Pennsylvania Game News - January 2023 - 60

As a result, hunting from tree stands
and ground blinds is less effective. It's
better to hunt solo, stalking deer like
hunters of old, or in groups, driving deer
to standers.
Finding deer to walk up on or move
that way requires looking for spots where
they hole up to wait out of the worst of the
weather. Here in Pennsylvania, that means
spots defined by dense cover or foliage.
Stands of eastern hemlock - our state tree,
by the way - are prime, as deer use them
as secure bedding areas out of the wind.
Fortunately for hunters, the ground
under those stands is usually soft and
free of snow, making them good stalking
grounds. By noting wind direction, it's
possible to " put yer nose to the wind and
back green " - an 18th century expression
for staying downwind - and defeat
a deer's nose.
Any snow around those thickets,
meanwhile, can clue hunters in to how and
where deer are escaping when pressured.
That makes even two-man drives possible.
Post one person along those escape routes
while the other pushes through the cover,
moving deer.
That person doing the pushing should
remain vigilant, though. Many times
while walking I've had deer stand up and
look at me at less than 20 yards.
Just conduct these drives slowly and
quietly, as noisy drives often result in running
deer, less than ideal for single-shot
muzzleloaders.
The issue is the inherent difficulty in
shooting accurately at a running deer with
a smokepole. Flintlock bullets are only
traveling at around 1,600 to 1,800 feet per
second. Such poky speeds require hunters
to do a lot of " guesstimation " when
it comes to how much to lead a moving
animal, and ultimately makes it very difficult
to make ethical shots on running deer.
If a deer is running at 25 mph, that's 37
60
feet per second, meaning your shot with
a flintlock could miss your aiming point
by anywhere from 9 to 13 inches. That's
too much to take the risk.
My motto is to give the deer a chance
to make a mistake. They often will. Late
season deer often are reluctant to leave
secure areas and don't want to run far.
Mixed with some natural curiosity, they
often will stop, look and listen for what
disturbed them.
Then, when they're broadside, it's time
to shoot. In all cases, keep safety in mind.
Drivers should keep their muzzle pointed
down so that an accidental trip or stumble
won't send a roundball toward a stander.
Personally, I never even walk around with
a primed flintlock. A gun that isn't primed
can't fire by mistake.
What's more, brush has a habit of tipping
the frizzen open, spilling the priming
powder. So I keep the frizzen open and the
hammer at the half-cock position - some
flintlockers call it the " first click " - and
quickly prime the pan only when the time
comes to fire.
Many veteran muzzleloader hunters
further place a greased leather cap over the
steel frizzen; it acts as a safety device and
offers a bit of waterproofing, providing
the flint with a dry surface to cut sparks.
Others may use a cow's knee leather cap
that covers the whole lock area.
Hunting deer in winter with a flintlock
is a challenge, but that's what makes it
so much fun. It's no wonder why about
3 million hunters nationwide annually
grab their favorite smokepoles and head
for the hills. Many are drawn initially by
the " gee whiz, fire and smoke, wow is
this awesome " allure of flintlock hunting.
Once they get past that, though, and
settle in as seasoned flintlock hunters, they
really connect with the rifle's heritage,
one three centuries and counting in the
making.
Pennsylvania Game News - January 2023

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