Deer hunting with my Caplock Hawken today

[RWMC]

Decided to take my Uberti Santa Fe Hawken out to the woods for a stroll in the snow while looking for deer. I'm 55 years old and my three hour trek in10° below zero weather only reiterated how out of shape I am since I last hunted 10 years ago! Carrying that rifle all that time basically wore me out. I did get a shot at a deer around 60 yards away, but I was so cold and worn out that I couldn't hold the rifle steady enough to make my shot count. At least it was a clean miss. I believe I shall leave my .53 caliber Hawken at home for now on, and just use my hand gun for hunting deer. Oh to be young and in shape again! Having eyes that could focus on the front sight would be handy also, but it is what it is . Just glad to be able to still hunt. Happy new year to all .

 

[rodwha]

Not familiar with that rifle but by the looks of it I'd venture to guess it's rather similar to the size and weight of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (32" barrel and about 9 lbs or so).

Unless you were enamored with that rifle you could sell it and purchase something more carry friendly. For my first muzzleloader, and despite mostly still hunting from blinds here, I chose something that wouldn't be a burden carrying around all weekend. I didn't care much for the Traditions Deerhunter so that left me with the Lyman Deerstalker or the Pedersoli Country Hunter. All have a 24" barrel. The Lyman weighs about 7.5 lbs and the Pedersoli something like 5 or 6 lbs.

I've read that a peep sight works quite well for fading eyesight.

Might consider going for hikes/walks to build up a bit of stamina. Certainly would do your health some good. I don't do enough of this myself, though we do hike often enough and love backpacking going on maybe half a dozen trips a year.

If you do just use a handgun what might you be using?

 

[Crawdad1]

Here is a good discussion on all of the Hawken rifles available back then,

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=37390.0

If you scroll down the Santa Fe Hawken rifle is described.

I used to own a Sharon Rifle Barrel Co Hawken with an absolutely gorgeous premium curly maple stock on it that rivaled any Green River Rifle Works' Hawken. Good rifle but limited use in Pennsylvania with its flintlock only primitive season.

 

[RWMC]

Not familiar with that rifle but by the looks of it I'd venture to guess it's rather similar to the size and weight of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (32" barrel and about 9 lbs or so).

Unless you were enamored with that rifle you could sell it and purchase something more carry friendly. For my first muzzleloader, and despite mostly still hunting from blinds here, I chose something that wouldn't be a burden carrying around all weekend. I didn't care much for the Traditions Deerhunter so that left me with the Lyman Deerstalker or the Pedersoli Country Hunter. All have a 24" barrel. The Lyman weighs about 7.5 lbs and the Pedersoli something like 5 or 6 lbs.

I've read that a peep sight works quite well for fading eyesight.

Might consider going for hikes/walks to build up a bit of stamina. Certainly would do your health some good. I don't do enough of this myself, though we do hike often enough and love backpacking going on maybe half a dozen trips a year.

If you do just use a handgun what might you be

 

[RWMC]

Not familiar with that rifle but by the looks of it I'd venture to guess it's rather similar to the size and weight of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle (32" barrel and about 9 lbs or so).

Unless you were enamored with that rifle you could sell it and purchase something more carry friendly. For my first muzzleloader, and despite mostly still hunting from blinds here, I chose something that wouldn't be a burden carrying around all weekend. I didn't care much for the Traditions Deerhunter so that left me with the Lyman Deerstalker or the Pedersoli Country Hunter. All have a 24" barrel. The Lyman weighs about 7.5 lbs and the Pedersoli something like 5 or 6 lbs.

I've read that a peep sight works quite well for fading eyesight.

Might consider going for hikes/walks to build up a bit of stamina. Certainly would do your health some good. I don't do enough of this myself, though we do hike often enough and love backpacking going on maybe half a dozen trips a year.

If you do just use a handgun what might you be using?

I have a Ruger GP 100 stainless steel .357 magnum revolver with a 6 inch barrel that I will use. I realize that it is considered a minimal caliber for deer, but it's all I have. I use a 125 grain jacketed soft point in it .

