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2022 Muzzleloader Season

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
20211231_124716.jpg


Took the muzzy for a spin this afternoon. Gearing up for the new 2022 season of course. This will be my third attempt in a row to hopefully be successful in harvesting a good antlerless deer with my old KNIGHT in its current configuration.

I have every intension of setting up my hunting area just like I did last season, which I will be hunting out of my ‘Big Mike’ pop-up ground blind right along the field/wooded edge overlooking a picked cornfield within the cup area at the other farm. I’ve mentioned it once before in previous posts of mine that I absolutely love hunting that property for a whole bunch of reasons.

Anyhow, I wanted to launch this year’s new muzzy thread, hoping that all those that will also be out muzzy hunting this season will share whatever you’d like that pertains to the new 2022 muzzleloader season. I hope to see many harvested deer photographs on here when the season is over with.

Also, please feel free to share your muzzy rifle with us as well along with whatever firing configuration setup you have. I’m not a highly experienced muzzy hunter and I do take a huge interest nowadays in learning from the more experienced muzzy hunters so, kindly share as much as you care to so that I and perhaps others can potentially learn from you. I would greatly appreciate it, thanks!

According to today’s weather forecast, on the days for the new muzzy season, it’s supposed to be much cooler than what the previous two were, which I think is a beautiful thing! There might even be a chance of snow on the ground as well, which would be awesome! Far different than rain over the last two years that is for sure. I hope the weather forecast holds true for obvious reasons.

So, once again, kindly join all the fun by sharing all your success with all of us and whatever else you’d like pertaining to this year’s new 2022 muzzleloader season.

Good luck, be safe and enjoy your time afield chasing a Whitetail Deer!
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Being that today’s weather is ideal to get out and do some shooting, I wanted to make sure my muzzleloader is still in good working form and by not having to make any changes of any kind hopefully.

I ended up shooting three sabot rounds down range at the ½” AR500 steel coyote target. The following photograph depicts the results. No changes or adjustments were needed, I’m totally good to go!

20211231_125110.jpg


GROUP SIZE = 2.5" between points of impact of each of the three shots, which is good enough for me.

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Much like last year, my anticipated target range on a antlerless deer at the other farm should be no more that 75 yards, so that is why I setup my range table to ensure my zero for 100 yards.

I have mentioned before in previous posts but, for those are not aware, my muzzleloader was passed down to me from my father in-law a few years back, who he was a very experienced competitive flintlock/muzzleloader shooter and hunter as well but, has been retired from the sport for over twenty years. Two years ago, I converted the passed down old 50cal Knight to the 209 Federal percussion caps, 100g Blackhorn propellant powder along with the Barnes 290g/50cal polymer tip TMZ boat tail copper sabots. I’ve had excellent results with this current configuration, harvesting two antlerless deer in its current form over the last two muzzy seasons at a range average of 62 yards and each recovery was within 75 yards. I’m quite satisfied with the performance of my 30+ year old Knight muzzleloader.
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Thought I'd share this in case anyone cares to see what a Barnes 50cal 290gr TMZ BT projectile looks like after it hits 1/2" steel plate from a 100 yards.

20211231_192128.jpg


These Barnes 290gr TMZ projectile definitely got the job done and even exceeded my prior expectations. I drilled both of my muzzy deer through the front shoulder and in each case, the bullet held together really, really well after shattering the entire upper portion of the shoulder bone and joint.

I'm satisfied with them and this will be my third season using these.

Last year's muzzy harvest and shot placement from 60 yards.
20210103_104713.jpg
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
I didn't want to create a whole new thread for these questions, which I hope that's okay with you all.

Has anyone ever shot a shed buck thinking it was a big doe? If so, would you mind sharing your story?

Does this type of scenario happen more often than not, and did the deer get put into the DOW system as a buck with an antler less than 3"?


I don't recall seeing such a discussion over recent years and I did not attempt to go searching for one either.

I've only hunted the very late deer season two times before, which were the last two deer seasons and this year will be my third. I'd like to get a better understanding or some clarification regarding this type of scenario, thanks!
 
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Fletch

Senior Member
Supporting Member
6,078
118
Denny.... Don't you have several bucks that you were hoping made it through the season??? Now's not the time to kill one of those future hall of famers by accident... BINOS,BINOS,BINOS.... Did I say BINOS??? USE THEM!!! And if still in doubt, hold off...There's no excuse for shooting a shed buck... Esp. hunting out of a tree stand with BINOS... Look before you squeeze that trigger... That doe may be THUNDER...
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Denny.... Don't you have several bucks that you were hoping made it through the season??? Now's not the time to kill one of those future hall of famers by accident... BINOS,BINOS,BINOS.... Did I say BINOS??? USE THEM!!! And if still in doubt, hold off...There's no excuse for shooting a shed buck... Esp. hunting out of a tree stand with BINOS... Look before you squeeze that trigger... That doe may be THUNDER...
Fully understand, thanks Rich!

