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General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: IRONSIGHT on December 27, 2009, 04:50:45 AM

Title: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on December 27, 2009, 04:50:45 AM
Rain and fog. I didn't even bother going out today. Just checking to see if anyone did  ,and how you made out. Weather the rest of the week supposed to be deceit.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Don Getz on December 27, 2009, 05:44:31 AM
Iron......yep, sure not a good flintlock day.    Kinda glad I gave it up.  Had a call from my nephew today, he was telling me
about his son who is finally going to use that Lehigh County rifle I built many years ago, and he sounded like it would be
fun to go with him.    So, tomorrow I'm going down to his place (near Carlisle) and take my Dave Dodds 54 cal. Berks Co.
gun, bag and everything he needs to shoot it, that's better than just having it hang on the wall.  They have access to a
300 acre farm with some real nice buck on it.....hope he can connect on one..............Don
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on December 27, 2009, 06:19:41 AM
Don,
Any time you have a rifle that you built just hanging around, and need the dust shot out of it give me a call. HA-HA
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: billd on December 27, 2009, 06:39:12 AM
Too much rain. I slept in and worked on my fowler.
20 years ago I would have been out all day. Getting old also means getting more smarts.  Monday looks much better.
Bill
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on December 27, 2009, 06:55:52 AM
You mean to tell me that I'm supposed to get smarter with age? Trust me gray hair doesn't always mean wisdom, or i would be in the genius category.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: billd on December 27, 2009, 07:05:39 AM
I'm past grey, mine's white.
Bill
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: l.cutler on December 27, 2009, 01:57:20 PM
Yeah, I got out, hunkered down from the rain in my ground blind.   Got a nice doe with my rifle about 1:00 PM.  I could see it after it went down, while I waited for it to expire another just stood there broadside 50 yards out!  I have another tag but I want to get one with my Leonard Day Dutch smoothbore, so decided to let it go for another day.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on December 27, 2009, 05:46:39 PM
Cutler,
Congrats on the doe. If you get a chance maybe you can post a pic for us. I really need to invest in a ground blind.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Bob Mac on December 27, 2009, 06:19:53 PM
I decided to stay dry yesterday. Caught up on "honey do" list instead. Have off from work until Jan 4 so I have time to get out. Must be getting old, sitting out in the rain, trying to keep a flintlock dry is not as much fun as it used to be.
Bob
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: C. Cash on December 28, 2009, 03:05:49 AM
I am going to try and go out here Monday in the AM(Centre County).  I'll be toting my Early Lancaster in 54 Cal.  Good luck to you fellas!
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: ramserl on December 28, 2009, 05:15:00 AM
Wife made me come down to PA for Christmas.  So I thought I would go hunting!
opening day a little soggy.  Not knowing were to go? Hunting on state game lands may be kinda hard going.  But I am hunting in the woods with my longrifle made from my grubby little hands.  Hope Monday is better.
 
Good Hunting
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: B.Habermehl on December 28, 2009, 07:01:56 AM
Best of luck to you Chris. I will be up a tree Monday morning myself. Good Lord willing there will be vennison in both our freezers till the season ends.  BJH
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Don Getz on December 28, 2009, 05:06:24 PM
Here it is monday morning, I'm sitting in this nice warm room, playing on this electronic thing.     It's about 30 degrees and
the wind is blowing, I feel for you guys out there wiping those cold tears from your eyes, in the hopes that you will see this giant buck stride by, well, I hope it does.  I've done it, but, honestly I don't really miss it that much......I do miss the
venison tho.................Don
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: bigbat on December 28, 2009, 05:28:16 PM
Good Morning Don,

Its 6 below this morning, I just looked out the window and the deer are heading down to the river bottom for the day.  I am glad our freezers are full. 
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Don Getz on December 29, 2009, 01:03:22 AM
Bigbat.....how far do you live from Cody?   John and I have a good friend who is planning to move out that way, as soon
as he can sell his house.   He owns a piece of ground and I think has made some improvements on it in preparation to
building on it.   Will find out exactly where it is.....he's a real gun nut, has a Mark Silver rifle, and others....Don
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: bigbat on December 29, 2009, 01:14:00 AM
Don,  we live 30 miles east of Cody. 5 miles south of Powell. Lots of good hunting and shooting sports if one is interested in that stuff.  Cathy and I ride allot in  the summer and hunt allot in the fall.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: C. Cash on December 29, 2009, 01:45:50 AM
Best of luck to you Chris. I will be up a tree Monday morning myself. Good Lord willing there will be vennison in both our freezers till the season ends.  BJH