 

[rodwha]

A .357 Mag works well enough. Not sure what kind of ammo that is but it seems most 125 grn bullets are designed for men. Were it me I'd opt for something more like a 158 grn hunting style. Now where I am the deer are the size of dogs with long legs so a man stopper might be just fine, but your little deer would eat our bigger Hill Country deer.

 

[Hanshi]

Those rifles like the one you have are certainly heavy. I killed several deer with a Traditions DeerHunter, a CVA and various other percussion rifles; that also includes a 9.5 lb US M1841 .54. For a long time I've been using flintlocks exclusively. These are comparatively light with the heaviest one going around 8+ lbs. I'm 71 and have ra, which makes a lot of walking very difficult. Since I don't walk much, a heavier gun isn't much of a hindrance. But I mostly use a couple of lighter ones.

It's been a while since I hunted deer with a revolver. I've used a 6" S&W 686, a 4" S&W M19, both .357s, of course. Both gave quick one shot kills. I've used a Ruger 6.5" .41 Black Hawk and a .44 Super Black Hawk. The ideal, IMHO, is the .41 mag. But the longest kill I've made was 90 yards with the .44.

 

[RWMC]

Well, I went back out again to the woods tonight with my Hawken after I got home from work. I saw two does on my way to the woods, and I saw four does and one buck on my way home after leaving the woods, but I did not see any deer while I was in the woods! Oh well, that is the way it goes sometimes. I decided I was not ready to give up on the Hawken. Even though it was only 14° below zero, I thoroughly enjoyed the time in the woods, surrounded by the cold snowy silence that seemed to make my ears ring because it was so quiet. It is great to be alive and enjoy moments like this. Thank you to everyone for your input and encouragement.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Another vote for a rear aperture sight. Second, walk regularly before you have to hunt. It'll make it easier. In a way it's fortunate not to harvest because the real work begins once the game is harvested.

 

[RWMC]

Another vote for a rear aperture sight. Second, walk regularly before you have to hunt. It'll make it easier. In a way it's fortunate not to harvest because the real work begins once the game is harvested.

I agree with you there about the work begins after the trigger is pulled . I have a neighbor who raises pigs for a living and during the winter months when he is loading out, every once in a while they will get a pig with a broken leg or with a rupture . So my neighbor gives me a ring on the phone and asked me if I want a free pig for butchering , to which I always reply yes! So I will go up to his place and shoot the pig and then haul it down with the bobcat to my place, where I have a chain hoist in my lean-two on my corn crib. And that is where I do my butchering . That normally happens around three times during the winter months so I become very familiar with the whole skinning and boning-out process.
Well, tomorrow is Saturday and so me and my Hawken will once again venture out to the public hunting lands to see if we have success in harvesting a deer. I really appreciate all of your advice that you all have given . The highroad is by and far my favorite side to go to .

 

[J-Bar]

Taking a deer with a muzzleloader is part skill, part luck, mostly persistence. Stay downwind and be patient.

 

[MCgunner]

My Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine weighs 6 lbs. It's quite accurate with sabots or heavy minie balls. It has a 1:24 twist. It has nice adjustable iron sights, a recoil pad, a hand checkered walnut stock with cheek piece, and blacked out furniture. I like it, have owned it for about 25 years. BUT, I've not hunted with it! I got out and shot it this afternoon and put those 385 grain Great Plains Minies into 2" at 100 yards dead on. I'd preferred my CVA Wolf inline for the scope, but I finally got my cataracts fixed. Now, I'm thinkin' about using that Hawken again, next year. It's a little more challenge than the CVA, but not that much now that I can see again.

 

[Old No7]

I'll second the use of a hunting-style tang sight.

But also reiterate one other important thing..............

Get In Shape!!!

Seriously, I'm 57 and feel like I'm in better shape than I was at 45.

