The day after Christmas has always been special for me. The Pennsylvania primitive deer hunting season begins. I am a history lover especially of the French and Indian War and the War of Independence. That being said the lure of the flintlock has been an influence with me since my youth.
The weather for this first day was very cold and windy. Snow had arrived for Christmas although we received only about one and half inches. The woods were noisy and sneaking around was not easy.
I spent half a day on this first day of the season. (December 26) I needed to quit around noon to get ready to visit my in-laws for our Christmas get together. This day I was a pusher of deer for my step-father, Bob Miller. He would miss a deer during one of the drives. I saw eighteen deer during those hours with three deer very close. However, as what often happens, bolted just prior to shoot. Once the eyes make contact deer often react quickly. I saw a grouse this day which is something I hadn’t seen in these woods in quite some time. I would see the grouse again on the 27th.
Experimenting with my flintlock sights found much discouragement. Around 7:30, I raised the rifle only to see nothing. In this lowlight condition my sights appeared very fuzzy and I couldn’t discern the front sight at all until conditions brightened greatly at around 8:30. I even use my old glasses for this problem improves with them. Nighttime vision is worse with car lights and reflective things looking like stars. This has been an issue for me. In fact I have been to eye doctor for tests several times since summer.
The second morning found me at a local game lands around 7:30 A.M. My plan was to sneak around seeking a deer in the brushy areas. However, I realized that the day before had seen many hunters since tracks were everywhere.
Around 9:30 I spotted a deer among grapevines and briars. I raised the flintlock but wasn’t sure of the gender enough to shoot. I looked through my field glasses and could see a bald deer. I raised the flintlock again before lowering it. I raised the third time and shot and missed. The forty plus shot had failed. Off and on I would raise this rifle in varying conditions in attempts to learn how to reshoot and align the sights.
I am seeing shiny “ghost images” of the sight as if I am seeing two sights. Anyone out there experiencing such issues? Anyone have any thoughts? I am wondering about widening the V-cut in an attempt to make the front sight more visible.
I left this area and went to a favored area to hunt. I spent the day until three o’clock. I saw a total of nineteen deer this day, but failed to get anymore shots. Probably, would have missed anyway.
The weather was single digit with windy conditions. In fact the temperature only reached about 11 degrees for a high. This is not weather for setting on a stand for much time so I walked the entire time afield. Not bad for an old feller!
This morning, December 28, finds me committed in the morning and evening so I decided to not hunt since my time afield wouldn’t be many hours.
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
Larry, if you are sighting with both eyes it sounds like your master eye is trying to take over, a problem many trap and skeet shooters encounter. try closing the non dominate eye when sighting. From Dave Shaul
Dave, Thanks for replying. I close my left eye when I shoot. I raised the flinter up at about a fifty yard shot and lowered it for I just couldn’t focus well. Later, I shot one at about 35 yards and I hit back of rib cage. I had to finish with another shot. That just shouldn’t be happening at 35 yards. Thanks again. Hope your retirement is going well.