Was out with the frontstuffer Friday and Sat. on a new farm.  Lots of sign.  Friday afternoon I am still hunting and I catch deer feeding out ahead of me.  With time the lead doe presents a shot at about 40 yards.  Pretty thick cover and some small stuff between me and the deer and I decide to try a shot.  Boom...  Tails everywhere.  Go take a look and all I find is some hair.  Follow the trail for awhile in the snow and it is very clear it was a miss.

Saturday back at it with two buddies of mine.  I am doing some slow pushes and I see deer heading my way.  A small buck leading the way followed by a yearling and a big doe pulling up the rear.  At about 50 yards they pin me down and I have a frontal shot on the big doe.  Boom...  Once again go take a look and come up empty.    Found another deer fielding in a field at last light and put a good stalk on her to about 60 yards and looking through my binos it appears to be a yearling.  I decide to pass on the shot.

I would like to blame the gun but my TC is on and I know it.  Guess that whats makes muzzleloading fun.  

In two days I saw 26 antlerless deer and 6 antlered one of which was a nice 8 point. All in Washington county. Well there is always next Saturday.

I agree, that's what makes late muzzleloader so interesting. So many different things can and do go wrong. You gotta love it, especially when you score!  

The two misses were without a rest and I know better.  I always try to stand next to a tree for that reason but I was pinned down in both instances and had to try the offhand shot.

I have a bipod that I usually carry with me but for whatever reason didn't this weekend.  I already have it in my pack for this coming Friday.

I have alot of confidence from a good rest but i guess my offhand shooting leaves alot to be desired with the flintlock.

I know a rest can make a big difference.  I made one of my best shot ever this year on a squirrel using a tree for a rest.  60? yards away, in one ear out the other.   Ten minutes later I miss one from 15 yards away offhand.  

   On the bright side, you seem to be seeing more deer now than in rifle season.  dd

Yep, seeing alot more deer now.  I am hunting a different farm that I recently got permiision to hunt.  It was not hit by EHD this year.  My usual place almost got wiped out this past summer.