dying to get up and go check on John-Logan and that made the morning drag forever. After waiting as long as I could stand, I eased my way to where Seth was hunting. He had not seen anything either. We chatted a few minutes before heading to John-Logan and the power line. We arrived about the same time Kris came into view and we jibbed John-Logan a bit about firing off a round in his sleep. After giving him a hard time, we asked if he was the one that shot. He said, “Yeah, I shot at a buck. I don’t know if I got it because when the smoke cleared, nothing was there.” I said, “Where was it when you shot?” He pointed and I headed toward where he had pointed. As soon as I reached the little rise, I looked over and there it lay. I yelled, “You got it!” He was all smiles as he held the head if the spike buck up and admired it. It was his first deer and it was a buck. It was a good spike and he was happy. One of us commented that good things happen when you stay awake. We all laughed as we field dressed it. Kris trimmed the liver and placed it and the heart in the body cavity. We took turns dragging it out of the woods. It was a good weekend. I hunted with three of my boys and John-Logan bagged his first buck and with a muzzle loader too. It was a fine weekend.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:37:27 +0000
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