Muzzy 2018

[Wanderer]

Bueller?  

 

Bueller?

 

Anyone going this year?  I’m on the fence.  Kinda depends on what the kids knock over this last weekend of FA season and if I have another person to go with.  I did run through some rounds last weekend to make sure I was ready should things play my way for the season.

[Hoyt4]

I will be out either way. Saving a tag for a doe to use the Muzzy. I do have a buck tag still but hoping to get one with the bow. I love Muzzy season and always save a tag for then. Let go a lot of does this fall and small buck but come Muzzy season they are all targets.

 

I have few bucks in the metro also that i'm trying to get a shot at. Already field my NE tag so been a little more picky this season. Not Muzzy season though I need at least one more deer in the freezer for all fishing and spring trips.

[ozzie]

If time allows I will get out for a couple walks in the woods with the muzzy.  I didn't get anything with the gun and have yet to buy a bow license cuz time was spent chasing fall walleyes opposed to deer.  Good Luck to those that get out!!

[huntnfish]

I wasn't planning on going due to the project list getting longer but I took my 7 year old out to sit last weekend. We got home and he was telling his mom all about it and how cool it was seeing deer walk by and how he wished there was more time in the season. That was when the wife asked why I wasn't going to go during muzzleloader and that I should go so I can take him out again. I felt like I had to be a good husband and just agree with her. Sometimes it's about compromising with your wife just to keep the peace in the house. 

[paceman]

Yes I am definitely going Muzzy hunting. I prefer it to Rifle and it is a close second to Bow. I usually save tags and vacation time for it. I just love hunting in the snow! 

[Wanderer]

4 hours ago, paceman said:

Yes I am definitely going Muzzy hunting. I prefer it to Rifle and it is a close second to Bow. I usually save tags and vacation time for it. I just love hunting in the snow! 

 

I’m with ya here!  

 

‘Cept the vacation part for some dumb reason.

[cavalierowner]

I'm definitely heading out for muzzy! I much prefer muzzy hunting to firearm. In fact, I've carried my muzzy a couple times during firearm season. This year my buddy and I are trying a new area up by Bigfork.

 

On a side note, I had my muzzy out to the range Wednesday. These almost 70 year old eyes just aren't what they used to be; even the fiber optic sights are getting fuzzy now. I'm thinking I may have to finally break down and put a scope on the old girl. That's going to just about kill me to put a scope on a sidelock.

[Wanderer]

I went ahead and bought a tag since the FA season was going pretty slow in camp.  Then bang, bang, bang, bang... just like that we all have enough venison...

 

My season might just boil down to a few walks in the woods, checking things out that I’ve been curious about.  Just wouldn’t feel right not carrying my smoke stick with even though I probably won’t use it.

 

Premature tag purchase. 

[huntnfish]

I put a blind up the week before muzzy opener for the boy and I to sit in at the same spot we sat the last day of gun season.

 

We got out to the blind in the dark about a half hour before shooting time on opening morning. I was not sure how he would be walking into the woods in the dark but he had his headlamp and was a champ about it. We got situated and layed out the snacks and drinks and got ready. I didn't expect to sit more than a couple hours. I got the blind windows open and we waited. I was excited to hear him spot all the "deer" that we all see when the woods wakes up. This is my absolute favorite time to be in the woods. There's just something about being there when everything comes to life.

 

He saw plenty of crazy things in the dark which all turned out to be stumps, branches, and weeds. 

 

About 7:30 a doe and fawn came by us. I again asked him if he wanted me to shoot and reminded him that we could shoot any deer. He again said he wanted a buck. A few minutes later another doe came by from the other direction and we both had a good time watching the action. Even though we were in the blind I used the opportunity to help him understand when you can move when there are deer nearby. After that he decided he was tired and curled up in the chair. I don't think he slept but I knew he was getting bored. About 8:15 he sits back up and asks how much longer and I tell him an hour. He's not all that enthused by that answer but accepts it. 

 

It's getting close to 9 and he's ready to head to the truck. I keep trying to stretch it out as long as I can but know we don't have much more time sitting. I'm looking out my side of the blind and he's watching his when all of the sudden he says "there's a buck". I look over and sure enough there's a deer standing 50 yards away broadside looking at us because he forgot to whisper. I asked him if he was sure it was a buck and he says " yeah and it's a nice one". I said ok, I'm shooting. Somehow the deer didn't spook and just started walking down the trail again. I got him to stop and took a shot. The deer takes off and we sit in silence for a minute or so. I look over at him and he's got the biggest grin and says " I told you we'd see a buck". I gave him a big hug and said I'm not sure how well I hit the deer and there's no certainty that he's hit at all.

