What do you do after you shoot??

[HoofsandWings]

Okay, you have fired your muzzleloader at an elk or deer.
Then what? Do you reload immediately after taking the shot or do you run over to see if your elk or deer are in sight?
In hunting with modern rifle, I never saw the deer or elk or sheep or goat go down. (I did see the moose).
The cover and terrain were such that once I fired, I had to go over to where I shot to see if there was an animal there. (They were all one shot kills).
With a muzzleloader, do you reload just in case a second shot is needed?
Thanks

[bobcat]

That's the first thing I do after firing. Get reloaded as soon as possible. Then look to see if the animal is still up and giving you another opportunity.

[jdb]

yep I am reloading as soon as possible.

[robodad]

I take off running straight toward the animal (if the terrain allows)as I am reloading to cut the distance between him and me before the smoke clears that way if I need a second shot I am that much closer and he cannot see me !! 

Sorry just being sarcastic, of coarse I stand there and reload till the smoke clears and evaluate my next move after that !!

[bobcat]

Man, I'm not that good. I can't run and reload at the same time. Probably would spill the powder all over the ground.   

[rasbo]

first thing I get out of the smoke and watch the animal as I re load

[bobcat]

first thing I get out of the smoke and watch the animal as I re load

Yeah, I TRY to do that too. Sometimes, depending on the wind, or lack of, it seems it's not possible, at least not until after what feels like a LONG wait.      

[Moose Eyes]

Reload while the smoke clears.

[Amsdad]

I start walking to close the distance as well while reloading. Year before last I missed on the first shot and by the time the smoke had cleared, I was 10 yds closer and caught the deer moving off to the right between some trees. Put the second shot in the shoulder, through the pump, two steps and down he went. I have found that the deer don't shy much from the report and the smoke, so if you come out the other side of the smoke and its still standing, best to have the next shot ready to go. I use one of the fast reloaders as I'm sure most folks do, so except to stop to ram the charge and the lead, I'm closing ground.
If I come out of the smoke and the animal is not is sight, I hold. Either its a hit and its gone to ground, best not to push it or its a miss and its out of the area. I generally wait a couple of minutes before closing in to find out which.

[bowhunterforever]

I reaload right after i shoot incase i need a second shot.

[Dansk]

I kneel down and reload- hope the animal doesn't see me if I missed... then I settle down, slowly stand up and just look for a bit before looking for the animal.

[wastickslinger]

watch him tip over and celebrate a good shot. 

[Kain]

This year you can pull your black powder pistol if have a follow up shot opportunity.   

[Smoke Pole]

I reload as the smoke clears and mark the spot I shot from. After the smoke clears you can get a better idea exactly where the animal was standing from that sight picture burned into your memory as the rifle went off. There have been several times that I had to return to my shooting location and pick out a log or bush near where the animal was standing as a location to begin tracking because things began to look different as I crossed a canyon or went up a hillside only 50 or 100 yards away .

[Elkstuffer]

First I cuss, then I reload, then I cuss again and then go find another animal. LOL. Just kidding.

I definatly reload first. It does no good to try and see the animal if you have an empty gun. I'd rather have to unload the gun at the end of the day than loose an animal.