Maryland Triple Slam

[Osprey]

Got something neat wrapped up last weekend with some of my flintlock kills from recent years.  Here in Maryland our state record book is "Bucks, Bears & Stags", with all the listings for big black bears, whitetails and sikas.  I've never been worried about submitting stuff for national records but do like to support the local listings.  Anyway, they have something called the Triple Slam, an animal of each species to make the records.  Few months ago one guy got the first one and I realized I'd had it for several years and had just never submitted the animals, but then thought that I may have it with flintlock so I made it a priority.  Already had the bear entry from 2016, so last weekend at our local outdoor show where they were doing measuring I took a few whitetails and sika heads to be scored.  I had the Triple pretty easy with my biggest, which were bow and shotgun kills from years ago, but I did make it with an all flintlock Triple Slam, the second triple in the book and the only flintlock triple. With limited tags and a short season bear is definitely the hardest to get and in almost 20 years of the modern season we still think I have the only flintlock bear of any size, so may be awhile before I have any company on a Flintlock Triple Slam!

 

[John Cotterall]

Congratulations. Great pictures. Are the Sitka deer throughout the state?

[Joe Stein]

Congratulations, Osprey! Great to see some Flintlock action get recognized.
-Joe Stein

[Osprey]

Congratulations. Great pictures. Are the Sitka deer throughout the state?

No, just on the Shore.  One herd in Dorchester/Wicomico, smaller herd on the coast on Assateague/Chincoteague.  These are sika deer, originated on Yakushima Island in Japan, actually a small species in the elk family.  Sitka are a northwest North America blacktail deer species.

[Daryl]

Those Sitka antlers look very similar to a  Sambar stag's 2nd year, seems to me. Their faces and necks are very similar as well.
Sambar originated in India, seems to me, with hunting populations in Australia and some other countries were introduced.
Well done Osprey, and with a flinter - especially nice!!

[snapper]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing the pictures

Fleener

[Osprey]

That sika just made it into the records, most are 6 point stags.  THIS is the one I was after last fall that drove me nuts, hard to catch 'em in daylight.  Monster stag! 

[snapper]

I would have made friends with the raccoon.   He could of helped you

Fleener

[TommyG]

Congratulations Osprey..  That is quite an accomplishment.

[Osprey]

I would have made friends with the raccoon.   He could of helped you

Fleener

I don't think they want to be friends now, I trapped 19 of those buggers back there along the branch this winter!

[Wingshot]

Great slam! Congrats on that swamp donkey Whitetail. He’s a big’un.

[StevenV]

Congrats, nice to see a flintlock. Maybe the bear story, cal. , distance etc.        Steve

[Osprey]

Congrats, nice to see a flintlock. Maybe the bear story, cal. , distance etc.        Steve

I have done a bunch on the bear story, including an article in Muzzleloader not long after, but .58 caliber, about 12 yards, sitting on the ground, 354lb sow and she fell dead in a pile where she stood.