Well after an uneventful 2010 WI gun season. I was itching for some cold and snow for alot less crowded muzzleloader season. Well I got my wish with a fresh blanket of 6-8 inches of snow and a dropping thermometer it had the makings of a great season.Now you don’t have to be crazy to sit for 3-4 hours at a time with temperatures in the single digits and windchills below zero but it may help. Food sources are the primary places to hunt when the cold and snow hits and this was no different.
Biologic Maximum Plot
After some close encounters with does fawns and small bucks. I began to wonder where the big boys went. In fact I’m still wondering that.Well with a doe tag burning a hole in my pocket it was time to punch that ticket.
A Couple Lookers
My 1st chance to punch that ticket would come Saturday evening as a group of 7 does and fawns snuck up on me. caught off guard I rushed a shot only to miss. Sunday evening put 2 small bucks under my stand that I chose to let walk in hopes of seeing them again in a few years.
Otter Sleds Have Many Uses
That brings us to Monday. I headed to my stand at 2 thinking I was plenty early but was proven wrong by the 2 buck fawns that were under my stand waiting.They weren’t spooked too badly as I climbed up to wait. it didn’t take long for the parade to start as the 2 buck fawns came in to eat almost before I could even sit down. It was about an hour later when they put their heads up and stared off into the woods to warn me of more deer coming. Sure enough a mature doe and another fawn were coming down the trail. I slowly raised the muzzleloader and waited for her to walk into my shooting lane then as she slowly stepped in I centered the crosshairs on her shoulder and squeezed the trigger luckily the wind was strong enough to blow the smoke away so I could see her jump 3 feet in the air and donkey kick then run off stumbling as she went out of sight. So now it’s only 320 what to do now ? ? Well I still have my buck tag so I reloaded and sat back down. The next hour and a half was incredible I was covered up with deer but no bucks ever showed up. I climbed down at dark to claim my prize after a little searching and a very weak blood trail I found her and my Dad helped me load her in the Otter sled hooked behind the 4-wheeler for the ride back to the cabin.
Late season hunts over food sources can be very deadly. The colder and snowier the better. The cold can be brutal but there are alot of great clothing products out there to keep you warm. Face masks, hand warmers, and toe warmers are all important parts of a late season hunt. Being covered up with deer helps stay warm also.
Congrats on yet another kill for you Pat, your right about the seeing deer keeping you warm!! GoodLuck wit hthat other buck tag!!
Congrats pat
It does get cold 
but worth it when a plan comes together 
Cool read Pat and congrats on your doe!
There’s still a couple of days left to tag that buck! 
Congrats on the doe, and yep its freakn cold out there.
Congrats Pat
I like the doe in the Otter sled-
Congrats Pat
Way to stick it out in the cold Pat!
Nice job Gut
I want to use my sled once or twice yet this year too… 
Bundle up !!! 
Great job Pat
Which jacket, layers were you using to stay warm?
I ended up wearing the sno-suit later in the season with an extra large camo bug suit as the outer wear. A little heavy but perfect for long cold sits.
Again, great season Pat
That a boy buddy! Great job and great read!
I have a set of Gander Mountain Guide Series Tech 2 0 bibs and coat but haven’t even busted them out yet
I wear baffin pak boots with toe warmers. Under armor then layer up over that finishing off with my Scent Lok Dream Season Suit. Ice Armor gloves, hand warmers, and a hand muff. A face mask for windy sits. A orange stocking cap and a lite orange vest. I did work outside for 12 years so I probably am a little tougher than most 
I bet the snosuit would work great for staying warm too
Nice doe
Curious what sabots you were shooting? Reason being I have 2 loaders and shoot 2 seperate bullets out of each. The one makes a mess of them but they hardly go anywhere…the other is dead on in long distances BUT the blood trail/trauma sucks to be honest! Nice doe and i could not agree more about the beauty of hunting late season! The woods comes alive in the white makes a guy wonder how many deer we do not see when snow is not present
I doubled lunged her with a 250 Shockwave at 75 yards. It made a mess on the inside but the fine spray was very hard to see even in the snow
Identical load I am having the same issue with……
Pat,
I am shooting Tripple 7, 150 grains of powder, 250 Shockwave Bullet with the plastice sleeve (Thompson Center Omega), the doe I shot last year was 90 yards out – hit her high (lungs) – went in like a quarter, came out like a baseball size. She was quartering away from me, but it was a very devistating exit hole.
That is what i wanna hear thank you. I have shot 4 deer with the shockwave in 2 years. 2 dropped in their tracks and 2 went 100+ yards with all 4 shots being well placed. Also only 2 had an exit wound with little to no difference as the entrance. Only difference i see is I shoot 100 grain vs. 150. Trying to decide about next year switching is all right now. Maybe have a trial and error weekend possibly this weekend with slick heads. Sick of waiting on horns!
Pat,
Great Report! We gotta put the smack down on some of those Doe’s. I will be bringing the Muzzleloader out looking for those slick heads.
On Sat., I shot my buck bedded down with 110 grains of 777 loose powder and with 250 Grain Shockwaves at 70 yards. Buck ran 20 yards and piled up. Entrance wound was in the front shoulder but no exit wound.
Nice job!
nice job and great read. you sure are haveing a great season!! congrats!!!