I do use my binos and I use them a lot, however, last season during muzzy where I hunted out of a pop up ground blind and the elevation of where I sat was a tad bit lower than where the deer were standing within the ag field during a heavy fog. I don't think my binos or even a my scope would have been all that helpful in that particular situation or weather type conditions because I was roughly 10' lower in elevation, which is the same hunting setup that I'll be in once again this season, which is at the other farm.

Example: Last year muzzy harvest at the same location I'll be hunting this season.
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I won't have to worry about shooting 'THUNDER' because he's in a completely different county.

I'm sure though that this type of scenario has happened to someone and I'm interested in hearing their story if they wish to share.

I fully understand that no one wishes to shoot something they do not intend to, but I do have a concern and would like to know if in fact it has happened.

Now, the resident bucks within my home area, especially the more mature ones have a history of holding their antlers well into February and some into March even, but those younger bucks do shed before the much older ones. I can see where those younger shed bucks can be easily mistaken for a large doe and that is why I am asking if it's ever happened to anyone.

I personally do not no of anyone where this type of situation has happened to them. Perhaps it doesn't ever happen, but IDK that for sure either, that is why I posed the questions, hoping that someone would share either their own experience or a story of someone they might know where that did happen.
 
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Fletch

Senior Member
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It happens quite often Denny... I know quite a few guys that have done it... Esp. here in Jersey as our seasons go into Feb... Alot of guys drive deer and are shooting at running deer... These same guys bitch the following years when their not seeing any bucks... I'm sure it happens in Ohio way more than you think, esp. if the Amish are around...
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Isn’t one of the options on their check in menu listed shed buck?

You are absolutely correct "J", one of the options is in fact 'Antlers have been shed' according to ONDR's 'Online Game Check' tutorial website page. I should have looked that up before I posed the one question perhaps.

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36 seconds into the video it clearly shows where you should provide the biometric data of the animal harvested.

 
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"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,757
274
North Carolina
You are absolutely correct "J", one of the options is in fact 'Antlers have been shed' according to ONDR's 'Online Game Check' tutorial website page. I should have looked that up before I posed the one question perhaps.

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36 seconds into the video it clearly shows where you should provide the biometric data of the animal harvested.

FC7AEB89-4CA4-4203-B44C-0F1E3333C116.jpeg
I was pretty sure it did offer that option….
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
If you think it would bother you that much, I suggest taking a bow or limiting your shots to being close to identify 100%. Your goals shouldn't change because of the weapon on hand. I have personally never done it but I have seen it multiple times. In the end, you can't eat them antlers anyways.

This will be the last chance for some hunters to get meat and would've likely shot the deer if it had antlers or not.

If you really care more about the antlers than the deer, I don't suggest taking a shot at anything you wouldn't be happy with. Pushing limits here IMO, like finding a fetus.
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
It happens quite often Denny... I know quite a few guys that have done it... Esp. here in Jersey as our seasons go into Feb... Alot of guys drive deer and are shooting at running deer... These same guys bitch the following years when their not seeing any bucks... I'm sure it happens in Ohio way more than you think, esp. if the Amish are around...
*They’re*😂
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
If you think it would bother you that much, I suggest taking a bow or limiting your shots to being close to identify 100%. Your goals shouldn't change because of the weapon on hand. I have personally never done it but I have seen it multiple times. In the end, you can't eat them antlers anyways.

This will be the last chance for some hunters to get meat and would've likely shot the deer if it had antlers or not.

If you really care more about the antlers than the deer, I don't suggest taking a shot at anything you wouldn't be happy with. Pushing limits here IMO, like finding a fetus.

Just so you know, I'm looking to take a good size antlerless deer and turnover that harvest to the property owner, just like what I did last year. I just wasn't completely sure until today just how to handle any potential situation if I were to shoot a young shed buck rather than a button or a good size doe. Now I know thanks to "J". The other farm does have several large does along with several young bucks. The fact of where I'll be setting up at for next weekend will make it a bit of a challenge to distinctly tell the difference between a young shed buck and a good size antlerless deer from approximately 50 -75 yards away because of the lower elevation I'll be sitting at, and especially if it were to snow too. If I do become successful next weekend, that will fulfil my last much previously purchased tag that I still have at the moment.

I have no real concern now that I fully understand how a shed buck gets checked into the system. I have every intension of shooting a good size doe next weekend and hopefully nothing else.
 
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