New Mexico Cow Elk hunt

[New Fowler]

Near quemado lake, Northern border between Arizona and New Mexico. Plan is to bring shooting sticks and a rifle with a sling. I am pretty confident on the sling alone, but the sticks do help a bit. My hawken does not have a sling, the sticks help. My goal is offhand a shot less than 80 yards, and off sticks inside 120.

[HighUintas]

I should add that I only missed that big one because he was the biggest one I've ever seen and I was shaking so badly (nearly seizure level it seemed) that I don't think I intentionally pulled the trigger. I'm not even sure if I had the post on him yet. I know I set the set trigger, which was probably the first mistake. I was however for some reason cool as a cucumber on the second chance I got with a different bull. I learned quickly from that first miss.

If it's possible you'll get the shakes when you're about to shoot, maybe just use the trigger unset.

[alacran]

Man, if I didn't get excited and my heart didn't race before I decided to take a shot, I would probably be dead.
It is hunting and not shopping, you have to assume everything that can go wrong will. The last elk I killed with my flintlock last December after spending more than half an hour sneaking in on the bedded cow. I finally spotted her 70 yards away; I dropped to a kneeling position behind the juniper. I inched my way to where I had a lane. I put my rifle up, but I had to take it down and reassess the elk as a target and where the best place to aim would be. By the time I figured out the shot I was calm and was able to squeeze of the shot.
New fowler, I don't use a self-contained cartridge. I use loose powder and the ball block.  The ball block pictured is the one I use for trail walks. I have a smaller one that holds five balls for hunting.
All the elk I have killed with muzzleloaders have been in the junipers. The moment you fire a shot the elk are going to take off. If you are in the junipers, you will be hard pressed to see them, but you will be able to hear them. I can reload pretty fast with my set up and I am a good tracker.

[Jeff Murray]

For smaller game I prefer a bag and horn setup.  It is just more rewarding.  For larger game I use pre-measured charges in plastic tubes, a loading block with pre-lubed patch/ball combo and a spring-loaded brass pan charger.  The balls in the loading block are pushed far enough into the block so they stick out the back for quick alignment.  This setup has worked well for multiple elk hunts and I was fortunate enough not to need a second shot.  You might also practice your reloading while practicing shooting so you get the routine down without having to figure where and what comes next.

[Daryl]

Small game/big game, using loading blocks:


The big one is what I used before discovering how well paper ctgs. worked. Must say, this
was for the Special Weapons hunt, with run in weather from 33F down to -56F. Patched balls
were difficult in temps under -20F. THAT is where paper ctgs. SHINE!