PONDEROSA RANCH

Jack Christenson, WI, flintlock

A Flintlock and a Mule Deer Buck,  Jack's Story

On a perfect winter day, with sun glistening on the snow, we began a still hunt with my .50 caliber flintlock  loaded with a round ball and patch  during muzzleloader season.  My hunting partner, Bryan and I, began slowly walking together up a creek bottom.  The water trickling, the snow crunching under each step, and the wind in our faces.  As we slowly progressed we saw and kicked up many mule deer but they were all does.  At times  we were drawing a bead just for practice, because on this particular day we were only allowed to shoot a 3x3 buck or better.  As we spied four mule deer up on a ridge about 70yards away, they spotted us and away they went.  Then another doe came bounding at us and on up the hill she went to join the others.  Then we spotted a bigger deer coming at us.  Alas it is a buck and a shooter at that.  He followed the does up the hill but did not show himself.  The doe was beginning to leave and I pulled out my doe -in -heat can call.  And to my surprise it worked.  The doe came over to the edge of the shelf,  was very inquisitive and  was trying to find the source of the call, but  was not able to identify a similar deer.  And then to my delight, the buck stepped into view and began to come to the edge of the shelf.  He stopped, facing us directly.   I was partially hidden behind a small pine tree with Bryan behind me.  I eased my muzzle up to a branch at the height it needed to be, took careful aim and gently squeezed the trigger.  “Blast it all,” nothing happened! No spark, no flash, no ignition and no shot!!!  Internally I was screaming, but had to hold it all in. I checked the primer in the pan it was still there.  Once again, I eased back the hammer, set the trigger and took careful aim.  Then, boom!!  Brian exclaimed, “You hit the deer.”  The buck jumped up and gave a big kick.  The kind you like to see.  I quickly reloaded, and we waited a short time.  My patience grew thin, and I just had to walk up to check for a hit.  In my initial disappointment all I found was hair and no blood.  Bryan assured me that I had made a lethal hit.  He marked the last place we saw him as he bounded down the hill and out of sight.  I then began to follow his tracks, and to my delight found blood on the snow.  I followed him down the hill and just as I reached the bottom, I heard Bryan say, “We don’t need more blood; there he is!”  I was extremely thankful and excited at the same time.  MY first mule deer buck, my first kill with my flintlock, and I took it in the traditional manner, with round ball and patch.! This was also the first mule deer buck taken with a muzzleloader on the Ponderosa Ranch.

After thanking the Lord for the blessing of the deer and thanking the deer for his sacrifice, Bryan and I finished with the gutting and called Dale to pick us up.  After a short wait, Dale arrived and we loaded up the buck for his trip to the deer shed.   Continuing hunting, we walked and walked and walked over the hills, steep ridges and deep ravines  home to the cabin.  Jack Christenson, WI

The Ponderosa Ranch offers semi-guided *   hunting on this scenic 3,600-acre ranch which is on top of the Pine Ridge area of Northwest Nebraska.  Our package includes up to 5 nights, 5  meals, and 4 days of semi-guided hunting.  For the shotgun season, we can handle one or two groups of 2 to 4 hunters.  If there are two groups, each group will have one end of the ranch entirely to themselves. 

Semi-guided means that we will  drive you around the ranch to show you where fences, gates, stock tanks/creeks and boundary fences are. Plan to arrive at the Ponderosa Ranch early afternoon (during daylight) the day  before your hunt starts.    You will be provided with a topographic ranch map.  The headquarter area is situated in the center of the ranch.  You can either walk from the cabin to hunt, or may need a 4x4 vehicle.

Prices do not include hunting licenses and habitat stamps, both which are "over-the-counter" and non-refundable/non-transferable.  Permits can be obtained on-line with Nebraska Game & Parks Commission.

For more information (including a request for a CD of pictures) or making reservations contact:   Dale or Donna Steineke at  dsteineke@enebraska.net. or   (308)665-1585