 

After 5 more minutes I went to the spot he was standing and looked and nothing. No blood. No hair. Everyone's had that feeling that's hunted but this time it was different. It felt like I let him down after all that. The shot felt good and I settled the crosshairs right on the shoulder.  I go back to the blind and sit down with him and explain that I didn't find any blood but didn't want to go further and risk kicking him up. He tells me not to worry and that if I missed that one we'll just wait for another even if it takes all day. Another hug and I said let's both go over there and take a look.

 

We start down the trail following tracks when the flood gate open up and he starts spraying blood. At this point we stopped and I explained that we know we hit him so let's sit down and give him a little more time to make sure we don't kick him up. We start back down the trail only to find him piled up 40 yards down just out of sight from the blind. We ease up to him to make sure he's dead and then get to take a look. I let the boy go up and grab him first since he spotted him. Again he says "daddy, I told you we'd get a good buck".

 

He wasn't a huge buck or anything that I'd put on the wall but he was bigger than I expected. I haven't shot any wall worthy deer but thought about it for a couple minutes with this one. I'm the end I elected to just do a European. And of course a picture of him and I next to it.

 

This was one of those moments where I couldn't believe things worked out perfectly. Him and I put a couple cameras out on this land in mid fall and got pictures of a bunch of bucks including this one.  And I swear I had a dream the night before with this exact buck walking in from that same direction. 

 

It had had been a very trying year for me and this was something so perfect to close out the year that words can't describe. Now he's saying he needs a bow. I'm guessing Santa has already heard that request and is working on getting that order filled. This isn't the best picture and doesn't show how nice a buck he is but it's my favorite. 

[Mike89]

excellent story!!  

[Wanderer]

That IS awesome!  Congrats on a perfect day!

[ANYFISH2]

Perfect hunt! Love your story.

[Hoyt4]

Now that's a great hunt. Love the story

[Scoot]

WTG Nate!  Great story!   I look forward to more from you two! 

[Wanderer]

I got out yesterday with a couple friends to try some new to us public ground.  Chasing deer was the main reason but also an opportunity to stretch the legs and see places I’ve been curious about.  We worked the slow drive method instead of stand hunting.

 

Our first area was bigger and more hilly than we thought going into it.  There was no way we were going to drive it effectively so we just basically stalked toward each other’s directions and hoped for the best.  The blue jays let me know I was probably pushing deer several times and I saw quite a bit of sign, but no deer.  It’s a good area to sit and I plan to the next time I can.  One of the other guys saw 1 deer but didn’t have a chance at it.

 

Area 2; we took a much smaller piece of cover but it was still no slouch.  We managed to work the drive perfectly to our poster and all saw deer but couldn’t get shots at em.  The kick in the shorts was, when we started, we had the place to ourselves but during the push another group came in to the area on the end we were pushing to.  They no more got into their stands and started dropping the deer we pushed.  Our poster didn’t shoot cuz it would’ve been in the direction of one of em.  They were happy and thanked us! 

 

Area 3 was another small piece that had a good amount of sign but we didn’t see any deer.  It’s another spot I might return to though.

 

On the drive back to my truck with about 30 minutes of shooting time left, we saw 3 deer go into a patch of woods.  We opted to pull over and pursue.  We split up and headed in quickly.  They came my direction and I was able to drop a doe for my buddy who I was really hoping would come out of the day with a deer.

 

The last minute success was almost anticlimactic for the adventurous day it was but we were happy.

Edited December 2, 2018 by Wanderer

[Hoyt4]

Congrats Wanderer

 

I also pulled off a yearling last night for our land owner who wanted a young deer.I was see deer most the hunts but some small bucks and most years I would of shot but I have one in mind and still will be after with the bow. This was my last weekend for Muzzy heading to LOW this weekend.

 

I will get out with the bow but sure was nice to get the Muzzy some work. Second year for this gun and tried some different ammo this year and worked great.

[jerkin'm]

Sat with my son on Sunday for the first sit of the year...saw 8 deer in 5 hours...he passed on 2 spikes and a really small doe with even smaller fawn...we have one day left to hunt and will be trying to thin a doe or two... we still have buck tags so a good buck would be nice too...(: