Today is muzzleloader opener in PA. Antlerless only with appropriate tag. Took the flintlock out. Had a little spike come by and mosey around and eat acorns. After he passed by me, almost immediately, a doe came from his direction with him following. They came in fast. I raised the gun at the doe and when she stopped I fired. There was a slight delay but the gun went off. Deer BOLTED. Chuckie saw it come his direction as he was in the stand. We only found a very small amount of red blood which eventually turned to specks and disappeared entirely.
I must have jerked and hit high and maybe grazed it.
Nothing in that deer’s movement indicated that it had been mortally hit and the blood told the story. No fur. No bone fragments. Just a little bit of blood.
I feel AWFUL.

Happens to all of us!

Have seen 100s of deer shot Smasho.
Little/ no blood doesnt mean much.
Have trailed plenty in fresh snow where very few drops were found yet found the deer dead a short distance away.

Glad you got a shot but get back and look harder.

Heart only shots can and oftne leave very little to no blood.

What kind of load were you shooting?

You might already know this, but muzzleloaders are notorious for leaving limited blood trails. I shot two last week that were hit in the heart and left very little blood.

50 caliber.
We went back with fresh flashlights and couldn’t find anything.
Sick to my stomach tonight.
Thanks guys

If you’re using a patched round ball, they will often times not make an exit wound. I’ve recovered many under the skin on the offside. And they don’t always leave a very good blood trail. I’m thinking you may have a dead deer out there. You guys need to go back and look harder.

In the situation you described I’d follow the trail as far as I could looking for overturned leaves or disturbed grass, anything at all. I’d also go to the place I last saw the deer and follow the direction it was traveling. If none of that worked, I’d start doing a grid search. I’d spend hours looking until I was satisfied I wasn’t going to find it

Blood trails don't mean much, it's great if you have one but I've tracked 12 ga slug shot deer on my hands and knees that had barely any blood, yet when the deer was found the insides were mush, every wounded deer is an adventure, and yes, if your any kind of person it will make you sick....but losing deer happens, if it hasn't happened yet then you haven't shot at enough deer, things happen that aren't necessarily your fault, and deer are tougher than you think. If you go back, go in the direction it was going when you last saw it, and check the thick cover sometimes they're hard to see, if you have a dog bring it, can't hurt...

X2

<3

Happens, better look some more.

It does happen Smash0' ...we've all been there.

If you don't find it...Remember 10 other animals get an early Christmas dinner

Nature Wastes nothing

if you feel bad , more practice with the flinter

but as grandpa said , coyotes got to eat too

he also referred to both deer and racoons as , corn thief's

Good advice given here kid.
It does suck losing an animal (been there/ seen it to many time).

Shooting deer ain't always what we see on YouTube channels with an easy to follow bloodtrail.

As 330 mentioned, nothing goes to waste in nature.
It's just a part of hunting.
We strive for the best we can do but things happen.

the doe my 12 year old shot last weekend I could not find any blood where he said he shot it or the direction it ran. it was getting dark I just walked the direction it ran over a rise and found her dead. not a lot of blood where she wS and I couldn't follow it back more than 15 yards from Her easily. I'm glad I didn't wait tell dark to look for her and I didn't spend a ton more time looking for blood and went to look for her before it got dark.

Everyone looses one now and then. I have been lucky the boys have not lost one yet but have had some I thought we may not find with bad blood trails. One thing is I never questioned my boys shooting. if they shoot it I know it's dead.

it's warm here but if it's cool there I would go back and look in the daylight.

I know I’m going to catch flak for this, but a flint lock should only be used by the most experienced of shooters. I still will not use one and I have shot a bit more than the average. Unless you are very well versed, the animal deserves better. In today’s world of cheap muzzle loaders with 10x better ignition.

If you had other options you should have used them.


Again, sorry but that is the facts.

The slight delay says it all. What make of flintlock are you shooting? I know (and have cut my teeth myself) with cheap flintlocks. You really cant “shoot” too high when it comes to them and obviously its all in the lock. I know there are a few others that are knowledgeable in BP here and they might feel the same way. You can get a cheap cap and make it work, but a cheap flintlock is a lifetime of headaches. If you have a CVA or Traditions you can get an upgraded lock i think that will speed up your ignition time and decrease hangfires significantly.

An anecdotal example of my own. I have have four flints. Been shooting/hunting with a Kibler extensively for two years now. Almost done my second 100 ball box. I have had one flash in the pan after not cleaning the vent after 15-20 shots. Maybe a couple of hangfires getting lazy with all the variables at the range. All the rest of the shots were quick. Just shot an antelope buck at 120 last weekend. It was an ace shot because of great ignition

Sharpen your flint. Often overlooked
Clean frizen face
Vent hole clear
Breech properly scoured and cleaned. Good luck. Don’t let it discourage you, its a learning process always

I really hope you find the deer. Don’t give up as what you described for a blood trail actually sounds very positive.

Good luck

I shot black powder matches. In my mind and experience, flint locks should not be allowed on game as there are way too many variables and much better options.

Just think of all the coyotes gonna thank you.
More fur to trap this winter.
Nothing goes to waste in nature.

My experience says otherwise. Keep your personal biases to yourself.

And yes, i shoot flintlocks all the time. And hunt with them. Deer, turkey, squirrel.

I suppise you think traditional bows should be illegal also?