Well --been complaining about 100 plus hrs and only seeing one Deer here in Ct. Been primarily hunting a place that's been my- go to- for bout 44 years and this is the last season for it.
 Kinda nostalgic hunting there this season recalling places where my sons learned and Deer taken over time.  Place changed hands this year and NO to anyone hunting.
 The final straw was Tuesday- our last day of rifle- on a fresh snow. Only 3 sets of tracks crossing a corner of the property. Likely jumped out by 4 wheelers coming in close over  on the other property. OVER- no more wasting time.
 Wed was our first day of black powder- about midday on  a fresh show with the sun finally poking out took the long drive across the state to my Uncles small farm. Saw more tracks in the first 100 feet from the truck than I have seen elsewhere all season. Location location ----
 Well about 3 hours later had a few below me poking around in a very overgrown swamp- glimpse here and glimpse there. I was sitting on a very high rock out cropping looking down into the swamp. One was a fork and the others were unknown in the thickets.
 As they stepped out about 130 yards away in the corner of a field I let one loose with the .50 scoped in line. I generally never shoot that far but am spot on at the range at 100 with the gun and felt OK about it seated using a nice rest. MISS. Kinda knew I had pulled it right over his back.( snow marks proved that later)
 Now- I'm 66 and have shot a deer or two but gotta  admit after so long without a sighting and those Deer teasing me in the swamp for so long I had a bit of the FEVER- hope it never stops either--lol. Well- I jerked the shot and didn't allow for the very steep downhill angle either, novice stuff at best.
 Feeling like an old idiot  I stood up behind my big tree and re loaded. When I looked back around it there were several Deer standing there without a care in the world. At the miss the fork had merely looked around and kept eating grass and the others apparently  walked out and joined him caring little to nothing about the shot.. 
 I sat back down and waited them out, a bit too open for me to close the distance- better off just waiting.
 Much to my surprise the Fork broke off from feeding and came right down the lower trail at the bottom of the steep bank and rocky cliff  where I was sitting. Had given  one Doe bleat and one short grunt about a half hour earlier while they were way out in the swamp without a response and wonder if he was  responding and looking around albeit much  later..
 This shot didn't miss.
Have shot a few much larger in this state or that and with this weapon or another but this year and a half old Fork is as much a trophy to me as any on them.
 Good luck out there hope you are all as satisfied as me this season

Congrats.

Great story, Trev. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of that land sown so heavily with memories. Sounds like the drive out to the Uncle's might start to feel just about right.  Swamps are the place to be in my area.  And that fork will eat just as well as any trophy ever shot.  Trophy? The deer wasn't, the memory is.  I haven't hunted since I was young. Tales like that make me want to again. Thanks.

I enjoy muzzleloader hunting with my TC Omega .50 caliber with a Leupold Ultimate Slam Scope 2-7X loaded with 100 grains of powder and a Hornady SST 250 grain bullet.  The S.A.B.R. reticle for shots out to 300 yards is extremely accurate.

Thanks guys-
 Fishing is a great sport and I love it - but deer are my passion--
   Hey Trout- use a Traditions in line .50 with a 3/9 scope with the small reticle within the scope around the crosshairs. Actually shoots a hair tighter  at 100 than my ruger #1- in o6.
100 grains of pyrodex pellets ( 2-50s) and a sabot soft point projectile- FYI a .50 Muzzel loader with the Sabot is actually shooting .45 projectile.
 Hadda go to using scopes on everything as I got older- the back open sight gets all fuzzy now.
 Traditions is only bout 20 miles away and has quality equipment..

Used to be just the opposite for me.   Hunting was my passion and fishing was second.   It has changed.  Did not even go out with the gun this year.  Congrats on the venison. 

r2- I was just in your neck of the woods today.  Made the rounds to Cabela's, Hoffman's, Newington Gun Exchange & Jo-Jo's.  Stopped in Danbury on the ride home for Pepe's Pizza.
Don't like the new "I need a note from your mother" rules to purchase ammo, etc in CT.  Unfortunately the same is about to happen in NY. 

Havent had to buy any ammo since the new laws yet but am under the impression that a State pistol Permit still gets ya past  all that carp and ya can still 'cash and carry' most everything.
 Maybe, maybe not, but thats the way I understood the new knee jerk.

As an "out of stater" I have to file an application & $35.- at the state office in Middletown for a permit to purchase guns and/or ammo in CT.  I wonder if CT has an agreement to notify NY of out of state purchases.
 
Its my understanding that come January 15, 2014 I won't be able to buy/ship reloading components, bullets, brass, powder and primers to NY via the internet without using an FFL.

If Herr Cuomo has his way, you won't even be able to buy them here.
 
L13