Black Powder Success Stories - Let's Hear 'Em!

[Smokepole]

My son & I are thinking about going black powder for muleys for the first time this season.  I'm curious if it will be an advantage over modern firearm for muleys in the mountain units of Okanogan county.  We're thinking we know where some bucks are, and we can sneak in before things get stirred up too much.  Maybe kill a couple bucks.

So we're curious... when you made the switch to black powder, was it the right move for you?  Did your hunting success improve?  Or is it just a wash?  What are the advantages of going black powder for Okanogan mule deer?

Thanks a bunch.  Before we commit, we might just wait for a few comments and hopefully some success stories.

Smokepole

[Dirty Mike]

2010 late muzzy

[Smokepole]

Nice buck, Hitman.  Are you a black powder lifer.  I'm not looking for secret places or any of your tricks.  Just want to know if you think we're making a good call, going muzzy this year.  We're not too picky about rack size.  Just want to have good hunts and maybe a couple legal bucks if we're lucky.

Congrats on that one!

[trophyhunt]

The first year my wife and I went with a muzzy was on her special permit elk hunt. We practiced the shooting and loading, the one thing we made a mistake on was where to shoot the elk.  I figured that with a 50cal she should aim for the shoulder and break the damn thing, well with a 6 point at 10 feet broadside we found out the hard way that our 3 pellets and 340 grain bullet didn't break anything.  I have always shot my animals in the lungs, but thought since we had a big bullet we could break the shoulder.  No more shoulder shots with the muzzy for us, that's my  .  As far as switching to muzzy, hell yea.  Hunting elk with the muzzy gets you a little bit in the rut, it's a short first season but there is nothing like hunting for elk in the rut.  As far as success- we ended up taking a spike that year and one cow a couple years later.

[Whitelightning]

Well I don't know about the Okanogan but I can say I have had success out of Usk. I have been hunting M/L season for many years. The change was a good one then not so sure now more guy's are getting into. Not that more guy's is a bad thing though. I took this Mule Deer with my M97 .504 not a monster but had a large body. I have taken more animals with my Muzzy's than I did with modern, might be I have matured as a hunter also. I would nor hesitate to switch just go and shoot a lot before season. Shoot in the rain as well as the sun. Good luck.

[SkookumHntr]

I took my first Animal with My Knight BigHorn last season! Im Addicted, I like shooting my smokepole more then any of my Rifles! Well maybe not the cleaning part. I shoot out to 200 yards and hit Milk jugs Every time! Shot my Cow Elk at 190yards! Kinda fun to shoot alot and get a combination your gun likes! Im going with a different Bullet next year so gotta start all over this spring! Oh well I love shooting

[Smokepole]

Nice buck Whitelightning.  We don't look too hard for trophies.  We just want a good hunt & maybe a decent buck or two.  We're in it for the fun.  A few years ago I popped a buck and he tumbled down a ravine.  It was during the modern season & I knew I needed to follow up the shot.  But then a couple guys started shooting down from a peak.  Me and the kid had to hide behind the rocks as bullets whizzed over our heads.  After they quit shooting to reload, I finished the buck and tagged it.  They were shooting about 500 yards and they saw me with my kid over there.  So that's the main reason we're making a switch.  We're shooting a lot, and sure looking forward to some quiet time on the hill next fall.

[huntnnw]

I muzzy more for elk than anything...The deer seasons to me are horrible..late september and early oct is about the toughest time to tag a buck..The late muzzy seasons are good tho,but limited to areas and not real close to me to concentrate on them so I choose to bowhunt. I always have options for archery elk in other states and do that..then I come back here and hunt the first week of Oct for elk..good time to be chasing elk around here.

LE WA muzzy elk

[Dirty Mike]

i love it glad i made the switch

[Hank]

My wife and I made the switch last year. We didn't bag anything but we sure did have a good time. We're shoot'en CVA Elkhorn's.

[Smokepole]

geez huntnnw that's a hawg elk.  I tried for elk during the late hunt a couple years ago down by St. Helens.  Got there a few days too late.  Snow hit and they came pouring through there.  All we found were hides and gutpiles.  Might hve to try early sometime.

[scotta]

Almost no hunting pressure and the deer aren't spooked. Very easy to pattern a deer at this time of the year. Shot my buck on opening day. Only draw back is the weather still pretty hot got into the 80's.

[Smokepole]

Thanks for the report Scotta.  Did you hunt the general muzzy season?  Was wondering why it was so hot.  Nice buck!

[Bearhunter]

Its a sleeper season, you will have no pressure and the bucks will 100% be there and not to spooked, in all the same spots you normally hunt.  I honestly think were you are wanting to hunt it is the best kept secret around and you guys should have a great hunt!

[scotta]

Thanks for the report Scotta.  Did you hunt the general muzzy season?  Was wondering why it was so hot.  Nice buck!

Yes I hunted the early season near twisp/carlton. Opener starts sept 24th this year and its still real warm over there at that time of year.