Thank you B.J.  I sure hope you got your Deer.  I wimped out this AM with the snow and wind, and will try for Thursday.  Great  to hear from you.  That rifle you made shoots like a house on fire.  After all the talk about roughing in the sites, here was the first shot with it at 50 yards.  Never even had to touch the sites.  That's pretty much where it shoots, depending on how twitchy the operator is, every time. Should work well, if I can get on a deer ;D
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi17.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb96%2FCCash%2FDSC_0004.jpg&hash=90c528a810a658f421f603e68e8a68d822b5d361)
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on December 29, 2009, 06:26:06 AM
Monday's report bitter cold, windy, no meat. I wish I had a dollar for every time I ask myself why am I doing this. All well tomorrows another day.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 01, 2010, 03:35:45 AM
I plan on going out tomorrow, and Saturday. I have been off since the 23rd, but this is my first oportunity to get out. calling for snow tomorrow...hopeing for a good day.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on January 01, 2010, 01:40:50 PM
WOW did that snow ever help. My father and I went to the farm yesterday for an after noon hunt. I was able to shoot a small button buck that was in herd of ten. The herd stopped in the buck laural 120 steps from where I was sitting . He was the only one that stopped in a opening. After I shot I seen the herd turn, an go back up the ridge the way they had come from.  When I went to check where he had stood I found no blood or hair. I thought I had missed. Following their trail for a short distance I found a little blood. He had went 100 yards an fell under a laural bush. The .490 round ball entered between two ribs, through both lungs , and exited between two ribs. I know I didn't hit bone but I thought there would be more blood. If it wouldn't have been for the snow I wouldn't have never found him. Any thoughts.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Don Getz on January 01, 2010, 05:51:00 PM
Here it is, the first day of the new year.    Friday, and we've had about 1/2" of fresh snow, thermometer says about 36,
should be a great day to be out in the woods.   It's been 13 years since I retired, enjoyed every minute of it....built about
60 guns during that period.   Now, if I could just get this @!*% bursitis calmed down, I'd be working on my next one.   Right now we're kind of getting ready for the February show at Lewisburg, hope to see you all there........Don
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: rf50cal on January 02, 2010, 02:47:11 AM
IRONSIGHT

I had a similar experience the first Saturday of the regular season. I was carrying my flintlock and when a big doe presented a good shot, I decided to open muzzleloader season early.   It was a good hit, but a little high, very little blood. She only went 100 yds, but had it not been snowing, it would have been tough to follow.

Like you, I was using a 50cal.  While it's more than adequate,  I have read , that many fellows choose a bigger bore, for a better blood trail.  That might be a good excuse for me to buy another rifle!
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: C. Cash on January 02, 2010, 06:57:29 AM
Alas,  the weather opened up a little and I could take it no more.  Me and my boy went out about noon with the flinter.  We got too far back on the roads and realized I was in big trouble with the ice.  It looked like it was decent snow to creep over but it was actually smooth ice with a spit of snow on top.   I stopped at the top of a hill in Rothrock state forest and I knew my goose was cooked.  Got my boy out of the car and in the trees, before sliding backwards about 40 yards with no control at all....thought of bailing out but glad I stayed in.   It was a miracle that I got the car stopped(thank you Lord), and the bottom of that hill was a LOOONNG way down(about 200 more yards or worse, off the road and down the embankment.)  It  could have been alot worse, but had to get a tow truck to come with chains and get us out, 3.5 hours after sliding down the road.  It was so embarrasing I could have just about crawled under a rock and died right there.   I'm sure I'm the "Moron of the Week" at the tow truck company.  Long story short, the Lord looks after small children and fools, and I'm just glad to be home.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: B.Habermehl on January 02, 2010, 07:25:54 PM
 ;)Hey Chris that's why I usually hunt on a couple of local farms.  It's been a unusually tough season for me. I haven't seen a tail.  Been close enough to smell them in the dark from my tree stand, but come legal shootin hours ??? I  think they all crawled down ground hog holes :-\
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: C. Cash on January 03, 2010, 12:54:46 AM
;)Hey Chris that's why I usually hunt on a couple of local farms.  It's been a unusually tough season for me. I haven't seen a tail.  Been close enough to smell them in the dark from my tree stand, but come legal shootin hours ??? I  think they all crawled down ground hog holes :-\

I need to do something like that B.J., or get a serious vehicle and/or some new chains.  My old home state of Arizona is starting to look better and better about this time as well.  Hmmmmm......8)

I may just go out and walk around Scotia a bit until the artic blast subsides.  Good luck to all of you fellas who haven't scored.  The fat lady hasn't sung yet, at least.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on January 03, 2010, 05:37:12 AM
rf50cal,
You mentioned that you didn't have alot of blood either. Could you tell me how far your shot was? I was wandering if mine was a lack of energy do to the distance, or just because I didn't hit bone an allow the ball to expand.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: alex e. on January 03, 2010, 05:05:03 PM
Jan.2  Highs in the low teens,BLOWING SNOW We were able to get these  yesterday:

The new FDC works fine  ;)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi264.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii164%2Falexsnr%2F2009mloader003.jpg&hash=2b1881fef309092abc13969cbdd2913e1d9f91bc)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi264.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii164%2Falexsnr%2F2009mloader.jpg&hash=e31915492d1ea1c7901881207ae5b0ff63d757ce)

we still have some more permits to fill.......
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: C. Cash on January 03, 2010, 06:20:17 PM
Great going! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: rf50cal on January 04, 2010, 04:54:59 AM
Ironsight
     My shot was about 50 yds.  It was down hill and I just should have held lower on the deer.

