Matchlock hunting ?

[bob in the woods]

Any one  have experience  hunting with a matchlock ?  I have been hetting the urge to give it a try this Fall I don't think the match
would necessarily bother/ alert deer but I'm guessing a black bear would notice . Being in a tree stand might help ?   I usually hunt from the ground

[smylee grouch]

Knowing nothing about whats normally done when hunting with a matchlock I'm curious about when you light the match. Before your target is spotted, when your target is spotted or just before your shot?

[smylee grouch]

Also:  A couple of weeks ago I was Bear hunting in Saskatchewan during a rainy spell and decided to try one of those enclosed pop up blinds. It kept me and my flint lock dry during the intermittent showers. Keeping a matchlock dry might be more challenging. 

[Habu]

Years ago--early '90s maybe--Doc Carlson wrote a product review about a matchlock, and mentioned hunting with it.  I ran into him a few months later and we briefly discussed it, turned out he was hunting from a stand.  I had to give it a try so I built a matchlock, and was out with it that fall.  Problem is I'm a still-hunter. 

Managing the match was a headache.  I was checking it every few minutes to make sure it hadn't gone out or burned down too far.  A couple times the free end managed to get tangled in brush.  I was using a nitrated hemp/cotton cord that burned at a fairly fast rate (we know today that a bucked hemp cord soaked in lead acetate burns slower and hotter).

I hunted into the wind.  If any deer noticed the smell of the burning match it didn't seem to bother them.  A couple times I stalked within ~25'.  I filled my tag and as best I recall didn't shoot the gun again before I traded it off. 

[Daryl]

Justin Urbantis has ikilled a deer with a matchlock gun. Maybe he will see this thread and post to it?

[rudyc]

One of my pals, several years ago deer hunted with one he made,
He used a Bic lighter to light the wick and felt pretty bad about that. 
After that he sold it and went back to his flintlock

[Habu]

I'll admit I had a Bic in my pocket in case the match went out or got dampened.  It wasn't needed, but it was probably a good idea. 

[okawbow]

I’ve hunted with my .75 cal. Matchlock a few times. Always hunted from a blind where I could have a candle lit. When I saw a turkey or deer, I lit the match. Never took a shot at game with it yet, but the candle made lighting the match quick and easy.

[Bob Roller]

Justin Urbantis has ikilled a deer with a matchlock gun. Maybe he will see this thread and post to it?

Ein luntenschloss fur hirsch? Steinschloss,gestern,heute,morgen.
Bob Roller

[kudu]

 Larry Horrigan , from Michigan shot a 8pt. Last year with one he built.

[Pukka Bundook]

I have used my homemades for hunting.
Got a nice muley with the long one, but no chances with the short snapping lock.
Deer do not seem phased by 'wood smoke".

I carried the hemp match one end lit, and only applied it to the serpent when I felt a shot was likely.
Burned about 18 inches before I got  a shot at the mule deer. (inch in 5 minutes stuf I made)

[Justin Urbantas]

Yep. I got my deer about 15 years ago with my .75 matchlock. I set up in a tree stand in an area where the deer would travel. I sat there until one got to about 60 yards. When it stepped behind a tree I quietly lit the match, and waited till it got closer and gave me a good broadside at 40 yards. Dropped with one shot easily. I actually brought out the matchlock and some others for a demonstration at a local gun club last week. Blew up a watermelon spectacularly at 25 yards with it.


post a pic

[Justin Urbantas]

Here's a couple videos I made with the matchlock years ago.
https://youtu.be/_ynEquVaAA4?si=6v3vq4KlFDLoXvLf
https://youtu.be/YhNTB_4DjDg?si=E6TfM0YAoBL2rMJs

[bob in the woods]

Wow !  Thanks everyone.  Big congratulations to Justin and Pukka    I did make some match cord per the instructions in a video by Cap and Ball on Youtube, which involves boiling the cord in water and wood ash. It worked well. I took some with me on a scout in my woods and the deer don't seem to mind at all, so this looks like a go for this Fall     

[smylee grouch]

ON AVERAGE, how long will the cord last when lit?  As in an inch per hour, foot per hour etc   

[Justin Urbantas]

I did burn tests years ago with different recipes. A foot an hour is probably close.

[smylee grouch]

OK,  thanks Justin.