Weight-lifting -- even with lighter weights -- challenges your muscles and bones like nothing else and will boost your metabolism even when sitting or resting. That is because muscle burns more calories than fat. (Not that you're "fat"...) I've read that weight-lifting and resistance weights are more important to older men than all the cardio exercise, but that's important to boost your stamina and endurance too. In fact, the resident "Doc" over on the leverguns forum considers weight-lifting to be as close to the "fountain of youth" for men over 50 as you'll ever get. Seriously, he says it's been well documented, but too many men focus on the cardio exercises (or "none"...) only,

I'm now prepping for a 3-mile "Primitive Biathlon" where you shoot muzzle-loaders at targets at 4 stations along the snowy route through the woods, up and down hills and across fields, and you run it (or walk...) in wood & rawhide snowshoes -- no titanium or aluminum ones. Primitive clothing is encouraged, but old-fashioned snowshoes and front-stuffer rifles only! To get ready for this, I run circle in snowshoes around my yard or neighborhood carrying a 12-pound crow bar. My wife cautioned me on doing that -- until I threatened to carry the 8-pound Hawken, that is! After a few loops around with the crow bar, the Hawken sure feels like a lightweight (that's the goal of carrying the heavier bar around).

The weights and exercise will help your breathing and also your "hold" on the rifle too, so there are numerous benefits to your shooting and hunting too -- not just to your health.

Sorry to sound "preachy" -- but 55 is YOUNG!

Get fit, stay in shape, and enjoy hunting for another 20 years or so!!!

We'll let you complain after you hit 75 -- but NOT before...

Tight groups.

Old No7

 

[RWMC]

Thank you Old No7. You are exactly right. Sometimes it seems like I need the obvious to hit me in the head a couple times like a 2 x 4 before I become teachable once again! It is time to take off the feed bag a little bit sooner and get up and start walking more, like you said.

Time to head to the woods. Just got done cleaning the Hawken ( it has the 1:66 twist ) and loading it with a fresh charge. Nice bright, sunny, 25° below zero day here in Iowa. Perfect.

Thanks again Old No7. I will keep you all posted on today's results later on. Another great day to be alive and to be an American.

 

[Old No7]

Thank you Old No7. You are exactly right. Sometimes it seems like I need the obvious to hit me in the head a couple times like a 2 x 4 before I become teachable once again! It is time to take off the feed bag a little bit sooner and get up and start walking more, like you said.

Time to head to the woods. Just got done cleaning the Hawken ( it has the 1:66 twist ) and loading it with a fresh charge. Nice bright, sunny, 25° below zero day here in Iowa. Perfect.

Thanks again Old No7. I will keep you all posted on today's results later on. Another great day to be alive and to be an American.

Good luck to you RWMC. I got hit with a 4 x 4 -- an anxiety attack that sure felt like something much worse (but still required a 10-hour hospital stay for assessment & observation, then a stress test at the end) -- and all that helped spur me to get in (and stay in) better shape.

My Hawken (T/C) has the long 1:66 twist "round ball barrel" too.

Good luck huntin' and workin' out!

Tight groups.

Old No7

 

[RWMC]

Hope you enjoy my, " this happened to me while out hunting today" story.

When you're out hunting with your muzzleloading rifle, and it has a set-trigger, always look down to make sure that you are pulling on the set trigger, and not the actual trigger. That's right, that happened to me today. Had a deer may be only 50 yards away, dead-to-rights. Attempting to be smooth and sly, and not wanting to cause any unnecessary movement, I thought I would just slide my trigger finger back without looking, and cock the set-trigger. As I began to pull on what I thought was the set trigger, much to my surprise, my Hawken fired! Upon hearing the report of my rifle, the deer trotted up and over the ridge and out of sight; probably laughing in deer-language all the way!

I still enjoyed the nice 4 1/2 hour hunt . I guess it's back to the drawing board for another day of improving my hunting skills. I have a rifle that needs cleaning. Have a good night everyone.

 

[Charliefrank]

All these stories are inspiring me to get the front stuffer out. Next time I go out hog hunting I think I'll leave the AR home. I've yet to shoot a pig with the old 54 yet. I'm sure my favorite hunting load consisting of a 425 grain hp over 120 grains of ff will anchor one with one shot. Not the quickest reloader in the world, so I like the first one to count.

