I purchased my first muzzleloader, a CVA Paramount 45 cal just shy of a year ago this month in preparation for additional draw opportunities. I had zero experience with muzzleloaders but had a fantastic experience with this one right off the bat. 100 grains and 105 grains by weight and a 285 Powerbelt ELR worked great immediately. SD numbers for 3 shots were less than 10 and velocity was hovering around 2,400 ft/s.
All year I practiced leading up to my November 5-9 muzzleloader mule deer hunt in NM Unit 34. It is a very tough hunt which for some reason in nestled right in between the first and second rifle hunt. The first rifle hunt, they issued 735 tags, not sure on the second. I took all five days off and headed over on November 4 and was set for some awesome weather. Day one, we really covered some ground but didn't see a single deer, let alone a legal buck. We did spot a giant bull elk at almost 1500 yards, as well as a medium sized bull, a spike and about 3 dozen cow elk.
Day two, more beautiful weather and started out with a small mule deer buck and doe on private property, near the southeast corner of the unit. As we worked west, more deer, but still on private property. Mid day we enjoyed some BBQ in Cloudcroft, NM and headed back out for the evening, glassing and moving along some hillsides and a small stream. Just after 1630 hours, I caught a few doe feeding and drinking away from us. The wind was about 5mph or less in our face and couldn't have been better. They continued to feed and water away from us and around the corner. I moved in cautiously on foot, taking the angle out of where they walked toward and spotted a small forky leading their way. A quick check with the rangefinder confirmed he was in range at 176.7 yards. I put the bipod down and laid down, reaquiring what I thought was my target. The head was down feeding but a few seconds later it popped up, confirming a legal deer. He was broadside when I let the Powerbelt 285 grain ELR bullet fly from the CVA Paramount over 100 grains (by weight) of Blackhorn 209.
He dropped and instantly I saw a deer on his side and doe scattering. He didn't take a step and expired within seconds. The bullet entered about center body right behind the shoulder and created a 3" exit out the other side. The ground behind was littered with bright lung blood. A quick field dress before dark and got him back to civilization and on ice. I couldn't have asked for a better time and the area I shot him in was very nice. He's not big but we worked hard almost two full days for him, and I bet he will taste great.
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Erik