Burlington NC, Alamance County, private land with a Traditions Nitrofire .50 cal at approximately 75 yards.
The misty morning air and slight breeze had the deer moving this morning. By 6:55 a.m., a good 8-pointer and a small basket 6-pointer strolled out into the field about 120 yards. I watched them through the scope for a while, they tickled antlers and pushed each other around before going back to eating. Shaking like a leaf, I cocked the hammer on the Nitrofire .50 caliber muzzleloader with Federal Firestick powder and primer and planned to shoot the 8-pointer. Safety off, I was finally about to take a shot when from the right size of the field a spike came trotting across about 70 yards from the ground blind down a slight, sloping hill. Seeing this spike trot along, the 6-pointer followed the yearling buck out the left side of the field into the woods. The 8-pointer took off and went after the other bucks, stopping briefly at the edge of the woods about 30 yards away, without a clear shot due underbrush. Safety on, I resorted to wait and see if the deer would come back. By 7 a.m., I was worried that I would see no other deer for the rest of the morning.
At 07:14 much to my surprise, my target buck, Cletus walked silently into the field to the right. A 9-point buck that we have been tracking since early fall, Cletus hadn’t been seen for a few weeks and I was thinking he had migrated or been killed. Shifting quietly, pulling the sandbag rest to the right, I aimed and got my shaking under control. 7:15, the trail cam captured him eating. 7:17, the trail cam captured the muzzleloader smoke as Cletus ran off camera. The buck bucked when shot, with what I thought was a well-placed shot. He ran about 30 yards back towards the tree line at the far right side of the field and bucked hard again, looking back towards the field. I reloaded and sat tight, mostly concerned that my shot was not as accurate as I anticipated and did not want to jump him if he was bedded down. 9:15, I couldn’t stand it, I had to get out of the blind and see if I had hit him and if there was a blood trail to track. With the thick misty dew, I didn’t want to miss any small blood droplet trails. As soon as I got out of the blind and started walking towards the woods, I saw his white belly. Instead of running into the woods, he had dropped out of my sight behind a terrace. Heart racing, I ran for it in complete disbelief (and I’m completely surprised the trail cam didn’t catch this). Thanks to our neighbor and friend Michael for helping coach and setting me up for success.
This is the biggest buck I have ever killed and I am thrilled, still in disbelief. I have been hunting since I was a kid with my Dad, but never had an experience as exciting as this one.
