Larry A. Smail's Blog

My powder horn and possibles bag. I made my horn.

My step-father, Bob, and I began walking to the area we hoped to score on flintlock deer. (December 28) While traveling I noticed some gray that looked I reached an area I like to hunt. Shortly, I saw a deer below me. Through the brush I could see

An economical one-seater!

“horns.” I glassed it and discovered the deer was illegal. However, a deer following this buck was a doe. The deer were busy feeding and were already within a good range. However, lots of tree tops and briars were present. Eventually the little buck came into open view. He continued feeding to my right. The doe wasn’t in any hurry.

A probable issue was at hand.  That buck was surely about to wind me. He stopped with his head behind a tree. Was he smelling my stench at times? I began wondering about the shot!  I aligned Old Jacob (My flintlock named in honor of Captain Jacobs, the Delaware war chief in Kit-Han-Ne in 1756. (Present – day Kittanning, Pennsylvania.) I picked the best shot and the gun fired! I hurried the shot and missed!

This same doe walked to six feet of Bob before he saw it! He had his flintlock leaning against a log and all of the movement scared the doe off without any shots!

Later, I crept up and over a hill’s side to see four bedded deer. Three ran. One stood and offered me a great shot, however, off about 250 yards there is a house. I elected not to shoot! In the afternoon, I spotted four bedded deer at over 100 yards away. They would not allow me to get close as they ran down the hollow. I would see ten deer while hunting this day. I quit around 2:00.

Close-up of my powder horn.

Today, December 29, I went to the same area but late in the morning. (I arrived at 10:30. The family was together for breakfast.) I hunted to about 3:30 seeing nine deer, but no shots were granted to me.

Read Full Post »

  My friend, Terry Williams and I pursued the deer this day. terry has limited hunting days so I was working a lot and being hopeful to have him connect. That didn’t happen!

We parted early in the morning while the woods were still gray and gloomy. I saw a deer about seventy yards out. I couldn’t determine what the sex of the two deer were. They eventually had enough of my presence and removed themselves.

I edged along quietly until I reached an area that allows me to peer over the to search for deer. I was standing along a tree when I saw a deer’s back already within flintlock range. Soon, I saw two more deer. They were all bucks! All three male deer were about 25-30 yards from me feeding, however, not a one had a legal set of antlers. I later saw another deer that exited along the side of a hill. I quickly went around hoping to head the deer off. That didn’t happen.

I decided to work along a creek bottom to chase deer up and over towards where Terry might be. Later, I worked up the side of the hill only to see four deer..and close. Two ran up and over, one ran and stopped and one just stood up at about thirty yards. I couldn’t shoot safely for there is a home about 250 yards in that same direction. The angle of the shot would have been a 99.999% sure and safe shot.  I never raised the flinter as I watched the deer follow the others. They were heading in the general direction of Terry. He never saw any of them. I believe they must have edged towards the creek bottom.

Red Salamander

I saw a bout 6-7 Gray Squirrels and one Fox Squirrel. I found a Red Salamander.

Terry saw two deer, one being a buck. Step-father Bob came late and left early. He saw one doe.

Read Full Post »

The beginning of Pennsylvania’s Primitive Deer season proved to be a warmer than usual day. temperatures climbed to the low sixties in some areas.

I wasn’t sure how I would do this time afield. A bad cold and asthma conditions have been keeping me coughing a lot. I did very well this day for I only coughed  maybe a dozen times all day. (That changed once I got home!)

I consider the day very successful although I never managed to get a good shot on any deer. My hunting style consisted of sneaking around and looking intently for deer. I had seventeen deer sightings from dawn to about three o’clock. However, none allowed me the shot I desired.

I saw around 15 Gray Squirrels and three Fox Squirrels. I saw turkeys and a coyote. My step-father Bob hunted to close noon and he didn’t see any deer all morning. I had to describe, once again, that deer don’t have bushy gray tails!

Tomorrow I will be out again  enjoying nature and making up for lost time.

Read Full Post »