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.