Jeff Hoover
Blackhawk
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
- Messages
- 919
This past Thurs., Fri., and Sat. were Marylands early muzzleloader season. On the first day, as I got to my stand, I saw the biggest groundhog I ever saw, standing on a blowdown, on his hind legs, about 35 yards from me. After staring at each other for a few minutes, I watched him scurry up the blowdown, jump onto another blowdown, and crawl about 20 feet up, and disappear. I take it the blowdown was hollow, and the woodchuck found himself a safe, snug den, to sleep in.
Later that evening, I passed on a smaller 8 pt. buck, chasing a doe around. Fri., and Sat., were pretty slow. No deer spotted. The mast crop is unbelievable this year ! The acorns are huge and plentifull. The deer must be in heaven !
As soon as I reached a different location to hunt on Sat. afternoon, I spotted another groundhog! I guess they've taken to the woods to take advantage of the acorns, also. This one climbed out onto some rocks to sun himself . I love to hunt groundhogs, and never had the opportunity to shoot one with my beloved TC Encore Muzzleloader. He was 75 yds. away, and looking very tempting! I put the crosshairs on him, to size him up. He looked pretty darn good with the crosshairs on him. I whistled, he lifted his head, and I placed the crosshairs under his chin, on his chest.
Next thing I know, the air is full of smoke and the groundhog is gone. I walked over to where he was relaxing, and found one heck of a mess. I shot him with a 250 gr. Shock wave over 150 grs. of triple 7 pellets.
Didn't get my deer, but got a muzzleloader whistle pig in October.
Later that evening, I passed on a smaller 8 pt. buck, chasing a doe around. Fri., and Sat., were pretty slow. No deer spotted. The mast crop is unbelievable this year ! The acorns are huge and plentifull. The deer must be in heaven !
As soon as I reached a different location to hunt on Sat. afternoon, I spotted another groundhog! I guess they've taken to the woods to take advantage of the acorns, also. This one climbed out onto some rocks to sun himself . I love to hunt groundhogs, and never had the opportunity to shoot one with my beloved TC Encore Muzzleloader. He was 75 yds. away, and looking very tempting! I put the crosshairs on him, to size him up. He looked pretty darn good with the crosshairs on him. I whistled, he lifted his head, and I placed the crosshairs under his chin, on his chest.
Next thing I know, the air is full of smoke and the groundhog is gone. I walked over to where he was relaxing, and found one heck of a mess. I shot him with a 250 gr. Shock wave over 150 grs. of triple 7 pellets.
Didn't get my deer, but got a muzzleloader whistle pig in October.