 

[Patocazador]

Hope you enjoy my, " this happened to me while out hunting today" story.
As I began to pull on what I thought was the set trigger, much to my surprise, my Hawken fired! Upon hearing the report of my rifle, the deer trotted up and over the ridge and out of sight; probably laughing in deer-language all the way!

What a bummer. I have 3 Hawken-type rifles and they all have set triggers that have a different "feel" from one another. My T/C's set trigger results in it going off almost as easily as blowing on it. The other two are more in the 2.5 - 3 lb. range. I only use the T/C from a stand as it is too dangerous to use the set trigger while walking.

Good luck in the future. We all need it.

 

[Crawdad1]

I always enjoyed hunting with my flinter. Deer gets close but not quite close enough, you're holding your breath trying to stay quiet. Pull the hammer back to full cock, set the trigger, then the wind shifts and he gets wind of you and runs off.

Time to reset the hammer back to its half cock notch and check your pan making sure the powder is nice and dry, Before you know it here comes another deer and starts all over again.

Good luck to you RWMC. Thanks for the post.

 

[RWMC]

I too, have always had a hankering for a nice, quality rock-lock: a .62 smooth-bore. Even though they are out of my price range, I still enjoy looking at'em.

If we had to be like our ancestors and either shoot straight or starve, then we would all be better shots ( or a lot skinnier! )

 

[Crawdad1]

Whether percussion or flinter, it doesn't matter, they're both a lot of fun and make any hunt memorable.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Whether percussion or flinter, it doesn't matter, they're both a lot of fun and make any hunt memorable.

Don't forget the inlines!

 

[Crawdad1]

Yes I can. I don't understand the attraction of those things, considering there is nothing an inline can do that a percussion can't do but there are many things a percussion can do that an inline can't do.

This was my Vincent rifle that I traded my Sharon Hawken for, excellent rifle.

 

[MCgunner]

When you're out hunting with your muzzleloading rifle, and it has a set-trigger, always look down to make sure that you are pulling on the set trigger, and not the actual trigger. That's right, that happened to me today. Had a deer may be only 50 yards away, dead-to-rights. Attempting to be smooth and sly, and not wanting to cause any unnecessary movement, I thought I would just slide my trigger finger back without looking, and cock the set-trigger. As I began to pull on what I thought was the set trigger, much to my surprise, my Hawken fired! Upon hearing the report of my rifle, the deer trotted up and over the ridge and out of sight; probably laughing in deer-language all the way!

I don't know if it's universal, but with my Cabela's Hawken Hunter Carbine (investarms) one can pull the set trigger before cocking the hammer. Then, when you cock the hammer, the trigger is set ready to rock and roll. This is how I do it to avoid confusion in the excitement.

 

[MCgunner]

Yes I can. I don't understand the attraction of those things, considering there is nothing an inline can do that a percussion can't do but there are many things a percussion can do that an inline can't do.

Hmm, well, can you easily mount a scope on that sidelock? For those that have less than sharp eyesight, that can be a big, big major advantage. Also, I can hunt in the rain with my CVA Wolf and not dampen the spirit of the powder. Up until I finally was able to get my cataracts fixed, I really appreciated optics. Optics are vastly superior in hunting whitetail and hogs anyway. Deer move in the dark woods at dawn and dusk and hogs are usually shot in the pitch dark of night with a green laser spot light in my case or night vision for the well to do. Not everyone spot and stalks. You can't spot and stalk in woods as thick as I have around here. You sit in a blind or a tree stand and if you really want to be successful, you'll use a feeder, which doesn't guarantee success, but improves the odds.

I've noticed there are two types of black powder shooters, the traditionalists and the hunters. The traditionalists would rather commit suicide that use a black powder sub. The hunters want EVERY advantage they can get during their black powder season. If they can use a 209 primer adapter on a sidelock, they will. If they can use a clean burning non-corrosive powder like BH209, they will. BP is messy and can turn a bore to rust. If they can use an inline, all the better. Daniel Boone would have had he had the option. He didn't even have a caplock, though. Hunters care about hunting, not civil war reenactments.

Whatever floats your boat, but there is a place in the world for inlines.