JollyRoger
WKR
I haven't posted too much in the muzzleloading section of this site, but I have used it quite a bit to learn the do's and dont's this past fall. It's really been a great resource. So, I figured I'd put a quick post up about my first crack at black powders.
After an unsuccessful September hunting hard with my bow (15 days), and not being able to make the short rifle season, I decided my last chance to bring an elk home was with a black powder in November. Initially I was a bit cold to the idea since I had put so much time and effort in to learning everything I could about archery... and this would be an all new set up and learning process. But, as the opening date for muzzleloader only approached, and a perfectly good tag in hand, I felt I owed it to myself to do everything I could to seal the deal. I did some reading and ended up getting a Pedersoli Hawken 50cal a few short weeks before season started.
Over the next few weeks I got out several times and felt like I had a good foundation and was no longer nervous about screwing something up with loading (like forgetting to put powder in first or something dumb). Before I knew it the season was open and I spent another 7 days in the mountains. I wish I could say that after all this rambling that the deal was sealed, but it was not to be this year. I jumped a few cows, but was in thick timber and never got a good shot I would have been comfortable taking.
Even without getting an elk down, I had a great time out with the Hawken. I've heard people talk about the 'soul' of things like traditional bows and muzzleloaders, and from my time with it I know when they mean. Honestly I shouldn't have liked carrying it, considering it's length, weight and limitations compared to modern rifles... but I just couldnt help but love lugging that thing around. It felt stout, like you could definitely beat a man to death with it if your scalp was in danger. Plus the history that goes along with it is just cool to me.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to becoming a better marksman with this rifle and getting out this coming fall.
Here's a few pics:
Nice whitetail shed I found
Brrr...
Got my 4 year old son out with me one day
After an unsuccessful September hunting hard with my bow (15 days), and not being able to make the short rifle season, I decided my last chance to bring an elk home was with a black powder in November. Initially I was a bit cold to the idea since I had put so much time and effort in to learning everything I could about archery... and this would be an all new set up and learning process. But, as the opening date for muzzleloader only approached, and a perfectly good tag in hand, I felt I owed it to myself to do everything I could to seal the deal. I did some reading and ended up getting a Pedersoli Hawken 50cal a few short weeks before season started.
Over the next few weeks I got out several times and felt like I had a good foundation and was no longer nervous about screwing something up with loading (like forgetting to put powder in first or something dumb). Before I knew it the season was open and I spent another 7 days in the mountains. I wish I could say that after all this rambling that the deal was sealed, but it was not to be this year. I jumped a few cows, but was in thick timber and never got a good shot I would have been comfortable taking.
Even without getting an elk down, I had a great time out with the Hawken. I've heard people talk about the 'soul' of things like traditional bows and muzzleloaders, and from my time with it I know when they mean. Honestly I shouldn't have liked carrying it, considering it's length, weight and limitations compared to modern rifles... but I just couldnt help but love lugging that thing around. It felt stout, like you could definitely beat a man to death with it if your scalp was in danger. Plus the history that goes along with it is just cool to me.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to becoming a better marksman with this rifle and getting out this coming fall.
Here's a few pics:
Nice whitetail shed I found
Brrr...
Got my 4 year old son out with me one day