I can't help you with the energy question,  but I'm sure there are folks on the board that can.
Perhaps if you ask the question in a new thread, it would catch the attention of members with more knowledge of this situation.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 04, 2010, 02:28:23 PM
Good going guys! Glad to see you had some success. I was out Friday evening, and seen nothing. Saturday I was out before daylight. I held tight as long as my clothing would allow in the cold weather. The snow was crunchy, the wind was swirling, and the deer were hunkered down tight. I did jump some deer without a shot opportunity, but still had a good day in the woods. Did not see another hunter. Maybe this weekend my luck will change. Heading to Somerset county to do some muzzloader huntin' with a group of guys I bear hunt with, should be a fun time! With any luck I will have some pictures of my own to post.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on January 04, 2010, 04:33:01 PM
Congrats guys,
Looks like the dragging was easy with all that snow.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: bdixon on January 04, 2010, 06:45:12 PM
Good year so far in Huntingdon County.   No meat yet, but we did see fur.  Pictures are Northeastern Huntingdon county Pa just before a snow squall.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi570.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss141%2Fbdixon66%2FMuzzleloader%2520season%2FDSC03291.jpg&hash=faaede34a3c119fbcf346e16fcfb5a4f18dca381)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi570.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss141%2Fbdixon66%2FMuzzleloader%2520season%2FDSC03284.jpg&hash=e1ca05f45d33e8b89fb010f6cbd1cde3ec9107e7)
(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi570.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fss141%2Fbdixon66%2FMuzzleloader%2520season%2FDSC03285.jpg&hash=c052dc5cd83b0bf32fa690e0a04fc964fd0f6ac2)
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: octagon on January 08, 2010, 04:56:03 AM
Nothing for me yet, hopefully saturday. If not, we now have 2 extra weeks here in 2B for flinters for antlerless deer.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 08, 2010, 12:39:47 PM
Nothing for me yet, hopefully saturday. If not, we now have 2 extra weeks here in 2B for flinters for antlerless deer.

Octagon don't forget this year you can still shoot a buck all the way till the end of the season on the 23rd. Page 9 & 43 in the game book.



http://www.statehuntandfishregs.com/PA/PAHunt09/pageflip.html
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: octagon on January 08, 2010, 06:54:51 PM
Wow, I didn`t realize that-thanks!! I did get a buck already in rifle season, but I am glad toy pointed that out to me.

Thanks-Jack
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 08, 2010, 07:59:15 PM
Jack, Have you given anymore thought to coming to the Clairton Muzzloader shoot? Feb. 6th next shoot. ;)
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: octagon on January 08, 2010, 11:29:04 PM
Jack, Have you given anymore thought to coming to the Clairton Muzzloader shoot? Feb. 6th next shoot. ;)

Wow, I totally forgot about that!! Would you mind if I come to observe the forst time? I may even join there one of these days.

Jack
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: IRONSIGHT on January 10, 2010, 07:46:09 AM
Wasn't able to make it to the woods today to fill my last tag. Hope that you all were able to put some meat in the freezer this season.Fifty more weeks an we can do it all over again.
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Brian Jordan on January 12, 2010, 12:16:54 AM
Jack, Have you given anymore thought to coming to the Clairton Muzzloader shoot? Feb. 6th next shoot. ;)

Wow, I totally forgot about that!! Would you mind if I come to observe the forst time? I may even join there one of these days.

Jack

Jack, observers are always welcome, as are new shooters! Hope to see ya' there in February!
Title: Re: 2009 PA FLINTLOCK SEASON
Post by: Levy on January 14, 2010, 12:18:16 AM
IRONSIGHT, please don't count me as an expert on anything, but I did shoot several deer with my .50 TC back in the 70's and 80's.  I mostly small game hunt now.  I shot them at ranges from 20 yds to 50 yds with most of them on the shorter end.  I used 80 grs. of 2ff and the ball rarely went all the way through. Most of the of the shots were behind the shoulder and in the middle.  I don't remember any of them leaving a blood trail at all.  There was usually some foamy blood at the mouth after they had run about 50-60 yds.  Larger bores may well leave a better trail, but I don't have any experience with the larger bores.  I think they bleed internally for the most part.  Maybe a hit lower in the chest would drain better.

James Levy