Almost gave up hunting this year

[FERG 06]

Looked like I wasn't going to get to hunt this year. I gave up my lease in NE Mich. cause money was short (two kids in college). And with coming off of major knee surgery along with a bad back, scouting state land to find a new spot away from all the yahoos wasn't too exciting either. It looked like it was a lost cause. I found out one of my customers lived on 10 acres in Sumpter Twp. and he would let me hunt it. When I checked it out it didn't look too promising as there was only a strip of woods in the back, no sign, trails, nothing. Oh well, its all I got so I set up on the chance this strip just might funnel some deer through. Nov. 15 arrived to the sounds of traffic and planes flying overhead. Man I'm not used to this. No deer. Couldn't hunt till Sat. the 18th. Was in the blind by 6:30 and at 7:35 I get one quick look at a deer with headgear move towards my shooting lane. Up goes the gun, I look in the scope to see him staring at me 60 yards out. The crosshairs went to the shoulder and the muzzleloader went kaboom. Tent full of smoke, heard him crashing through the woods, yada, yada, yada my first 8 pt. is in the freezer. He went about 80 yds. No blood at the shooting sight just white hair. Thought I hit low only one spot of blood found after 20 yds. so I followed the stirred up leaves over the ridge and there he was. My shot was right on, double lunger. The white hair? Someone hit him low barely grazing his chest and some hair must have come off when he jumped. Pays to practice, practice, practice. Someones "one that got away" is now my "trophy". He's not the biggest out there but he's my first "big buck".

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/521/medium/DSC000121.JPG

[PA BUCK 2]

Glad you stuck it out!! Good shooting and it does pay to practice. plus it is fun!!!

[ClassicOutdoorsman]

Congrat's and great story!

[icecathound]

good job nice one

[ROSCORack]

Congrats!
Nice buck and enjoyed the story. Glad to hear you did not give up!

[fasthunter]

VERY COOL STORY!!! Hey, that wasn't even shot far from my house.:D ;) That's cool. I actually saw a deer right off Belleville road earlier today not far from Meijers. Anyway, Nice job and congrats!!!

[Pigpen69]

congrats

[north_of_mackinaw]

Thanks for sharing the neat story, and congrats on a nice buck.

[aquanator]

Excellent story, congrats on a great buck!

[Munsterlndr]

Congrats, nice muzzleloader buck. What kind of bullet were you using?

[Backwoods-Savage]

Congratulations. On the white hair. I shot a buck a few years back and all I found at the spot was white hair. I just could not believe what I was seeing. I just knew I couldn't miss that shot. So I started going where he went. Blood not too far from there and then I saw him laying about 80 yards away. Not sure to this day why there was so much white hair and there was no clue when we checked him. Must just have been when the bullet hit it jarred some hair loose.

[Shagy]

Very nice job!!!! I have hunted in Sumpter for a number of years and on simular properties (5 to 10 acre lots). I can tell you there are some real nice bucks running around. If you look in my photo gallery you will see a nice 10 point I shot in Sumpter Twp. back in 2003.

[FERG 06]

Congrats, nice muzzleloader buck. What kind of bullet were you using?

245 gr power belt - hollow point. First time using them. They load alot easier then sabots. Only using 70 grains of powder. For some reason my gun won't group well with more powder. I don't usually hunt in places with more than a 75 yd shot anyway. Previously using Remington sabots 303gr.
Sad follow up. word spred quickly, the next two times I hunted each time had someone walk right in front of my open tent blind & sit within 75 yds. I returned Dec. 2 to hunt the evening & found my tent, camp chair & small propane gone. My stand was maybe 10 yds. inside the treeline not more than 100 yds. from where the landowner was building a pole barn. I guess someone didn't like the new guy taking "their" deer. I guess I'll have to find a new place to hunt. Anyone have any leads?

[FERG 06]

Very nice job!!!! I have hunted in Sumpter for a number of years and on simular properties (5 to 10 acre lots). I can tell you there are some real nice bucks running around. If you look in my photo gallery you will see a nice 10 point I shot in Sumpter Twp. back in 2003.

Nice pictures Shagy. I see you hunt a number of properties. Do you know anyone looking to lease some hunting rights? Or someone may need some work done? I'm a small engine mechanic & run my own shop. As you can see from my last response I'm looking for somewhere else to hunt now.