Gentleman,
I'd like to make myself a little more clear.
My last post here is not bullroar. I simply get upset when people talk smack on this forum.
I also agree, the right tool for the right job.
1. I have never taken a shot on any white tail, or any other animal for that matter unless I knew it was going to be a good clean killing shot. if it was questionable, I simply don't take the shot.
2. I shot my first buck when I was 14 years old. I used my grandpa's Winchester 30 30. At that time in Michigan, we were allowed one buck tag and that was it. Years later they changed all that and we could get two bucks and buy as many doe tags as we wanted. This year, we are limited to 5 doe tags. I am 56 years old now. We have an early doe season then a bow season then a regular gun season then a black powder season then a late doe season that goes all the way up to January 1st. roughly three and a half months of deer hunting. Many of us up here hunt and fish for our food. In recent years since they upped the limit, I have taken anywhere from 3 to 6 deer a year.
3. I have never taken a shot on a deer with a bow and arrow past 25 yards. With a black powder pistol, I have never taken a shot much past 35 yards. Cap and ball rifle, 100 yards. In line BP rifle, a little over 200 yards. You can call me a liar if you want to. I have only ever had the one dear get away I mentioned earlier after I decided to take the shot, in my life. I did miss one earlier in my life with a shotgun and a slug and that's when I switched to black powder to begin with. Simply because of accuracy.
4. I shoot a lot and I know what every single one of my pistols, rifles and bow and arrow will do and what they won't do.
5. In southern Michigan, it is bow, shotgun or black powder only. No rifles only exception being black powder. I have an advantage over some other folks as I can get anything I want for my black powder firearms. I won't even take them in the field unless they are perfect. I spend a ton of money on each one to be sure they are functioning at their full potential. For the record, during the regular shotgun season, I use an inline. When it comes black powder season, I use a 50 caliber Hawken and also a black powder 6 shooter. Either a Ruger or a Colt Walker. When stalking field of standing corn, there is nothing better then a six shooter. Up close and personal.
6. Do I punch paper? You bet I do, & a lot of it! I simply have to know what I am using is spot on.
7. It seems the disagreement here is whether something is big and powerful enough to do the job or not. Last year a good friend of mine bought a Smith and Wesson 460. He had a doe this year coming straight at him. He pulled up aimed and fired hitting her right square in the chest. Her guts blew right out her rear end destroying the entire animal. It seems to me the disagreement is what is too little and what is too much.
Kindest regards,
Birch