Muzzle Loader Deer Season

Anyone planning on hunting with the ML for the finish of the season?

I am thinking about going, my son couldn't make it during doe season and wants to put some venison in the freezer. I have seen 2 big barren doe during the season that need to be taken. The big buck that I was hunting went nocturnal and has recently been seen mid day on cams so I might go after him then. A neighbor shot a big 8 that I haven't seen a pic of but I think (hope) I have seen pics of this one after he shot his.

I want to make plans to go, but holding out a little longer to see if any ducks finally come in. Been a bad waterfowl season.

If I go, I'm thinking of taking a Friday and Monday off, so I can get two full days of hunting in. Would go to SHNF.

Where are you considering going?

Missouri muzzleloader deer season ends tomorrow evening. Was not able to go this year. Time and desire was there. Accurate and ready rifle present. But one simple slip in the driveway December 22 ruined it all. Seems I tore /pulled the tendons / ligaments in my right foot. Just starting walking without crutches this past weekend. Wearing a walking boot but still very tender and difficult to walk. Hoping to add one more deer to the freezer before archery season ends January 15th. Will have to see how much progress I make before then.

I'll be heading to my place in northeast Tx, I'm retired now so I can spend all the time I want there....

Will be going also. Between Freestone and Limestone counties. Seen a couple 8 points on camera still moving around. I have only been seeing groups of does lately when we are hunting. Been a rough few season. Feels like i have not fired a round in years. Good luck everyone

I plan to try and get a doe or spike this weekend . If that doesn't work I'll definitely be out with my muzzle loader.

Every year I break out the TC Hawken. Move the feeder a little closer and pick out a doe.

Same here being retired. I am headed to Carthage this weekend to hog hunt. I will have along a Savage MLII Smokeless muzzleloader for some of my hog hunting anyway, so could just stay a day or two longer into muzzleloader season. Or even longer if I want.

Did your wife die or is she shooting for wife of the year and issued you a blank hall pass?

I'll be out in the field with one of my sidelocks. Missing muzzleloader season is like missing the high point of the whole season as far as I am concerned.

Just now finishing up the General rifle season and will be pulling out my Investarms Hawken for the late muzzleloader season with runs from the 7th until the 20th.
So far, I've not taken a deer yet, but maybe my luck will change with my Hawken.
This year in order to improve my sight picture for my old eyes, I installed a peep sight on the rear tang.

Last seasons results!

Mine died several years ago, she was my hunting buddy.

No deer so far this year, been a strange fall with health issues. Will be BP hunting next weekend.

I will get out and hunt all day Monday. Looking for a doe to make a little extra sausage.

-Z

how many of ya'll hunt with a scope?

For the last 18 years I have done all my deer and exotic hunting with different models of Knight’s Inline 50 cal ML rifles. Currently I have 3 different 50 Cal Disc Extremes I shoot. All 3 have bare primer breech plugs and 1.5 x 6 x 30 mm scopes, a Nikon, a Kahles and a Swarovski. I’ve tried some, but not all of the BP substitutes. IMO BH209 is my far the best. I’ve also tried 5 or 6 different bullet makes as well as weights. Try as many as you can and see how they perform on the range and the on different animals you target. Harvester, Barnes, Hornady, Parker and Federal all make quality products, however not all loads work in all rifles. It took me a lot of range time to find out which works best in my rifle. There’s a lot of info on factory web sites and blogs. The last 3 years my go to load has been a 300 gr Harvester PTGold bullet,a Harvester Black Crush Rib sabot, 105 to 110 g 8of BH 209 powder and a ÇCI 209 Mag or Federal 209A primer. It’s a very accurate load (best 3shot 100 yd group was .297 inches). I’ve harvested aoudad, WT deer, Axis, Fallow and a bunch of feral hogs on our low fence West Texas lease. I’ve been hunting since 1947 when my cousins and I received single shot shotguns at Christmas, with specific instructions to guard our peach trees and Victory Garden from the crows and squirrels(which, together with the rabbits that our beagles ran) found their way to the stew pot. Since then I’ve been blessed with good health, good friends and enough financial success to be able to fish and hunt in the US, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rico with moderate success and a world of fun and enjoyment. I must say that since I turned to muzzle loaders It’s been a ball and I’ve spent more time effort to learn than ever before.

I have three muzzleloaders, so yes and no. I hunt with all of them at different times. Powder River Rifle basically a slightly longer Hawkin traditional blade sight and 50 cal patched round balls. The first inline, A Thomson Scout Rifle with an added peep sight and 54 cal conicals. My newest that I often use during regular season too, a Scoped Smokeless Savage MLII with Sabots and pistol bullets. This morning I used the Savage. Yea, it's cheating. But legal in Texas.

I have 2 TCs and one H&R Topper ML. one of the TC inlines is scoped and I hunt with it about half the time that I carry a ML. If it is a cloudy dark day the one with the scope goes for sure

My eyes are not what they used to be. I am starting to have some trouble with my open sighted rifles. That blade sighted ML for sure. Scoped may be a necessity before long, which is a shame as I have always enjoyed shooting open sighted.

Same here John, I never considered using a scope till I got to the point where I could not see the sights.

If i can find one to hunt with lol

I am. I already shot my big buck this season so I’m trying for a doe. I shot a hog last year with it right at dark though so that works too.

I am heading out tomorrow to take a walk around the hunting property with my left handed T/C Renegade muzzleloader. Then I will get out next week for an all day hunt. I hope I can jump a deer or hog and get my first harvest with it. I have only gotten out once with it and then had to have an operation. So I am looking forward to hunting with it tomorrow. Congrats to all who have gotten an animal this season. Good luck everybody!

If scoping will allow you to keep hunting and shooting then that is the way to go. I too love irons but optics have their place especially when it comes to aging eyes.

Now in muzzle loading season does that bring back harvesting a doe? Or does it mean only a spike and big buck? Freestone and limestone county!

The TPWD website and mobile app can be confusing on this so here is a pdf link of the outdoor annual that makes it more clear.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/cs_bk_k0700_0284.pdf

Under County Listings page 81.
• During muzzleloader season, antlerless deer may be taken by a hunting license tag, except for counties marked with
W1 on the County Listings table (pg. 82–97), or on properties where antlerless MLDP tags are issued.

Looking at Freestone or Limestone Counties on the county listings table, neither have a W1 designation.

went hunting last week at a 60 acre place i hunt near winnsboro tx. just got to hear a deer blow and watch the neighbors 3 dogs running the place , which they've been a nuisance all season , they think its a shame to pin them up. so went to a 40 acre place yesterday evening sat at a feeder had 3 hogs come in before dark and i didnt feel like fooling with a hog yet will wait for the end of deer season , im heading back out there this morning checked the card and got pics of deer on the trail cam coming out in the morning hopefully ill score at least a doe today . got a doe last year during ML season . good luck everyone

New to using a muzzleloader. Purchased a CVA Wolf with scope. Shot my first deer with it on January 8 in Jack County. Didn't have to use it. Nice doe at about 90 yards. I may be hooked!

People that let theirs dogs run free on others property is no different to me than that person taking a dump on my front porch. Get you suppressor if you have to...

Way to go lonestar! I'm hooked on muzzleloader hunting, too. It's mainly because the areas I hunt out of state have really good opportunities, but I LOVE that the season here in Texas corresponds with the two-week youth.

Do NOT look into smokeless muzzleloading unless you REALLY want to get hooked.